Superfuzz Bigmuff is the debut EP and first major release by the Seattle grunge band Mudhoney. It was released on October 20, 1988 through record label Sub Pop. The album was later re-released in 1990 in the form of Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles.
My wife hated it, the neighbors complained. 5 stars
Nirvana similarities. Like Nirvana, The Stooges and early californian punk all rolled into one. These guys were just before Nirvana too, so seems like they paved the way but then Nirvana did it much better. This feels like a 4 just because it clearly was paving the way and I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Another big muff! Who's muff is bigger, Mudhoney or John Martyn?? I wanted to learn more about Mudhoney's muff, and in doing so I fell down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. But it turns out, rather than beavers and pie, I learned a lot about distortion pedals. Because the Univox Super-Fuzz and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (π) were pedals that were instrumental (get it?) in shaping Mudhoney's sound. Ok, I guess I did learn about π. But not pie. It was pretty cool to learn about how the technology for distorting and dirtying a guitar's sound evolved over time, from deliberately misused and broken amps to fuzzboxes that do some kind of science-y stuff to sound waves that I don't fully understand. I may not understand just how the fuzzbox distorts those sound waves, but I do love the sound it creates. My formative music-appreciating years were in the early 90s, so grunge and its reliance on fuzzy, growling, and gritty guitars have a warm place in my heart. And grunge's early 90s boom is thanks to the groundwork laid by Mudhoney, Green River, and Soundgarden in the early days of Sub Pop Records. For as influential as early Sub Pop was in shaping that genre, it's surprising that the 1001 has only 2 Mudhoney albums and the only Soundgarden album is their most mainstream major record release. There would be no Nirvana without Green River and Mudhoney. There would be no Pearl Jam without Green River and Mudhoney. But beyond Nirvana, grunge doesn't get enough love on the 1001. Not British enough, I suppose. Mudhoney isn't my favorite grunge, but "Superfuzz Bigmuff" played a crucial role in launching Sub Pop and the genre to national attention.
When protogrunge is better than 90% of grunge. Great big classic
Listened to quite a lot of Mudhoney (and other roots grunge like Screaming Trees, Dinosaur Jr. etc) back in the mid 90s. It deserves points for the energy, the consistency of execution, and how foundational it was to the development of this particular sound... Though it’s a sound I’m not all that interested in listening to anymore.
Everything about this is perfect. The cover. The opening guitar. My slightly unreliable memory of seeing them live in Wolverhampton around this time
A bit poo.
My God, just awful
There's a lot of noise and shrieking on this album. I suppose I understand why some people would think it's great, but I'm not one of those people. I wouldn't listen to this again if given the choice. 1 star.
I never quite got this band. There's some pretty good songs but also a healthy dose of "Yeah, that's okay I guess." I always suspected that they got the attention they did was because Cobain was a big fan. Not bad but there's a ton of other albums that I'd rather listen to.
There's proto Nirvana in here. But it doesn't hold up
Survived 5 tracks. That’s quite enough to know this scream fest is not for me.
80's grunge always hits the spot for me, so raw and gritty and fun. This formative release was a perfect little snack to start the morning.
