(A) Senile Animal

[klump]

I pre-ordered this from play.com a while ago, but my mail box was empty today ....

[TGH]

I just picked it up today (at Best Buy of all places). I might be the only one to think this; but I might say this is their best album ever. Or at least my favourite anyway. Not one track on here is anything but flawless. Hopefully Big Business will be with the Melvins for a long time.

[cellphone]

Reminds me a lot of the Atlantic days, and some of it, even before that.  I like it quite a bit, but the vocals are definitely the most strikingly different part.  I was about to say the drumming sounded like Dale hopped up on speed, but it's more like if he grew a couple extra arms and legs.  Melikey.

[Mad Arab]

Have not bought it yet. I am hearing it on the website that norecess posted in another thread. I will agree that this album is a straightforward endeavor, but what exactly does that mean when talking about the Melvins? I guess when compared with solely their own albums, you can say that. This album is short and sweet and condenses what "the bloat" stated in his review about the album pulling from just about every angle of the Melvins catalog. The first track "The Talking Horse" starts the album off nicely with a fuzzy bass riff and killer drum work with Buzz coming in with some noisy guitar. Nice introduction of the twin vocals on this track, a definite rocker toward the end with particular emphasis on the percussion aspect of the drum work. "Blood Witch", bares a resemblance to Bloated Pope, which is a good thing, and the vocals on this track remind me of Gene Simmons, a cool combination if I may say so. Next up is the powerful, "Civilized Worm", with it's "Hooch" like drum intro that segues into a mid tempo guitar riff that gives off a "Queen", vibe, a real emphasis on the twin vocals with this track that really kicks it up a notch toward the second half of the song. Twin drum wizardry closes this epic of a song. " History of Drunks", is another mid tempo song with catchy lyrics and twin vocals that caters to the Big Business element on this album. "Rat Faced Granny", should be a favorite in concerts, with Buzz putting his powerful voice to good use and with lyrics that are sure to be chanted along with the band anytime they perform this fast paced track live. Some more awesome twin drum work closes this song. "The Hawk", sounds unlike anything the Melvins have done previously. The vocals and the drum work are without a doubt the highlights of the song and perhaps the album as a whole. "You've Never Been Right", is a track that can be described in one word: drums. At this point the album slows down with the song "A History of Bad Men" the song has been said to resemble Night Goat, but who cares? I don't think it does that much. There is a lot going on in this song that keeps me from dwelling on this. From the percussion to the vocals, this song is awesome and will surely be a concert favorite. I want to mention that the lyrics are great as well. "Mechanical Bride", is a slow song that draws from the Gluey Porch Treatments to Bullhead era with its churning guitar riffs and powerful drum pounding. The vocals are great on this one too. This is one treat of a song that might inspire nostalgia for this particular time in the Melvins' storied musical career. The album closes with A Vast, Filthy Prison; a song that would not be out of place on the album The Bootlicker, a point that brings to mind that the bass playing sounds as if Kevin Rutmanis had a hand in performing this song.

In sum, this is yet another enjoyable and solid release. It's a blend of everything great about the Melvins and leaves me feeling very optimistic about future releases from this line-up.

[klump]

Buzz made all the Bootlicker stuff.
Kevins said in an interview that he got the whole thing on tape , so he just had to learn the stuff.

[seas of luck]

I was bad and downloaded it shortly after it leaked but I bought it today at Best Buy!  I have never seen ANY Melvins albums in that store but they get two copies.  One for me and one for my friend.

After the first listen, which was about a month ago, I didn't care for it all that much.  I didn't hate it at all but I thought it wasn't quite on par with everything else they did.  About 50 listens later I think it's quite possible that this is my favorite Melvins album.  It's way too hard to choose one favorite but this is the one album that I keep listening to over and over again.  I've listened to this album 3 times in one day on more than one occasion.  It's very rare when I do that with any album.

What more can be said?  This is one of the best albums I've ever heard.  It's amazing that after 20 years they keeping getting BETTER!  The Melvins are not human.

[Mad Arab]

Buzz made all the Bootlicker stuff.
Kevins said in an interview that he got the whole thing on tape , so he just had to learn the stuff.

Ok, well the song would still be right at home on The Bootlicker.

[klump]

Buzz made all the Bootlicker stuff.
Kevins said in an interview that he got the whole thing on tape , so he just had to learn the stuff.

Ok, well the song would still be right at home on The Bootlicker.

yeah, I just wanted to point that out

[Dr. Seabass]

I picked it up today and I must say it is quite good.

[Mad Arab]

Buzz made all the Bootlicker stuff.
Kevins said in an interview that he got the whole thing on tape , so he just had to learn the stuff.

Ok, well the song would still be right at home on The Bootlicker.

yeah, I just wanted to point that out

No problem at all my friend. It's a good day to be a Melvins fan.

[Mad Arab]

It's finally October 10th and I'm trying to figure out where a good record store is in downtown washington dc. I'm here on [big] business, (sorry I couldn't resist the pun) and I know next to nothing about this city. Anybody know a good record store near the white house (I'm working about 4 blocks from there)? Maybe GWB is a melvins fan. I'll knock on the white house door to find out, hehe. But seriously if anyone knows of a record store close to here I would be eternally grateful to get ahold of this puppy today.

You are in luck, George W. Bush is a Melvins "Superfan".

[deatheats]

You are in luck, George W. Bush is a Melvins "Superfan".

Damn I knew that was him in the mosh pit at the Portland show.  I should have invited him back to the house for a bowl or two.

[Vcavallo]

It actually sounds like a progression from HAT.

[ManWithNoName]

Like POTRE and Jelvins didn't happen.  That's a good thing.

POTRE is great!

[stonerwitch]

Another diamond in their crown-a must have that shows that their evolving yet even more with great music that they seem to challenge themselfs with year after year.
When I first heard them years ago in the early 80's I knew they were bound for greatness.And I love them even more now for always keeping their music in the shadow of commercializm even though we all know they could be the hottest and most well known band around if they wanted to.Much respect for always following their own path and making great music,without having to wallow in the shit of the public limelight.