Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Sounds like a load of songs that didn’t quite make the Tony Hawks soundtrack.

On my first attempt at university, I was not a good student. Tuesdays, in particular, I would go to my 11am English lit lecture with my mate Grant, and then we would trundle off to Manning Bar when it opened at noon, because Tuesday was band day. Every lunchtime there would be a free band, usually some local alternative band. But hard to argue with free, right? One week in March of 1990, we ambled up to the bar, where they were lugging in very large, but incredibly beaten up, amplifiers. "Whose playing?" I enquired of Ian, the Activities Officer. "Mudhoney" he replied. "Cool", I thought. The chance to see an overseas band was a special treat, and I knew the name, even if I wasn't familiar with their music. At 1pm, they shambled out and ripped through a cacophonous and powerful set, largely based on Superfuzz Bigmuff and their self-titled record. They were a revelation. they were loud and fast and angsty and funny and drunk as hell (at lunchtime!). This was music as I wanted it to be. Proper dangerous punk rock that didn't take itself too seriously. As I recall, lots of people thought it was a terrible racket and left, but it sure made a mark on me. As soon as the set finished, I hiked up to Scratches Records at Newtown and bought a copy of Superfuzz Bigmuff, which is one of my all-time favourite records. I went to see them a few times that tour, and on their next tour, which was in December of the same year if I remember correctly. I saw them at the Lansdowne Hotel, the Phoenician Club, the Paddington RSL, and then a few years later at the Big Day Out. I love, love, love, their stuff. I had been hanging around on the Sydney alternative live scene for a couple of years, so this made a lot of sense to me. Australian alternative had a lot of the elements of grunge (that noisy, punky garage rock thing, leavened with a piss-take attitude), but this was the first American band that I had seen doing what became known as grunge, which was about to take off. This is generally regarded as their best album, and it is pretty damn great. Personally, I would go Superfuzz (the CD versions with the extra singles on it for a real taste, but this a terrific album. I love the fuzzy, terrible recording quality, the sloppy playing, the punk energy, the humour, the sense of being out of control. It helped codify my musical taste (and also heavily influenced the terrible and I was in for most of the 90s). Mudhoney were my band. I bought their records, I wore the t-shirts, I saw them live as often as I could. I ended up working at Scratches not long after that, so I had a front row seat for the explosion of grunge in 1991. Oh to be 20 years old again, working in a little record shop and seeing bands three or four nights a week at a time when there was something so exciting happening in music. While the explosion of underground music into the mainstream, was exciting at the time, in the long term, it didn't really turn out well for many people (including independent alternative record stores). But that's a story for another day... My infatuation with Mudhoney did influence me in one way that I regret. When Nirvana's Nevermind exploded, I was pretty lukewarm on it. everyone I knew who worked in alternative record stores got thoroughly sick of how overplayed it was. I mean, good record, but it's not Mudhoney now is it? And so I didn't buy tickets to see Nirvana when they played the Phoenician. I really regret that. But I don't regret ever listening to Mudhoney. They are still my band. I really love this record, but is it really a must hear? It is for me, but maybe not for everyone. Four stars

Turgid pish

This album has had my dick hanging out the back of it since day one. It still gets me hard, unlike your mum.

I love grunge but Mudhoney is at the crappy end of it imo. Yeah I know they were practically the first grunge band, but they lean too heavily into the alternative art rock DIY garage band stuff where I prefer my grunge to sound like AIC and Soundgarden. I've heard this album a few times, it kinda just exists. It's not horrible, but it's not actually good and I wouldn't listen to it for fun. Seems to be propelled by reputation alone. 2/5.

I tried to like it. I really did. And any one of those songs is fine. Good, even. But, man that album felt like a slog to me. There’s just so much of it. And every song is not as [adjective] as [contemporary reference band].

Sounds like 1992 and I love it.

I'd seen the name of this band before but never listened. I liked it!

Not being very familiar with the genre, I find it hard to review classic grunge in any other way than through the lens set up by Nirvana. In a direct comparison, Mudhoney lack Nirvana's catchy choruses and Kurt's iconic delivery thereof. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. It has some pretty good hooks and isn't too chaotic and certainly not mindless (my usual complaints regarding grunge and punk-inspired genres in general). The album length was perfect too, as I stayed engaged throughout. Good album.

They get labeled as grunge because they're a Seattle band using heavy distortion in 1991, but there are more punk elements here than anything: an abundance of two-minute songs, shouty repetitive choruses, a lead singer who can't carry a tune, and purposefully mediocre production quality (because using low quality tape totally owned those studios, man). I vacillated between being impressed by the balls on these guys and annoyed by this album's existence, which was probably the point. Best track: Good Enough

Some pretty passable Seattle grunge, but someone else did it better

Grunge. No está mal, pero no me ha encantado del todo.