Maybe even the only EP that landed on the 1001 Albums list but rightfully so because it pretty much was the start of Grunge as a major genre and no other album was released around that time. The EP while being pretty short is still really great. A lot of energetic, noisy, raw and rebellious tracks that are a perfect mix between early Grunge and Garage Punk. People who listen to it on streaming will now wonder what tracks the actual album is so I'm going to clarify. Tracks 1&2 are a single previously released, Track 3 was a track on a Split EP with three other bands around that time and the EP itself is Tracks 4-9. The rest is bonus stuff even if it's worthy to listen to if you like the actual EP. 'Need' kicks things off with an energetic Grunge track that has much less Punk than other tracks here. It also has a couple of Stoner Metal guitar riffs but that's mainly secondary. The song is energetic, raw and pretty repetitive but it uses this as an advantage it overall comes out great, even incredible. There is so much fun and energy in here that it's hard to not move to it at least a bit and if it wasn't for a couple of pretty unnecessarry breaks (not the false ending, that one's great) that harm the flow of the track a bit, this would've been perfect. The Hardcore Punk inspired and really short 'Chain That Door' gets much noisier with the sound and the production but I absolutely love it. I really like how they mixed the Hardcore sound with a more complex but still short structure and if it wasn't for the vocals which just don't fit the track, this again would've been a perfect track BUT it isn't and the vocals harm it actually quite a lot. It's still great but it could've been more. Following the shortest track, comes the longest with nearly 6 minutes. 'Mudride' keeps the Noise but brings in similarities to Sludge Metal while still being undeniably Grunge. I do really like how the song builds but it is too long, it is not properly finished and many points feel really weak. The chorus sadly doesn't help enough and keeps the song "okay". I like it and a couple of moments are really great and entertaining but these moments are covered side by side with boring and annoying instrumentals and verses that are just not interesting at all. The EPs second side already starts with 'No One Has' which goes back to the fast paced and energetic Punk sound. It's noisy, it's loud and most importantly it's fun. The instrumental chorus adds a lot of needed melody behind the noisy sound and the vocals while still being a little obnoxious, are much better on this track. It does have its flaws especially the length but it's still really good. 'If I Think' returns with a slightly more Metal inspired sound with the heavy sounding bass and I really like the more subtle and introspective sounding intro that turns louder and more Punk before going back. It's good but I think they could've pulled it off much better with a little more focus towards the songwriting and pacing. The final track 'In 'n' Out of Grace' closes things off by presenting the essence of the album: a mix of Grunge in its earliest full form and Garage Punk with a bit of Noise Rock added. It's vocally the most impressive as well as the overall best performed with so much energy that is not let loose and probably the best fine tuned songwriting on the entire project. While I do think that some moments don't work as well as they maybe intended, it still is easily my favourite track on the entire EP. favourites: In 'n' Out of Grace, Need least favourites: Mudride, If I Think Rating: strong 7 to light 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
Great driving hardcore-punk infused, proto-grunge, garage/noise rock. Can obviously hear the influence on nirvana, soundgarden and grunge. Had some of these songs on mixtapes as a teenager, love the riff in "In n Out of Grace". To be picky, they are missing the catchy choruses of the more successful grunge bands, and I don't love the singer's nasal tone. Generally feels really visceral and angry, and would have been great live.
Much better than expected. Never heard of these guys before, but glad I got a chance to hear their music. 2/5
Meh
Someone said they made it through 5 tracks ... how?
Hell yes! I always liked Mudhoney. Their music was always a bit better then the typical Grunge bullshit. The guitars here are so sick, I love it!
There’s nothing on earth better than a rock record that feels like it could go off the rails at any moment; the kind of record that could just collapse in on itself in a fit of feedback and fuzz, propelled to the point of supernova by the sheer intensity of the band’s playing. That’s the type of record Superfuzz Big Muff is.
I was 16 when grunge hit, and I still think that living through the 90s as a late teen / early twenty-something was a great time, possibly only beaten out by the mid-late 60s. I didn't catch on to Mudhoney at the time, but I knew of them, but listening to this really shows where grunge came from. So much of the energy, anger, garage-bandness clearly influenced much of that scene a few years later. This brings back memories of a good time, even if the music is (mostly) new to me.
Comment tu vas justifier ça Robert ?
Love me some Mudhoney.
Yesssss.... One of my favorite albums ever (full disclosure, this is gonna be super biased)! I have this on CD and vinyl. Got the shirt, and I just sat Mark Arm song in a another band last week (in Brisbane Australia with the Saints of your interested). Best of all the grungy Seattle whatever 90s bands, still going and never seen them put on a bad show. This album though....wooOOOAH! Definitely in my top 10. The f-you energy of punk, the wailing distortion of rock, with that FUZZ. Favourite songs? All of them. Put on your converse and ripped jeans, let your hair down, and warn everyone to get out of the way. We're going on a Mudride. Genuine sadness for all the people who don't like or don't get it. Does that leave more for me? I wish. Twelve stars.
