Reviews (page 3 of 7)
23 minutes of super fuzz and big muff. Essential early grunge at its core.
Good noisy grunge. Great!
good grungy/punky album - never heard Mudhoney before. Really liked it,
Great grunge album from one of the best.makes nirvana sound like a pop band.
could i write poetry to this? y
The original EP tracks get four stars. That goes up to almost five stars when the additional material is included. Essential Proto-Grunge.
23 minutes of absolutely feral guitar music. Love the Dicks cover on the deluxe version!
I love this and wish I knew about it back then 4 stars
Good rock music, just kinda drowns itself out and 2 hours is crazy
One of the early pioneering albums that made the grunge movement along with Meat Puppets' album II and Pixies' Surfer Rosa
Buncha dudes having fun playing music
Is this the real grunge?
Another for the first column. Perfect bridge between Stooges punk and the grunge of the early 90's.
Great debut. An excellent blueprint for the Seattle grunge scene. Well conceived for the most part. May be my favorite Mudhoney album
90’s grunge so I already like it but the vocals and raw energy is so distinct! I just really like them.
I love Mudhoney. They have never made an bad album.
Great pre-Nirvana grunge, full of energy and without the blues/hard rock elements that would characterize the genre a few years later
So cool! It was like early kick-ass grunge with a subtle touch of psychedelic rock in it. Maybe in the chords progressions? Anyway, let's FUZZ.
Great advanced bar band sound, greasy, messy, and fun. But if I have said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times: aside from the flannels, ain’t nothin’ Seattle done that New York (and Boston) didn’t do first.
I want to fuck this album cover
Listened to this while doing some house painting and it was great. It actually gave me Metallica vibes at times. Good vibes.
Ok now I feel like I need to go back and relisten to their other album on this list because this album I really liked. I did start with just the original tracks they released on the EP, and then after realizing I liked it listened to the other tracks on the album (minus the demo/live versions). I don't remember their other album sounding so raw or the emotion coming through so well. It could be too that I've warmed up to grunge. I'll be curious to see my reaction to future grunge albums. "No One Has", "Need", and "In 'n' Out of Grace" are my favorites off the original release. "Touch Me I'm Sick" and "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More" are also great.
Loved it
Hard alternative rock. It reminded me of some bands I used to listen to. Not quite good enough to get full marks but I enjoyed it all the way through.
Was going to give 3 stars but I accidentally listened to the version that had the cover of The Rose and that was wild.
Good album - Solid 80s Sub Pop grunge before MTV caught on. 4/5
Rock becomes punk becomes post-punk becomes Mudhoney becomes Nirvana. I wish I had been more aware of this band in my teenage years. Lyrically, there is not a whole lot to offer my grown adult, self, but musically… well, you had me at fuzz.
Too long for me but generally I liked it
Not sure how or why this was the first time I'd ever heard this album. I knew how influential Mudhoney was on grunge music in general and I was really into it at the time, so you'd think I would have seeked this out. Not as polished as later grunge stuff, but this was awesome to listen to. Might have given this a higher score if I had picked up the album when it first came out, but it was still a solid album.
When listing the best grunge bands I tend to hear sighs of annoyance that Mudhoney is left off the list that includes Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. The reason Mudhoney is left off is they just aren't as good as those four bands. There is nothing really wrong with this and Mudhoney comes from the same Green River tree of Seattle rock. The distorted punk-rock sound was something that Nirvana completely ripped off on Bleach and Soundgarden was also making similar music at the same time as Mudhoney. Mark Arm was not as good of a songwriter as Kurt Cobain and did not have the voice (of course, who does) of Chris Cornell. Mudhoney didn't wallow as much in the angst the other bands did. Regardless, this is a really good album. I have enjoyed Mudhoney more as an adult than I did as a child. It's probably bad news I've become more angry as I got older, yet here we are. I did not love the cover of "The Rose" that much, yet that's a small complaint. If you want to know what grunge sounded like before it was called grunge, this is the album for you.
At first, I hated it! But it really grew on me. It’s early grunge, and sets the tone for grunge to come.
Fun album overall. I can definitely see how they influenced a lot of grunge. I love this cover of The Rose! Overall I really dug it. :)
Pretty decent early Mudhoney. Not bad.
