Mudhoney - Mudhoney

Re-Up - Originally Posted 4/10/08


I apologize for the lack of updates recently, but I've been feeling a little down the last few days, and just didn't feel like doing much online. I plan on uploading a few more compilations of rare 60's garage and psychedelic rock, similar to the "A Lethal Dose of Hard Psych" and "The 60's Collection of Scarcest Garage Records" compilations that I posted previously. I can't remember off the top of my head who requested this album.. but without further ado, here's Mudhoney's debut album.

With their first self-titled album, Mudhoney was trying to figure out how to make a full album work with their unique sound. It doesn't quite live up to the singles that they previously released, and if it's not a perfect listen as a whole, there are still some great songs to hear. Jack Endino's production lives up to his reputation for rough, thick recording, but he's left just enough for the songs to breathe, whether it's the audible handclaps on "This Gift" or the quirky guitar riff leading into Dan Peters' rollicking drum rolls on "You Got It." "When Tomorrow Hits" is easily the sleeper hit of the record; later memorably covered by Sonic Boom in the dying days of Spacemen 3, its slow, dreamily threatening build shows off the band's ability for subtlety amidst the volume. "Flat out Fucked" about sums up the whole ethos of the album -- careening pace, compressed feedback roar, and Mark Arm's desperate but never self-important singing resulting in neo-garage rock anti-anthems. About as good is the brilliantly titled instrumental "Magnolia Caboose Babyshit," which gives Steve Turner and Arm a chance to show off some crazy acid rock/proto-funk guitar that avoids sucking, always a pleasure. A couple of draggy numbers and others that take a good idea but almost run too much with it ("Come to Mind," well, comes to mind) keep things from fully working, but with their next album release Mudhoney would have the perfect combination down. (Year of Release: 1989)

Track List:
1. This Gift
2. Flat Out Fucked
3. Get Into Yours
4. You Got It
5. Magnolia Caboose Babyshit
6. Come To Mind
7. Here Comes Sickness
8. Running Loaded
9. The Farther I Go
10. By Her Own Hand
11. When Tomorrow Hits
12. Dead Love

Download: Mudhoney - Mudhoney
Download: 51.3MB

Mudhoney - Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles

Re-Up - Originally Posted 4/6/08


Named after the band's favorite distortion pedal, Superfuzz Bigmuff was actually Mudhoney's first EP; the Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles package collects that recording, as well as the A- and B-sides of their first two 45s and two covers (of the Dicks and Sonic Youth), all released in 1988-1989. Taken as a whole, this output makes a case for Mudhoney as the first true grunge band; due to the time constraints of the forms in which this material was originally released, it also makes for their best, most consistent album, as the band largely refrains from the sort of aimless, grinding Stooges updates that slow the momentum of most of its records. Instead, Superfuzz Bigmuff has all the best attributes of Mudhoney's Stooges fixation, whether slow or fast, this music is grimy, raucous, and violently enthusiastic, with a stronger melodic sensibility than Iggy's band possessed. Mudhoney's dominant traits are simple chord progressions and a filthy-sounding, ultradistorted guitar racket, punctuated by Mark Arm's snarling, demonic howls. It isn't the most original approach to rock & roll, but when it all comes into focus, as on their (and Sub Pop's) debut single, the ultimate grunge anthem "Touch Me I'm Sick" Mudhoney's power is absolutely throttling. "Touch Me I'm Sick" would be essential listening for anyone even remotely interested in the genesis of the Seattle scene, but the album is full of menacing, vital rock & roll, plus sharp songwriting that elevates several other songs to classic status. Mudhoney's musical range may be quite limited, but as Superfuzz Bigmuff proves, they can be amazing at what they can do. This is the birth of grunge, and a reminder of exactly why the music was christened with a word meaning "dirt." (Year of Release: 1990)

Track List:
1. Touch Me I'm Sick
2. Sweet Young Thing (Ain't Sweet No More)
3. Hate The Police
4. Burn It Clean
5. You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)
6. Halloween
7. No One Has
8. If I Think
9. In 'N' Out Of Grace
10. Need
11. Chain That Door
12. Mudride

Download: Mudhoney - Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles
Download Size: 39.4MB

Babes In Toyland - Fontanelle

Measured by any standard, Fontanelle is a frighteningly primal recordBabes in Toyland's most focused and powerful statement, Fontanelle was vaguely associated with grunge upon its release, and tossed in with the Pacific Northwest-centered riot grrrl movement after the fact. In truth, it lies somewhere in between, its raw punkish fury and metallic grind making it the spiritual kin of L7. Fontanelle isn't necessarily explicitly feminist, since the glorious noise of rock & roll is viewed as the ultimate empowerment. And that noise is all over Fontanelle -- it's arguably the harshest, most abrasive recording to come out of any part of the riot grrrl camp. Like L7, Babes in Toyland are more about pure sound than songs, but the similarities end there. Instead of just grinding away on simple power chords, Kat Bjelland's distinctive guitar work is full of intentionally grating dissonance, which is complemented by the jittery rhythm section. Vocally, Bjelland can move from a faux little-girl coo to a bellowing snarl in the space of one line; put together, all of this imbues Fontanelle with a terrifically explosive tension. Fittingly, the closing track features nothing but Bjelland, her guitar, and the sound of breaking glass bottles. Measured by any standard, Fontanelle is a frighteningly primal record, one whose sheer ferocity Babes in Toyland never quite captured this convincingly anywhere else.

Year of Release: 1992
Label: Reprise
Genre: Grunge, Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Bruise violet
2. Right Now
3. Bluebell
4. Handsome and Gretel
5. Blood
6. Magick Flute
7. Won't Tell
8. Quiet Room
9. Spun
10. Untitled
11. Jungle Train
12. Pearl
13. Real Eyes
14. Mother
15. Gone

Download: Babes In Toyland - Fontanelle
Download Size: 34MB