Day333 - a candidate for best album title and it’s an awesome album
Great raw sound! Loved seeing this pop up.
sounds like early nirvana, with a really fluid track-list depending on which edition you find. I loved it, and listened to as many variations (across different platforms) as I could find
I'm going to review the original six-song EP. It's clear from some reviews that others have listen the expanded editions. At just 23 minutes, this collection delivers thick, fuzzy loudness, culminating in the hard-driving 'In 'n' Out of Grace,' an absolutely mind-blowing track. This song laid the groundwork for grunge and desert/stoner rock. And let's be real—there's only one way to fully appreciate this: ditch the crappy earbuds, crank it up on an old-school two-channel stereo, and risk a visit from the cops. It's the only way to do it justice!
Grunge before it knew that’s what it would become. Pounding drums, grinding guitar, screamy/ yell-y vocals, loose and sloppy - in a good way.
I really liked this. Noisy and loud. Sounded like what music was when i was in high school.
One of the prototypes of the Seattle sound. It's really loud, noisy, fuzzy, grungy, sludgy, etc. Pick your adjective. I liked this even better than Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge. The expanded edition gets repetitive, but if you're in enough that you want to listen to an expanded edition, you get what you're after.
I was apprehensive but pleasantly surprised.
Just focused on the songs in the original EP instead of the entire deluxe album on Spotify. I have never really listened to Mudhoney before and I really enjoyed this. Energetic rock and roll/grunge. Not sure why I didn't listen to them in high school because I feel like I would have really loved it then. Going to give them a bonus star for being local. Full marks!
This explodes immediately! Banger after banger! Rip my eardrums!
100% top!
Mudhoney!!! Good ol Greg of Parklane, put a song or 2 of these guys on my mix tape he made me. This is good shit! 5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this album!!
I guess I just like grunge, which doesn’t make any sense to me since it feels pretty close to metal which I can’t stand. Idk. This was good
Propre (pas la version de + de 2h sur Spotify)
Lovely early grunge!
-this is a perfect album (EP actually, I listened to the original release, only those 6 tracks, not the others that the latter release has, keep in mind) -this is grunge before Nirvana (or any of the big 4) came around (even Kurt loved this album) -it's energetic -I FUCKING LOVE THE ALBUM COVER RAHHH! It matches the sound this album is going for and I love this type of punk rock energy -lyrics are pretty sarcastic I'd say -it's noisy at times (and I love that when its done well, here is definitely the case) -favorite songs: all of them (again, the 6 tracks the EP has) -least favorite song: N/A
Listened to the original 6 song EP first. This shit rips. Album name does not disappoint. Fuzzy, grungy and absolutely filthy guitar sound. I wish all of the albums on this list had half the distortion that these tracks have. I get it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I can't think of a better way to sweeten my morning beverage than with some Mudhoney.
Fuck yes. Sadly, I had never heard of this band before today. Forget Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Mudhoney is the shit. Just kidding, never forget about them. I don’t have very much to say about this masterpiece besides that it fucking rocks. Songs like “Need”, “Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More”, and “Hate the Police” make me want to burn it down. Not anything in particular, just everything. Although I’d probably get arrested pretty quick. After all, you can’t find justice, it’ll find you.
Lovely combination of purposefully unpolished and competent musicianship.
Wonderful album from an oft-overlooked great of the grunge scene. Saw them live a couple of times and the deluxe edition reminds me of just how good they were
I was so happy to get this on a Friday
Yep. Should be here and is pretty great. If I named my album like this it’d be Wah bluesdriver delay. This is how you do noise. And rock.
