FREAK PUKE by The Melvins

The Melvins are arguably one of the most important bands of our times, having re-invented modern music and influenced artistes as much as Charlie Parker did before them with jazz. I was really, really curious as to how ‘Freak Puke’ would turn out, considering King Buzzo is now pushing fifty. How much originality does one have left at that age? After witnessing the psychotic self-indulgence of Lou Reed (and to a lesser extent, the bane of Gurgaon, Metallica) on ‘Lulu’, one struggles with the concept of an artistic re-birth that seems more like a cry for help from a washed-up has-been. Fortunately, The Melvins straddle integrity and experimentation with the easy grace of the creative that we call eccentric. Ominous stand-up bass lines, hypnotic drum patterns commence on ‘Mr. Rip-Off’, and set the tone for the rest of the album. ‘Holy Barbarians’ is on the same page, with experimental sounds popping up between chilling melodies and long-drawn phrases. Once you reach ‘A Growing Disgust’, though, you realize exactly how much more is happening. One free beer at any establishment in my city of residence to anyone finding me a groove in a deeper pocket than this. Pure sludge, catchy guitar lines and Syd Barrett-influenced vocals make this song a regular feature on any smoking must-listen list. ‘Leon Versus The Revolution’ has Iommian riffs, heavily modulated vocals and a suitably chilling ambience. But the touchstone of the album is the ridiculous amount of experimentation on songs like ‘Baby Won’t You Weird Me Out’ that combines free-flowing jazz with unbelievably heavy progressions and some really scenic bass-breaks. ‘Inner Ear Rupture’, I could wager my life on, is a distended mockery of the posturing and swagger of ‘Eruption’ by Van Halen, except on a stand-up bass. If you worried about ever finding music weird enough to make you think, but melodic enough to make you move, search no more. If the above seems a little daunting, just listen to the interesting take of The Melvins on ‘Let Me Roll It’ by Paul McCartney and The Wings on this album for a preview.