Melvins - Houdini

Pinnacle Of The Melvins

The Melvins found themselves in the right place and the right time in '93, as record companies were desperately looking for the next big grunge band. Atlantic swept up the band, a somewhat odd move as really, none of their previous records were particularly "grunge", nor were they accessible for mainstream listeners. Questionable move or not, the result was the Cobain-produced "Houdini", a monolithic sweep of huge riffs, grooves, vocal harmonies and eccentric experimentation.

With the exception of the quirky "Sky Pup", every song on "Houdini" has something to give. The album is packed with Melvins classics, such as the brooding "Night Goat", which showcases Buzzo in fine form, switching vocal styles with ease and laying down monumental riffs. "Goin Blind" is a superb adaptation of the Kiss original, shifting it into a glorious heavy onslaught juxtaposed with excellent vocal harmonies. "Hag Me" is Melvins at their sludgy, sloth-like best, reverting back to their roots (a la "Lysol") and swaggering through wonderfully thick walls of tone and gritty vocals. Another major positive is the album's sense of flow, with many songs seeping into one another. This is particularly evident in the later stages of the album, with the short combinations of "Joan of Arc", "Teet" and "Copache", all of which combine the thundering guitar heroics of Buzzo with delicious vocal melodies.

The Melvins always experiment and create moments of true dementia. And while "Houdini" has a very quirky feel to it, it balances the levels of experimentation perfectly, resulting in arguably the band's best release. Fans of heavy rock looking for something a little different should pick this up.
October 30, 2007

magic

the only songs u dont want to listen to is sky pup and the final 2 songs
everything is awesome. you can tell from this album how much kurt cobain and nirvana took from the melvins.
June 21, 2007

a landmark album in the Melvins' twisted discography

this is the Melvins' major label debut. back in the early 90's, the big grunge boom of the northwest was going on, and major record labels were busy signing bands left & right that sounded even remotely similiar to Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden. when Atlantic signed the Melvins, they didn't know what they were getting into. I don't think they were meant to be a big multi-million dollar phenomenon. nevertheless, Houdini was a kick-ass, weird, demented, rock album and is probably the best of their career (next to their self-titled album). in my opinion, this is probably one of the best rock albums that came out that year. when I think of my favorite albums of '93 I think of: Tool - Undertow, Tad - Inhaler, and Melvins - Houdini. May 17, 2006

"a fantastic release"

i am not new to the melvins by any means, but this is only the third album that i have purchased by them. and i deffinatly have to say that "houdini" is my favorite out of the three that i own.
i was expecting alot more then what i got.. when i purchased "stonerwitch" even though it was a great album i think it is far from their best, next i bought "gluey porch treatments" which was awsome,but the other day when i got "houdini" i couldnt quit smiling it was exactly the type of melvins album that i had been searching for. it is full of heavy dirge groove riffs in songs such as "hooch" and "nightgoat" but then it also has heavy fast insane hook songs like "honeybucket"
so in my opinion this is the melvins best album.... April 27, 2006

Primo Melvins

Wow. All I can truly say is that this album is something to behold. Melvins purists may knock it slightly due to it being a major label album (their first), but hands down, this is their tightest and most face-eating accomplishment. If Boris, Zodiac and Your Blessened were on this album, it would be the greatest album of all time - and in fact there would be no more need to make music. Ever again.

The entire album rocks steadily. (Ironically, the worst track on the album is Sky Pup, in which Kurt Cobain lends his crappy guitar talent).

Standout tracks and my personal favourites are: Lizzy, Going Blind, Honey Bucket and best of all Joan Of Arc. If I were a boxer or ultimate fighter, Joan Of Arc would be my entrance music. In fact, this song is so [...], that I'd by default be ahead of my opponent on the judge's scorecards.

If you like head-nodding, sludgey riffage at its finest then you must own this. An album no Melvins fan, or metal fan should be without.

Hail to the Melvins. April 17, 2006

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