NR Essentials #14: Melvins - Electroretard
 

Melvins
Electroretard
2001, Man's Ruin

When I was a young man in 90's, there was this guy Kurdt that used to be in magazines a lot. Often, he'd mention other bands and then young men like myself would check those bands out. One such band was called the Melvins. In my young man days of the 90's, I bought quite a few Melvins albums. Enough to call myself a fan. And there were a few (the Atlantic trilogy: Stoner Witch, Stag, Houdini) that were fucking great records. But then the 90's grew close to an end and that Kurdt guy had stopped talking about the Melvins etc and new sounds were tickling my fancy. It seemed there was maybe no room for a band like the Melvins in a nu-millenial landscape. How could a grunge-cum-metal band actually be important when the year was about to end in three zero's?

The answer culminated in this mindfuck. ELECTRORETARD. Ostensibly, a singles collection one-off slapped together for Man's Ruin. The record was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek Melvins Remix album. But what it amounted to was the perfect representation of everything there is to love (and I do me LOVE) about this band. So here it goes:

1. Shit Storm
This is a "remix" of "Revolve", the Melvins "big hit" from STONER WITCH. They simply played it backwards. Now that's how you start an album. Or this is...

2. Youth Of America
A fucking ridiculously perfect Wipers cover. Oh My God! Why would anyone cover this song? It's already awesome! I know, but give it like 5 seconds and you'll just fucking love it! The Melvins are yr new favorite.

3. Gluey Porch Treatments
A "remix" of the title-track from one of their earliest albums. Except it's just a weird part of the song played for less than a minute. Classic.

4. Revolve
Okay, now this is amazing. This is their aforementioned hit "Revolve" from STONER WITCH. The song was originally what I would consider a Stoner RAWK Classic. But here, it's something else altogether. Fucked up. Brilliant. Unrecognziable. Syd Barrett in a bar-room brawl with a Speak & Spell.

5. Missing
A Cows cover. But more importantly, proof that Dale Crover is probably the most under-estimated drummer alive.

6. Lovely Butterflies
A remake of the HONKY track, with further emphasis on Mr. Crover as John Bonham.

7. Tipping The Lion
A crazy fucking overdriven mess and terbly leads that naturally leads into...

8. Interstellar Overdrive
That's right. The cutagra (or whatever). What's amazing is not that the Melvins would have the fucking balls to cover Pink Floyd's classic of I'm-Losing-My-Mind rock. What's amazing is how exact this cover. If yr not a fan of the Melvins after this 10-min freakout, then you will not be.

So that's that. Get this. But I think it's out of print, because Man's Ruin shut down. But still find it. It rules.

Haha, indeed it's amongst their weirdest and most interesting records.. .but as far as favorite goes.. .hmmm. It's always tough to choose a favorite melvins record!...

I think "Bullhead" is my fav.

There's something special about this one. I dnt know. But like I said, I do love them. They have a lot of amazing records.

one of the best bands ever, definitely.

Good band but I haven't heard this record. So should it be their next one I pick up?

indeed it is!

Bullhead is my favourite Melvins album... but I love this as well! Youth of America rules.

Indeed a nice "Essentials" choice. Melvins are one of the most amazing bands ever.

Melvins are great. Saw them live for the first time last year. The show was sold out, and while waiting outside for a bit, we talked to Dale Crover through the fence as he smoked a cigarette. We were eventually let in for free, just for waiting so long and not being obnoxious assholes.


King Buzzo's presence was god-like and the added drummer from Big Business really made it quite an intense performance.

Fav album = Stoner Witch.

Yeah seeing them live was so terribly fun. Also add to the fact that Flipper supported them.

They're a very intelligent band.