On my first attempt at Sydney University, I was not a good student. Tuesdays, in particular, I would go to my 11am English literature 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 band playing, 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. "Who's 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. It is one of the greatest gigs I have ever seen. 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 have bought at least four copies over the last 30 years: my original black vinyl, which I wore out (literally wore it out, I played it so much), followed by an orange AuGoGo pressing to replace it, then a CD copy with the extra early singles (which I also already had on vinyl, but it's handy to have on a single CD, you know?), then the deluxe CD edition with the demos and live disc. My wife looks askance at me when I mention I own four copies of the same album, but it is all worth it, I tell you, worth it! I went to see them a few times that tour, and on their next Australian 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. I love the fuzzy, terrible recording quality, the sloppy playing, the punk energy, the heady combination of angst and humour, the sense of being out of control. Mudhoney were my band. I bought their records, I wore the t-shirts, I saw them live as often as I could. It helped codify my musical taste and also heavily influenced the terrible band I was in for most of the 90s. I ended up working at Scratches Records 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 so much exciting music happening. 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 like Scratches). 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 distinctly recall being at a barbecue on Boxing Day with a bunch of alternative music store and band scene people, when my mate Tim tried to put Nevermind on the stereo. There were cries of "no, no, no, anything but this" from the record store contingent. I mean, good record, but you can't listen to it all day every day, and it's not Mudhoney now is it? And so, with a combination of being tired of Nevermind and generally being broke, I didn't buy tickets to the first Big Day Out or to see Nirvana when they played the Phoenician. I really regret that now. But I don't regret ever listening to Mudhoney. They are still my band. I really love this record. It is an all-time, top ten classic, desert island disc record for me, but maybe not for everyone. Five stars
Very much enjoyed it
Mudhoney's first EP carries on its brief runtime more energy than most of the grunge scene together. A high that was hit once and rarely achieved again in all of the genre's run.
If primus was punk and less weird lol. I liked it!
Dude, I think your guitar is broken. But man it sounds kewl. Punk into grunge. Pretty music is out. Crooked sounds. Energetic tempos. Off-kilter is the new normal. I'm sick (but don't you wish you were too). Subversiveness is required. Irony. Incorrectness. Society might want to cast us out but we've already left. Attitude must be expressed at all times. This is where we stop making electric guitars try to sound like acoustic ones. Fuzz, wah, feedback, elctronic fracturings are part of the desired sound and being used as core music components. Disaffection as a way of being in the world. The ultimate in dropout from "standard culture." Get drunk. Get wasted. Get fucked.
Magnífico de principio a fin.
I really dug this album. I listened to it all the way through twice. It felt somewhere in between the glam metal of the 80s and the grunge of the 90s. Right up my alley.
Sounding very similar to Bleach era Nirvana, this is a propulsive album full of passionate back of the throat vocals, distorted fuzzy guitars, throbbing bass lines and machine gun drums. That late 80s early 90s grunge scene was an awesome period in rock and this is a perfect example.
Had heard of them but never listened big angry sound. Loved it.
I'd heard of Mudhoney, mostly for "Touch Me I'm Sick", but hadn't listened to anything else. I was a bit bothered about the 2 hour runtime of this album, then found it was a re-release with a bunch of other stuff, and the Spotify one was the deluxe album, so even more. The 1001 book entry on this was about the original 6 track version, so I listened to those tracks first, then had the deluxe one on in the background. I really enjoyed it, will listen again. I can see how they may have inspired the more popular 90s grunge scene. Probably should be a 4, but yesterday it's a 5 for the raw punky energy.
Big, *dumb* riffs. But god, are they fucking good. You can easily hear what was emerging from the Pacific Northwest on this, especially shades of the likes of Soundgarden. I hesitate to use the word "bro-y", but I do get, for lack of better description, party vibes off this. It's the evolution of punk rock, *soaked* in beer. It's fun, it's dumb. Bang your head. Favorite tracks: "Mudride", "If I Think", "In 'n' Out of Grace"
Era exatamente o que eu precisava, guitarras que moldaram o grunge.
4.5 YAY screamy noise! some of these songs sound very soundgarden, which makes sense as i'm sure mudhoney were very musically inspring to them. i really like this, it's inspired me to make a fun grungy playlist. some songs felt a little samey, but this is a genre in which i don't particularly mind - if/when i listen through this album more times i'm sure i'll be able to distinguish between songs more easily. favourite(s): halloween or you got it, although the first track was such a strong opener as well. very good stuff.
Wasn't really into grunge back in the day, but that was more due to high school clique biz than anything else. Yeah, this slaps! Was gonna say 4.5 but due to its influence on a lot of stuff I now like, and the fact that more listens will surely deepen my affection, I'll round up. This entry makes me want to stick Robert Dimery with TWO pins. Firstly for picking an EP (or a compilation, either is annoying) for the list, and secondly because it's made me realize there's no Melvins on the list, and arguably they were even more crucial to the birth of grunge. Fave tracks - "In 'n' Out of Grace" from the original EP, with honorable mentions to "Need" and "Mudride" - "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More" if we open it up to the 1990 compilation, and "Here Comes the Sickness" if we're using the 2008 compilation!
