Search - Melvins :: Honky

A wonderful triumph in a time of trouble

drumb | milwaukee, wi United States | 02/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After falling out of favor with Atlantic Records when album sales didn't match those of their former Aberdeen comrades, the fate of The Melvins was anyone's guess. Instead of simply calling it quits though, the California based trio immediately struck a deal with Amphetamine Reptile Records and began work on their next studio masterpiece, Honky. Released only one year after what would be the group's final Atlantic effort (Stag - 1996), The Melvins proved to the world that they had no intentions whatsoever of slowing down or taking a self-indulgent hiatus. In fact, the very concept of Honky, to release whatever music had been composed by the end of a short, set period of time, prevented any possible slacking on the part of the workaholic rockers. The results of this intensive songwriting period are fascinating, bringing The Melvins to new planes and universes of creativity never before touched upon by any of their 14+ prior releases. These eclectic new sound experiments venture into the worlds of ambient drones and moody space rock to reveal some of the band's truly interesting yet often overlooked influences. The extended aural gem "Air Breather Deep in the Arms of Morphius" recalls the heyday of psychedelic metal-heads Hawkwind and songs like "How--++--" and "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick Tree" would fit perfectly on Pink Floyd's 1973 classic "Dark Side of the Moon". Repetitive pulses and synth flares straight out of the Kraftwerk and Can songbook then perfect Honky's bad acid trip atmosphere. All of these established styles are then filtered into the perfect mixture that is uniquely "Melvinish" adding just the right amounts of dark overtones and schizophrenic diversity to set Honky apart as being anything but a rip off. With all of Honky's original development and improvisational experimentation however, there is still plenty of material here for fans of the Melvins' older work. The blasting guitars of "Mombius Hibachi" and "Lovely Butterfly" nearly blow out the speakers while the frenzied grind of "In the Freaktose the Bugs are Dying," is enough to make Metallica ... their pants on the spot. The most endearing and important characteristic of Honky however is not the songwriting itself, but its testament to its creator's resilience and persistence in the face of adversity. Despite being relegated to an obscure Midwestern indie label, The Melvins not only managed to put out some of their best original music to date, but actually used the lo fi aesthetics to creatively enhance their sound in the same fashion as "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" or "The Velvet Underground and Nico". Obviously untarnished and more alive than ever, Honky was an amazing accomplishment from a transitional period that not only stands as a great album on its own terms but also expands the vast limits of The Melvins' sounds to their absolute breaking point."

You're not ready.

drumb | 09/05/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, I've heard several people come away from this album very disillusioned and disappointed. I'm here to tell you that unless you're a devoted Melvins fan (as I consider myself to be) you're not going to "get it", okay? Try their earlier albums...like "Ozma/Gluey Porch Treatments" until you get the hang of them, then move on in chronological order. THEN maybe you'll "get it". Once you're ready, you'll LOVE "Honky". Give yourself a chance to warm up to it!"

Not just for white people

tylerdanger | spanaway trailer park, WA USA | 12/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On Honky, the Melvins successfully forge a soundscape as frightening and bleak as a nuclear fallout site. Though, highly experimental, they intentionally create a swirling, floating mass of dark, cavernous soundscapes juxtaposed against suffocating grinding sludge, creating a completely balanced listening experience. The album as a whole is very textured, including blips from synths, creepy moaning and chugging buzzsaw guitar riffs. However, due to its experimental nature, I would only recommend this one to listeners who have heard the Melvins before (and I don't mean Stoner Witch). Those of you who purchase the album and give it the fair chance will be pleasantly suprised to see that the Melvins reign supreme as metal heavyweights and hold their crown high...high..........high"