(Scion A/V, 2012)
What do Melvins records and buses have in common? Wait for one and
two show up at the same time. Also they’re both massive, they’re both
slow and would both crush you if you got in their way. The venerable
sludge/grunge pioneers will soon be treating us with their next album
proper, the charmingly titled Freak Puke under their new
Melvins-Lite moniker but before that though we have this little beauty
of a free EP brought to us by the lovely folks over at Scion A/V. For
those who don’t know, Scion Audio/Visual is the record label department
of, bizarrely, the North American branch of the Toyota Motor Corporation
– apparently these dudes love their cars to be chunky and reliable, and
their music to be slow and dirty.
Well luckily it’s a marriage made in heaven because you could describe the music on The Bulls and the Bees
as “chunky and reliable” too. The Melvins are in full-on Kiss-inspired
pomp mode here and, surprisingly, this is a great thing for the most
part. All of the songs – barring one (more on that later) – are
extravagant and fun, even with titles like “We Are Doomed”. Lead single
(or the one they bothered to make a video for and play on National TV)
“War on Wisdom” comes in with Dale Crover’s clattering drums before
AC/DC, Kiss, and even Queen are channelled and filtered through the
Melvins’ characteristic rhythmical chug. It’s a triumphant start to the
EP, so triumphant in fact that by the time the middle eight comes
a-knockin’ King Buzzo sounds like he’s joined Crosby, Stills, Nash and
Young. Imagine that! Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and Buzzo. It has a
kind of awkward ring to it.
Second track “We Are Doomed” is also a complete belter and it’s the
song that comes closest to introducing danger into the mix, the lengthy
outro containing a certain Melvins menace that isn’t found anywhere else
on this brief EP. “National Hamster” is great too, even if it reminds
me of “Now I’m Here” by Queen. But it’s “A Really Long Wait” that is the
real surprise here – a beautiful, sombre, choral piece with a mixed
orchestra of strings and guitar feedback. I’m certain King Buzzo has
never sounded sweeter. In fact the vocals throughout the EP are massive,
Buzzo’s booming voice taking centre stage amongst the often lush
backing vocals.
For a free EP this is a pretty strong release from the Melvins, a
band whose recent material has met with a mixed response from fans and
critics alike. It might be a bit too classic rock for some, not deathly
slow enough for others but the songs are there and the melodies, while
strangely familiar, are strong enough to get lodged in your brain. To be
fair, I might not have been so favourable if this wasn’t the Melvins
and this won’t be making my end-of-year list but fortunately the Melvins
have put enough of their own personality into the derivative songs that
make up The Bulls and the Bees that it doesn’t matter. Still, can’t complain – it’s cheaper than a bus ticket…
[Originally published by the Sleeping Shaman, 09/05/2012]
http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album-reviews/m/melvins-scion-av-presents-the-bulls-and-the-bees-digital-ep-2012/
No comments:
Post a Comment