There were so many great bands in Seattle back in the nineties (still are) but it's a shame that we're mostly known for such terrible groups as Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden etc. None of my peers ever liked that bullshit, even back then. I don't see how those bands are really related to Melvins, Mudhoney, Nirvana aside from region. Most of this stuff has aged so badly anyways, so who cares. I can't imagine revisiting this stuff anytime soon, that's for sure.
As a side note, it's amusing to note that many genre tags of that era started out as jokes, or at least as sarcastic putdowns of bands of similar sound.
DC bands Rites of Spring & Embrace were jokingly referred to as "emo" around 1985 because of their highly melodramatic performances and similar response from their crowds. But by 1990 the term was in full use as a genre tag.
"Grunge" we've already covered.
But the capper had to be Sebadoh's "Gimme Indie Rock," the title of which was HIGHLY amusing at the time - 1991 - when that term was barely in use at all. Little did anyone know that within the year it would come to be the industry-standard moniker for what was previously called "alternative music."
Sebadoh - Gimme Indie Rock lyrics
Started back in '83 Started seeing things a differently And hardcore wasn't doin' it for me no more Started smoking pot Thought things sounded better slow Much slower, heavier Black magic melody to sink this poseur's soul
VU Stooges undeniably cool Took a lesson from that drone rock school Manipulate musicians hack righteous drool Getting loose with the Pussy Galore Cracking jokes like a Thurston Moore Peddle hopping like a Dinosaur, J...
Rock and Roll genius, ride the middle of the road Milk that sound, blow your load Shoot it further than you ever said it go Four stars in the Rolling Stone
Oooh sludge rock, That's hard as harsh Just gimme indie rock! It's gone big Come on indie rock Just give me indie rock
Taking inspiration from Husker Du It's a new generation Of electric white boy blues Come on indie rock It's gone big Come on indie rock Just give me indie rock
Breaking down the barriers Like Sonic Youth They got what they wanted Maybe I can get what I want too Come on indie rock It's gone big Come on indie rock Just give me indie rock
Time to knock The hard rock on it's side Time to knock The shit right up a storm Turn to amaze With the indie sludge Grunge! Aaah!
HarveyCanal"a distraction from my main thesis." 13,234 Posts
Side note: I discovered some Sugar Shack 7-inches in my basement a few weeks ago. That stuff still sounds great 20 years later.
You're a freak and you don't even know it...love(d) that band.
And dudes are trying too hard in here, just like the stuffiest of rock critics.
Grunge is Jeff Spicola smacking his Van against his forehead.
I mean, there were bands doing smart versions of grunge and I think the punk bands cited in here are valid influences.
But again, if a band went too far from catering to that "hear that, that's my skull" mentality, then they were on some other ish.
Also, the Screaming Trees were/are much more than alright. Sweet Oblivion on was indeed subpar, but anything before that = golden.
grunge--and, in particular, Nirvana--was rock music's last grasp at relevance.
Maybe it was a "last grasp at relevance" on the part of rock critics (many of whom were too old to fully relate to this new genre when it came about)
Maybe the ones who wrote for the likes of Rolling Stone, but definitely not at the fanzines. (Or maybe even Spin, who always seemed to lean towards alt-rock even when they put Jon Bon Jovi on the cover.)
I offer a counter-narrative: grunge--and, in particular, Nirvana--was rock music's last grasp at relevance.
Eh. Maybe it was a "last grasp at relevance" on the part of rock critics (many of whom were too old to fully relate to this new genre when it came about), but the bands themselves were just playing the kind of music that came natural to them. I'd venture to guess that very few of the pioneering "grunge" bands cared about any kind of relevance. In fact, most had a healthy sense of humor about the whole enterprise of rock and its trappings.
I offer a counter-narrative: grunge--and, in particular, Nirvana--was rock music's last grasp at relevance.
Eh. Maybe it was a "last grasp at relevance" on the part of rock critics (many of whom were too old to fully relate to this new genre when it came about), but the bands themselves were just playing the kind of music that came natural to them. I'd venture to guess that very few of the pioneering "grunge" bands cared about any kind of relevance. In fact, most had a healthy sense of humor about the whole enterprise of rock and its trappings.