Very listenable except for one song with snoring sounds in the middle. Sound is more late 90s indie, although can hear more classic early 90s seattle grunge too.

Been meaning to listen to them for years. Scrappy, garage punk version of grunge. Cool guitar shit. I dig it!

Nice grunge album with better vocals than I typically expect from the genre!! 8/10

I had never heard of this album or band before this, but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed listening. Big fan of the guitar work on this record - there's something magical about fuzzy sounding guitars. Lowkey inspiring me to whip out my electric again and mess around with my effect pedals. The guitar is definitely what stood out to me the most and what I enjoyed the most, but I also liked the vocals. Album was chaotic in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed. Might check out more by this band!

Early influential grunge, but not overly impresive nowadays. Nothing stands out as exceptional or as terrible. A recording of its time

Exceptional Grunge Band Destroys Faces

A pretty good grunge rock album. Apparently one of the first. Didn't quite have that hopeless edge that grunge excels at

Nope.

yaaas lawd, YES!

I have loved this album since it came out!

One of my favorite bands... hell, at times they are my absolute favorite. Great band to see live. This is a classic in my book, just got the 30th anniversary version of this on vinyl. Glad to see it here on the list. These guys are still cranking out great stuff. I'd argue their last 3 records (The Lucky Ones, Vanishing Point, Digital Garbage) are as good as (and maybe better than) anything they've ever put out. Check them out too.

Now that's more like it

amazing

okay

Really good grunge album! Hadn't heard of these guys before. A couple really cool tracks. Highly recommend.

This is like if In the Aeroplane over the sea was a punk album. Maybe that comparison is stupid but it makes sense to me at this particular moment in time. Either way, this is quite good for my punk-loving soul, unlike anything I've ever heard.

Okay, this isn’t universal, but it’s a classic to me (even if you never heard it, you heard Nirvana and Pearl Jam after Mudhoney’s influence).

I recall being sniffy about this album at the time, it didn't seem to have the youthful swagger & snarl of earlier releases. Listening to it now ... sounds amazing!

Ooh, this was a very good grunge and punk album, which I'd never heard before. All these tracks were amazing in my opinion, and I have to admit I was kinda into the harmonica in one or two of these tracks. Favourite: Move Out

Such a good album, easy 5 star

HELL YEAH GRUNGE LET'S GOOOOOOOOO

A little dark and gloomy, but good bit of energy and chaos in this. It's dirty, gritty, drone-y and perfect. Listened to this nonstop for about two hours before settling on a five. Would def. listen to this againif I didn't have such a mountain of unfinished reviews to write.

Punchy. I want some fudge now.

Very important album in my teenage years. Incredible!

Something new, surprised I hadn’t heard of them before

Loved the metal grunge vibe!

sehr gut

Yeah this is still a near-perfect grunge record with fast, catchy songs all over - had not listened to Mudhoney for many years and thought the album may have that outdated grunge sound, but it still sounded fresh, and I like it very much.

neat punk with some great variation. saved.

Whenever I hear this album I hear the distant thunder of a revolution. This is grunge! Everything else (except for the Melvins) are also rans. Released a full two months ahead of Nevermind this was touted as the album that would break through. But overall it wasn't. Too dirty sounding, having used an 8 track to do the recording, this wasn't a radio friendly album. That is why it is important. As it flew against the expectation and in a way Mudhoney took a step back so they could keep having fun. And that is what it is all about - having fun. I still hate the cover though but treasure my limited pressing on Fudge coloured vinyl

I don't always listen to garage punk and proto grunge but when I do, I'll now make sure it's Mudhoney. Really now. My 5 stars often reflect how much I enjoyed an album within this 1001AYMHBYD challenge and this is the shit. Certainly one of the shits. Also, best harmonica I've heard so far. Looking at you, Bob.

started a reluctant wednesday with this and really enjoyed it. hell yes to never being too professional

Awesome grunge with personality.

Some of the best out of the Grunge movement. Perfect, tight, dissonant, clever album. More, plz.

fudge you

Personal preference is why I give this four stars

Good

Sonido crudo, muy grunge. Estilo de voz parecido a Kurt Cobain

Really liked this. Guitars are mud but that’s okay with me 😎

1st half fucking banger 2nd residentsleeper zzzzzzzzz

nirvana vibezzzz

Very energetic album that in the right mood is perfect to keep your head bopping. A lot of fun songs without any that really stood out, just a solid and consistent album.

Pure grunge! Pure noise! Pure shit!

7/10, solid album

buenazo.

It was loud but I enjoyed the eclectic rock sound over a lot of other grunge I’ve heard. 7

Enjoyable fudge packing. If I was to describe this as a footballer, it would be Marco Reus.