My favorite one so far. Never heard of Mudhoney before this but these guys are so fucking punk rock
A Pretty decent album with a lot of energy that being said the guitar solos kind of suck
Something about that Sub Pop late 80s/early 90s album art vibe makes me think that every release through their label is going to be a cacophonous shitstorm of loose and angry grunge. I’m picturing early dinosaur jr. but with even more distortion. This album didn’t fit that mental mold, though. It was pretty solid honestly and had coherent songs that I enjoyed. They’re like a fuzzier sounding sonic youth. Light 4
Notable tracks: Touch Me I’m Sick, Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More, Chain That Door, If I Think, You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)
I like grunge, and this is some formative stuff.
I enjoyed this one
Naming your album after the guitar pedals you use is fucking brilliant.
Coming out of Seattle, the album reminded me a lot of Nirvana, but a bit... goofier. The lyrics, mainly. I don't know why I didn't listen to Mudhoney before. They're definitely in the same vein of the other Seattle bands I enjoy. It's something I am going to have to rectify, hearing this album which I enjoyed a lot. Top tracks: "Halloween," "In ' Out Of Grace," "You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)"
Surprised they put an EP on this list; wish they'd put some other ones on here (Alice in Chains). I'm aware of Mudhoney and their early contributions to the grunge genre, just never listened to them much. If you like grunge, you'll like this. Heavy, dirty, fuzzy, pounding. Simple beats with a good rhythm. It's still a little raw but then so is Nirvana's Bleach. Good start from these guys even if only 6 songs.
These guys were grunge too early. They were Nirvana before Nirvana. Great debut EP from 1988. Right from the start with "Need" you can hear Nirvana - they were contemporaries, but Kurt Cobain stated that he was influenced by Mudhoney and Nirvana's debut EP Bleach came out the following year. So, why did Nirvana become a household name but not Mudhoney? I read some comments online that say Mudhoney were a little too uncompromising for the big time, but you can hear all the hallmarks of various grunge superstars in this album. If all I listened to was the EP, I'd be completely scratching my head. The EP is a 5 and these guys should have been huge. However, I listened to the Deluxe version which has demos and a whole live disc which I think tell the whole story. Tons of feedback, screaming, and sloppy playing - and the 14+ minute version of Dead Love highlights all of the above for waaay too long - by the end I wanted to bring this down to a 2, that's how bad that track was. It's a shame, because the six songs from the EP are all excellent - the only one I came close to disliking was In n' Out of Grace because it has a little more feedback than I like. I should probably just call the EP a 5 but I'm going to bring it down to a 4 because the deluxe version reveals why these guys didn't make it as big as other Seattle grunge bands.
Weird how this "Deluxe Edition" actually prefixed and appended to the original, which was a scant 22 minutes long. Basing the review from that original six song cut starting at "Need." This was a very compact and raw album, and I thoroughly enjoyed it for some late in the workday energy. The whole album has a garage tone with lo-fi production that is guitar forward, drums in the rear, and plenty of crusty instrumental excursions. The vocals were off-balance through the whole thing, and are certain to be divisive. I didn't love them, but I also didn't mind so much (outside of the off key harmonization on Need which was a bit much). Favorites in here were the sprawling Mudride (great song name), energetic In 'n' Out of Grace, and the punky If I Think. Overall solid 4 / 5 for me. I enjoy the broader Deluxe Edition, but find the original to be a short and sweet introduction to the band's sound.
"Superfuzz Bigmuff" is the debut EP by Mudhoney, originally released in 1988. It is also their first "major" release on Sub Pop records. By the late 1980s, many considered rock music to be in a lull. The charts were dominated by synth-ridden pop and hair metal (of course, this could be a rock renaissance depending on who you ask). The reality is, the underground was thriving with flavors of punk such as hardcore and a new sound that was brewing in the Pacific Northwest called "grunge". These new grunge bands successfully fused the aggressiveness of punk with the commercial pacing of hard rock. And of course Mudhoney was at the forefront of the new grunge scene that was soon to knock the chart-topping hair bands right out of their makeup. Mudhoney came bursting out of the gate with their explosive yet somewhat lo-fi debut EP. The EP's songs are marked with dirty and dry guitar tones utilizing two of the band's favorite guitar effects pedals: the Univox Super-Fuzz and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, ultimately inspiring the EP's title. This paired with lead singer Mark Arm's grating vocals truly set the scene for what was to come in the grunge genre with bands like Nirvana. Although the sound proved to be truly influential, I don't think this EP is the strongest. Mark's vocals are a bit strained in some of the tracks, which I guess is part of the appeal to the genre but I think production could've set them a bit further back in the mix so they didn't sound as dry. Also, some of the tracks seem a bit half-baked, often lacking in lyrical quality. Nonetheless, this EP is very influential to music history as a whole and absolutely belongs on this list, so I'll round it up an extra star than my original rating.
