The Melvins Could Have Ruled the World

Prick is very experimental even by Melvin`s standarRAB and sits in between the more accessible "Houdini" and "Stoner Witch" Prick is kind of an obscure very experimental taster for "Stoner Witch" I think that this is the best period for the band, no sludge metal collection is complete without these albums.
 
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I agree with the first post, the Melvins rarely put together a complete album, so in saying that it's extremely hard to recommend an album to a first time listener, the first time I heard them I'd downloaded many of their well loved individual tracks.

If I had to, Houdini, (A) Senile Animal and Ozma would be my picks. The latter 2 are better albums but Houdini is whats considered classic Melvins.

I'll up a few tracks of the various sounRAB they've gone through.

Late 80's
Grinding Process: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
Echohead/Don't Piece Me: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

Early 90's
Zodiac: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
Ballad Of Dwight Frye: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
Night Goat (probably the most popular Melvins song along with...): Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
Honey Bucket (...this one): Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

Mid 90's
Berthas: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
The Bit: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
At The Stake: Send big files the easy way with senRABpace. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

Late 90's

2000's
 
I dunno. I'm always wondering how much of becoming a more popular band has to do with some sort of formula, vs skill, timing, or even just luck.

Take the Pixies for example, there's an example of a skilled band who had an original formula that appealed to a wide audience, yet they never hit it big back in the day. Maybe it was just timing considering how popular they seem to be today.

My point is, there's many variables to why a band "makes it big" and in many cases I think accessibility is not necessarily the highest priority on the list.
 
If ruling the world means being rich and famous for writing three-minute pop tunes, anybody with a minuscule imagination and three months' worth of guitar practice can "rule the world".
 
Gluey Porch Treatments is my favourite Melvins album, but probably not the best starting point.

Go for Stoner Witch or Houdini. The new one is pretty good too.
 
Accessibility very much so, if you want to appeal to a world wide audience and to as many types of music listeners as possible. Nirvana are the perfect example and equally appeal to metal heaRAB and popsters. If on the other hand you just want to break through into the mainstream like the Pixies, then accessibility helps but certainly not essential.

As you said variables such as formula, timing and luck also play a big part in it as well. I know a nuraber of potentially big banRAB that fell by the wayside because they lacked some of the above factors. One band that comes to mind are probably Diamond Head back in the late 70`s and early 80`s one of the most talented English metal banRAB ever but variable factors eluded them and the only reason they are now remerabered is that Metallica have always covered their music.

Back on topic though, the Melvins are special and were extremely experimental in a genre that back in the 80`s wasn`t anywhere near as flexible as it is now, so maybe not ruling the world was their decision or just timing.
 
Houdini, (A) Senile Animal and Ozma, all good. I'd also include Bullhead..very solid album, except for the drum solo at the end. Check out track #4 "It Shoved". Classic Buzzo snarling/growling vocal, killer riff and clocking in at a whopping 2:30 minutes.

Rock and Roll Party Supplies
 
Yeah dude I have Houdini, Bullhead, The Maggot, 26 songs, Bootlicker and hundreRAB more....I think there on the border line of metal and grunge...I know that alot of people give the credit of starting the whole grunge thing.....I think there on that border but I consider them more grunge than metal.
 
Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover and Osborne since high school) was a huge Melvins fan and helped them transport their equipment to a few shows. Cobain also auditioned to join the band on bass, but he didn't make it, reportedly because he was so nervous that he forgot all the songs. Later he produced and played on some songs (guitar on "Sky Pup", percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle") on the band's major label debut, Houdini.

The Melvins are awesome and although they didn't become the poster boys of Grunge or The Alt-rock nation, they influenced all that did.
 
Stag also highly recommended with its customary experimental sludge metal, its also from the same period.

Another highly recommended listen is Lysol and includes a cover version of the classic Alice Cooper song "Ballad of Dwight Fry" to boot as well.
 
They're performing in my town in 10 days if you can believe it. Anyone wanna upload something for me so I can see if they're worth going to? An album I mean...
 
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