Also, the Screaming Trees were/are much more than alright. Sweet Oblivion on was indeed subpar, but anything before that = golden.
I will this statement.
A couple years back, a coworker was playing a Mark Lanegan album, and it was great. Reminded me how much ass that band kicked, and he remains solid. Check, "Hit the City," for some great rock n' roll.
Having said that, my can-only-have-one grunge album would be the self-titled Mudhoney LP. Super Fuzz Big Muff may be the blueprint for grunge, but the S/T album is it's peak moment, IMO. Mudhoney were great live back then, too.
Also ... I know grunge is supposed to be a northwest scene but Dinosaur put out their first album in 1985, and that is unquestionably a "grunge" record in retrospect.
I know Grunge is supposed to be a northwest scene but Dinosaur put out their first album in 1985, and that is unquestionably a "Grunge" record in retrospect.
Did it kinda sound like what was happening at the time, but in retrospect it was ahead of itself - or a clue to what was to come?
two drumkits on stage at a Mudhoney show at WWU...
Nirvana was about two months into world domination...there wasn't supposed to be an opening band...quite an opening band, Nirvana. That was THE "Seattle Sound" moment for me.
really, looking back...it's hard to distinguish what was "grunge" and what was just being 15 years old...
I dug it though, it was pretty exciting to be the HQ of music for a couple years...
def. i don't think anyone really sounded like dinosaur in 85/86. sure, there were the torch-bearers around at that point (sonic youth, pixies, etc) but none of them were really engaging in the "loud guitars throwing up on a tape" sound that dinosaur was making.
I offer a counter-narrative: grunge--and, in particular, Nirvana--was rock music's last grasp at relevance.
Eh. Maybe it was a "last grasp at relevance" on the part of rock critics (many of whom were too old to fully relate to this new genre when it came about), but the bands themselves were just playing the kind of music that came natural to them. I'd venture to guess that very few of the pioneering "grunge" bands cared about any kind of relevance. In fact, most had a healthy sense of humor about the whole enterprise of rock and its trappings.
grunge = 90s college rock gone top 40
IMO (and I lived through it, thanks) grunge sucked ass. That flannel uniform was nothing new and the music was mostly junk, with a few exceptions.
It was that writer Everett True, from what I can remember...
and then a marketing creation, just like "crack." It doesn't exist. Bands that are called "grunge" can somehow be punk, metal, poppy, all sorts of things.
Pretty much it's fake.
that said: Melvins RULE!
"If music were a religion, then may Melvins be my God[/b]." -John Book, review for "Lysol" in "The Rocket" circa 1992
I offer a counter-narrative: grunge--and, in particular, Nirvana--was rock music's last grasp at relevance.
Eh. Maybe it was a "last grasp at relevance" on the part of rock critics (many of whom were too old to fully relate to this new genre when it came about), but the bands themselves were just playing the kind of music that came natural to them. I'd venture to guess that very few of the pioneering "grunge" bands cared about any kind of relevance. In fact, most had a healthy sense of humor about the whole enterprise of rock and its trappings.
grunge = 90s college rock gone top 40
IMO (and I lived through it, thanks) grunge sucked ass. That flannel uniform was nothing new and the music was mostly junk, with a few exceptions.
Yeah, soulmarcosa definitely lived through it too and is more aware of what he's speaking on then he's let on here. He and Hook_Up's 'old rock dude' comments are the most on the money here.
Comments
This about sums it up. Plus people wear flannels up here cuz it's COLD.
I have ridiculously great memories surrounding this album.
DC bands Rites of Spring & Embrace were jokingly referred to as "emo" around 1985 because of their highly melodramatic performances and similar response from their crowds. But by 1990 the term was in full use as a genre tag.
"Grunge" we've already covered.
But the capper had to be Sebadoh's "Gimme Indie Rock," the title of which was HIGHLY amusing at the time - 1991 - when that term was barely in use at all. Little did anyone know that within the year it would come to be the industry-standard moniker for what was previously called "alternative music."