Oh yeah, great album. Obviously the album that influenced nirvana, pearl jam, all the grunge bands.
Wow, did I need this today. "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is the debut EP and first major release by Seattle grunge band Mudhoney. The album was recorded in Seattle on the Subpop label with producer Jack Endino. The album title was named after the band's two favorite guitar effects: the Univox Super-fuzz and Electro-Harmonix Bigmuff. It initially sold poorly but was later acknowledged as a seminal record in the Seattle grunge scene. Guitar strumming as band kicks in opening "Need." Mark Arm's throttled vocals. A dirty sound with the guitar and music sounding very Stooges' like. Nirvana was in the room. There's so much he needs, he bleeds. The band goes punk on "Chain That Door." Fast-paced thrashy drums. A churning guitar. "Mudride" is slower, grungier. Steve Turner stretches those guitar strings. Here's the grunge and heavy feel. A wah-wah and distorted guitar layering: still my beating heart. There's no place to hide as he takes you on a mudride, baby. "No One Has" is back to fast paced. Great drumming and off-key guitar chord notes. "If I Think" starts off slow. It takes off and we got that soft-loud-soft thang goin.' It ends in Southern rock fashion. Why not? The last song "In 'n' Out of Grace" is just straight thrash metal basically. A Peter Fonda eulogy open from "The Wild Angels." More wah-wah and distorted guitar layering. This a pounding, great album. No halfway on this. They fuse the Stooges, Jimi Hendrix, punk and early-to-mid eighties thrash metal into something their own. Great guitar. Arm's lyrics and vocals are edgy (hell, the whole band is edgy), chaotic and strained. He's lived a rugged life and his plans are not to change. Put this record on now and wake your neighbors the fuck up. Tremendous album cover too.
Slightly aggravating to figure out how to listen to this. Originally released as an EP in 1988, then re-released as an album length compilation including the songs on this EP (although in a different order) and early singles from the band. The only thing available on streaming services is a 2+ hour deluxe edition which has yet a different tracklisting order than either of the first two releases. Reading interviews and such, it seems like Mudhoney has been asked about it a bunch as they seem pretty adament that they consider this their first album, and that they consider the designation between EP and LP to be pretty arbitrary. With that in mind I chose to listen to the 6 song 22 minute original "EP" releaes for this. This album definitely rules and rocks. Mudhoney were the best grunge band in that scene, and that should not come as shocking or surprising to anyone anymore. And like most bands from that scene, their first release was their best. It's the most urgent, raw and true to live representation for them. Just a great recording as well to capture that spirit.
Seminal album in my youth.
Hammer (Mini-) Album der Grunge-Ära. Rotziger Garage Rock/Grunge, aber trotzdem melodiös. Zwischen 4-5. Ich gebe 5, weil es einfach herausragt.
The time of some of the albums that come on this list is just evil sometimes. Mudhoney are playing their First show in Sydney in 9 years tonight. I decided not to go months ago but bam, this comes up and I regretting the fact I'm not going. Seeing them at the Bondi Pavilion at the tail end of 1990 was one of the best thing to happen to me at stage of my life. Most of what they played is from this album which to me is still as blistering, and fresh as on that day standing just behind a sun burnt drunken mosh
Great energy
Regardless of the mutations that the structure of Superfuzz Bigmuff has gone through (six track EP to 14 track full length to two disc deluxe edition with live shows and radio sessions), one thing remains consistent: this fucking rips. With this release, Mudhoney set off something massive and ultimately set that stone for what the next several years were going to be for not just their label but for their hometown and the genre they've birthed. Without this, it is quite impossible to fathom what the landscape would be like and it looks very bleak indeed. Probably bad, perhaps worse. Thankfully, it's not the case. In any way, whether an EP or an LP or a 2 CD set, Superfuzz Bigmuff is required listening for the starting point for grunge.