Amaai weer een goede week

oh deze vind ik leuk!

I feel like this one isn't as interesting as previous Mudhoney albums, but the influence on Nirvana is undeniable. There is such a raw energy here, the shift in tone between songs is really enjoyable and overall I have definitely enjoyed the experience of listening to it.

I'd like to hear this remastered. Full-blown heavy metal (am I right?) with this late 80s sound. Maybe a bit too monotonous, I'd like to hear more space between the sounds

Sounds like a Subpop punk album. Good stuff. 9/10 chance my next existential crisis will have a Subpup album in the background.

Mmm...Grungie.

4/5. Underrated fo sho, not my vibe rn, but great dynamic (ftmp) grunge

Early grunge before the genre gets too into itself. They're not afraid to mix things up a bit and you can definitely still hear the punk influence

8/10

Though Mudhoney has never lived up to the hype of their first Sub Pop singles, they have carved out a rather successful career. Their early grunge work is what I remember best of Mudhoney and EGBDF might be their best album. A solid record in any era!

Pretty great grunge album.

Starts of pretty in the weeds but really opens up from Broken Hands onward. Fuzz Gun '91 is a no brainer addition to Fat Riff Friday.

Very underrated band and album. Excellent.

Нечего не могу сказать

This record by fuzz-propelled garage grunge anti-stars from the Washington State area doesn't have the all-time hits the band are still known for today (such as "Touch Me, I'm Sick" or "Suck You Dry"). But overall, it's the most cohesive and convincing entry from their early output. Buy either this or a compilation from them (or better, buy both--there's only *one* compilation out there anyway). Number of albums left to review or just listen to:  more than 900, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens:  approximately a half so far  Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter

Of all the tragedies I endured growing up in the Midwest in the 90s, not immediately discovering Mudhoney may have well been the worst.

Had never heard of this band, but a fun album that I will come back to

Very enjoyable, like an early Nirvana with even less focus or production work. Not super catchy, or immediate, but one I will probably come back to.

Defines the 90s

Worth another listen at some point

Not heard them before. I was probably just a few years too young. Enjoyed this - some good grooves.

This album probably gets overlooked more than it should. Worthy of a spot in the list.

Really enjoyed this. Loved the weird guitar riffs and the nasty yet warm guitar tone. Cool blending of styles from punk to indie rock to rock n roll.

LO AME QUEEEEE

Another band i missed when I was listening to music from the early 90's. This is a good one for sure.

90’s grunge but with a 60’s rock spirit. Some tracks sound like something The Doors might have done if The Doors formed thirty years later than they did. “Generation Genocide” has a psychedelic feel and “Something So Clear” could almost be a grunge-ified “Break On Through (To the Other Side).” Hearing harmonica on a few songs was a surprise! The album has a fiery punk energy and strong songwriting. An excellent album overall.

Grunge rock, pretty standard sound for the genre/era. Solid but nothing caught my ear

This album is far better than I gave it credit for when I was a teenager in the 90s! Some really great songs on here, and an important foundation for the sounds to come after.

Really solid stuff

Enjoyed, if at points anonymous. As with a lot of stuff like this, I bet it was amazing live.

Cracking early nineties slice of grunge

Not a bad grunge-like album. Enjoyed the two play throughs. No song really caught my ear, but I might give it another listen

Great stuff. Would listen again

Didn't feel like there was a chance I didn't like this one. Mudhoney are mainstays of a scene that I've always had an affinity for. Oh, and if you haven't read Our Band Could Be Your Life and you're even remotely interested in American underground and/or DIY music, go buy it and read it immediately. Standouts: Let It Slide, Something So Clear, Broken Hands, Shoot The Moon

There is something to be said for a band revered amongst the Seattle grunge scene, opting to stick with 8-track mixes and holding firm to their sub pop label. In an amongst the grunge power-chord tropes like 'Shoot The Moon', there are tracks like 'Something So Clear', 'Thorn', and 'Fuzz Gun '91' that show this group had a lot more to say and do. Kudos to them for going after that vision and kudos to this list for recognizing the value of it.

I really enjoyed this album! Most of the songs kind of blended together for me, but there were none I disliked and overall I loved the general sound of the album. Fav songs: Let It Slide, Check-Out Time

Solid album, this feels more like Dinosaur Jr or other noisy indie rock than grunge to me, but I suppose grunge has always been a weird fuzzy boundary in that respect. In any case, I liked this, will probably go check out their other albums soon!

Grungy sound. New fave

i like

rocking grungey goodness. 4 stars.

Great grunge/punk album. I loved most of the songs on the album. It was so close to a 5/5 but it is not perfect so I can’t give it a 5/5. My favorite song was “Something so Clear”.