Sebadoh - Gimme Indie Rock lyrics
Started back in '83
Started seeing things a differently
And hardcore wasn't doin' it for me no more
Started smoking pot
Thought things sounded better slow
Much slower, heavier
Black magic melody to sink this poseur's soul
VU Stooges undeniably cool
Took a lesson from that drone rock school
Manipulate musicians hack righteous drool
Getting loose with the Pussy Galore
Cracking jokes like a Thurston Moore
Peddle hopping like a Dinosaur, J...
Rock and Roll genius, ride the middle of the road
Milk that sound, blow your load
Shoot it further than you ever said it go
Four stars in the Rolling Stone
Oooh sludge rock,
That's hard as harsh
Just gimme indie rock!
It's gone big
Come on indie rock
Just give me indie rock
Taking inspiration from Husker Du
It's a new generation
Of electric white boy blues
Come on indie rock
It's gone big
Come on indie rock
Just give me indie rock
Breaking down the barriers
Like Sonic Youth
They got what they wanted
Maybe I can get what I want too
Come on indie rock
It's gone big
Come on indie rock
Just give me indie rock
Time to knock
The hard rock on it's side
Time to knock
The shit right up a storm
Turn to amaze
With the indie sludge
Grunge!
Aaah!
You're a freak and you don't even know it...love(d) that band.
And dudes are trying too hard in here, just like the stuffiest of rock critics.
Grunge is Jeff Spicola smacking his Van against his forehead.
I mean, there were bands doing smart versions of grunge and I think the punk bands cited in here are valid influences.
But again, if a band went too far from catering to that "hear that, that's my skull" mentality, then they were on some other ish.
Also, the Screaming Trees were/are much more than alright. Sweet Oblivion on was indeed subpar, but anything before that = golden.
Maybe the ones who wrote for the likes of Rolling Stone, but definitely not at the fanzines. (Or maybe even Spin, who always seemed to lean towards alt-rock even when they put Jon Bon Jovi on the cover.)
Dude, you are a known rockist.
And Faux Rillz, you are a known rapist.
I will
A couple years back, a coworker was playing a Mark Lanegan album, and it was great. Reminded me how much ass that band kicked, and he remains solid. Check, "Hit the City," for some great rock n' roll.
The anthology of their SST material is crucial.
would be the self-titled Mudhoney LP. Super Fuzz Big Muff
may be the blueprint for grunge, but the S/T album is it's
peak moment, IMO. Mudhoney were great live back then, too.
Also ... I know grunge is supposed to be a northwest scene
but Dinosaur put out their first album in 1985, and that
is unquestionably a "grunge" record in retrospect.
Did it kinda sound like what was happening at the time, but in retrospect it was ahead of itself - or a clue to what was to come?
Nirvana was about two months into world domination...there wasn't supposed to be an opening band...quite an opening band, Nirvana. That was THE "Seattle Sound" moment for me.
really, looking back...it's hard to distinguish what was "grunge" and what was just being 15 years old...
I dug it though, it was pretty exciting to be the HQ of music for a couple years...
I still got some mean flannels too.
def.
i don't think anyone really sounded like dinosaur in 85/86.
sure, there were the torch-bearers around at that point (sonic youth, pixies, etc) but none of them were really engaging in the "loud guitars throwing up on a tape" sound that dinosaur was making.
grunge = 90s college rock gone top 40
IMO (and I lived through it, thanks) grunge sucked ass. That flannel uniform was nothing new and the music was mostly junk, with a few exceptions.
"If music were a religion, then may Melvins be my God[/b]."
-John Book, review for "Lysol" in "The Rocket" circa 1992
Yeah, soulmarcosa definitely lived through it too and is more aware of what he's speaking on then he's let on here. He and Hook_Up's 'old rock dude' comments are the most on the money here.
FYI, emo was over before "Sunny Day" even existed... I don't think I've ever even heard that band.
And before that "college rock."
Dino Jr were years ahead of their time and were never topped (while Lou was with them). Nirvana was a watered-down little brother.