32 BRANI!
When I first saw this album was over two hours long I thought fucking hell these guys have some ego on them then I started listening and saw it was Punkrock and then I loved every moment of it
Abrasive, the kind of music you need when you're pissed off. The production fits perfectly. I listened to the EP + the singles. If I Think is fucking genius. 5/5
groooovy
Grunge before they even had a word for it. This EP is a mind blowing revelation that will pave the road for the next big rock and cultural movement of the 90's. It will inspire some really great bands for sure.
Awesome. Raw guitar tone, high energy.
A two hour and 15 minute ep? Really good! 4.5!
Banging debut from one of the best bands to emerge from the Grunge period.
When this was first released it changed everything (well, musically). It's still awesome
Bad ass album! Truly ahead of its time. The birth of grunge?
Lekker!!! Vroeger toen ik nog het idee had om gitarist te worden wilde in een superfuzz en een bigmuff als effecten. Wat een geluid. Uiteindelijk werd het een “Power-rat” pedaaltje (om het verhaaltje compleet te maken)..
mi primer correo era mudhoney arroba algo punto com. es una obra maestra de estupidez post-adolescente como el mejor rock and roll siempre lo es.
I really enjoyed this album. Really grungy.
fuck yeah
THIS IS AMAZING
!!! amaze. Definitely see where nirvana got some of its inspiration from!
I haven't heard of Mudhoney before, and I need to hear more. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
32 Songs!! At first, I thought no f'n way. But started it and loved it all the way. To say you hear their influence on Nirvana and Butthole Surfers types is a gross understatement. This is a recipe book used by every band that got famous in the 90s era.
i did the original not the one with all the extra shit in it. i was surprised that i liked it as much as i did. i liked the really heavy sound of it.
Great album. I loved the sound and rawness of it.
Good rock music that I enjoy, but don’t love. Also on Spotify the deluxe is stupid - for those who don’t want to listen to the whole thing, the original album is tracks 4-9.
This shit rips. The guitar tone is great. For the purpose of the list I only listened to the original tracklist from the 6 track EP. I think Chain That Door is a little too close to falling apart, but everything else here rocks so much it makes up for it. You can definitely hear some of The Stooges here as well as where music would go for the next decade.
The birth of grunge
Pretty solid proto-grunge/punk. I liked it!
pretty good fun
Sounds like a superfuzz bigmuff, if it weren't for them I might not even know what that is. I was introduced to this sound by bands like Kyuss and The Melvins but they were probably introduced to it by Mudhoney. I have heard people exclaim that Mudhoney deserves the notoriety that Nirvana achieved, but its rarely the groundbreaker who makes the big bucks, its the first copycats. With that being said, after listening to the album it is a good album but when looking back through all of the giant albums by other bands that followed in the same vein, it doesn't stand out too much except for the fact that it was one of the first. I do like it though and am more impressed with it knowing that they were on the forefront of this sound a lot of us grew up with.
This is fun. First time I heard a Grunge Surf Punk artist. Gonna round up a solid 3.5 to a 4.
It’s got so many hooks, you’d think it was a fisherman’s hat. It makes sense that it sold poorly when it came out. No one knew what the hell to make of grunge in 1988. There’s the curse of the trailblazer - no one knows where you’re going. I mean, when Cobain names it as one of his 50 desert island discs, you don’t need much more approbation. I’m sure Mark Arm would’ve liked more money for his trouble, though.
I've never listened to Mudhoney, so I was hoping this would be more in the vain of Soundgarden grunge than Pearl Jam. Pretty simple and punky, the range is pretty limited but they're good at this style. A lot of people seem to compare this to The Stooges but I don't really hear it, it reminds me more of early 80s hardcore and early Nirvana. Good either way, surprised at the quite low average score (I listened to the 1988 track listing which is only 23 minutes) Highlights: Chain That Door, In 'n' Out Of Grace
Important, noisy, and cool.
fuun album. Reminded me a lot of Nirvana hmmmm Still I enjoyed it big time, so low 4 for me
I didn't listen to this album in the 80's/90's, but I really wish I had, because it would have been right up my alley. I dug this a lot, will definitely be playing again soon.