It's dirty, raw, and exciting but it is also a little sloppy and doesn't have the best song writing some times. Some of the choruses are a little weak but if they really committed to the dirty noise rock and were a little more mature in their songwriting this could have been a 5. Also this album cover is 1000x better than the actual music (and I did enjoy this album). Very influential early grunge album. If you like this album checkout Bullhead by Melvins
It was a refreshing listen after a 1980s hair metal album. Proto-grunge, which reminds me so much of Nirvana. I love the raw energy of this album. I think it's the first EP on this list. Good listen!
These guys sometimes seem to get lost in the conversation about the Seattle scene with the meteoric rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, but they clearly were setting the stage before anyone with this first grunge album. You can definitely hear them channeling everyone from Black Flag to Iggy Pop to Sonic Youth to even some Hüsker Dü sprinkled on. The drums alone drive this sucker and the album seems so much bigger than just 6 songs. Sometimes you don’t need anything else than some fuzz and muff in order to rock.
Hey you there! Let me rawk your face! I think one of the toughest things in music is to sound raw and unpolished while still sounding good. These guys pull it off. This would’ve been a fun concert to go to back in the day. I’m at a 3.5 and rounding up because of rock.
I listened to this one a couple times. Not a difficult task given its 21 minute runtime. Pretty cool thinking about Seattle in the mid/late 80’s with all these bands being all grunge and shit. I was thinking maybe I have to temper my rating given this only feels like a template of things to come. But at the end of the day it fucking rocked and I’m here for it. Dem drums be drumming, y’all. 3.75/5
Барабаны сочные, мужик орет. В целом хороший альбом. Крепкий! Но блять его крепкость раскрывается хорошо в синглах и дополнениях к альбому. А сам альбом то почти ни о чем. Короче продюссеру кто оставил 23 минуты - хуй за щеку Алкоальбом: настойка хреновухи
Touch me I’m sick.
Hommood and I had a good hard rock dance to this album. Making memories with good music.
I never got into Mudhoney back in the day, because they were too fast, and I grew up liking the slower pace of grunge and post-grunge. However, I have gotten into a lot of other bands that were pre-grunge like The Melvins, and Mudhoney sits in a similar place there, for me. I really enjoyed this album (I listened to the 1990 track listing).
Liked it, gets an extra star for paving the way for Nirvana
De originele versie is 22 minuten. Spotify wil me een versie van 2 uur en 15 minuten voorschotelen. Dat moet verboden worden. Het album begint met 'Need' en eindigt met 'In n out of grace'. Het gitaargeluid is supervet. Ik denk dat dit ook mijn favoriete pedalen zijn. De zang is me nog iets te onsamenhangend/edgy. Zoals eigenlijk altijd met vroege werken uit een nieuw genre heeft het nog wat tijd nodig om te rijpen tot een echt mooi product. Het is net wat te experimenteel en mist een beetje catchy-ness. En toch is het wel gaaf. 'No one has' en 'If I think' vind ik wel wat hebben. Ik ga een geflatteerde 4 sterren geven want dit is qua suggestie wel het leukste of interessantste wat me de afgelopen anderhalve week ofzo is voorgeschoteld en ik was hier enorm aan toe. Ik pak nog een paar extra nummers van de 2 uur en 15 minuten versie mee.
Going with the 22 min, 6 track EP instead of the full deluxe edition, but it was still a pretty good romp. Seeing as it's one of the landmark grunge albums, I can really see where the inspirations come from. I'd rate it a 7/10, but I'll round up cause I feel like this one deserves it. Reminds me that I should go back and relisten to Ultramega Ok - Soundgarden, didn't realize it came out a week or so after until looking it up on Wikipedia
Oh my - with every listen this record gets better and better - gritty, snotty and actually a genuinely great punk record. The track listing is all over the place with the various versions and releases - but the 2008 deluxe edition (even though I avoid such versions) was still well paced and fun throughout - loved it.
Lyrics: The lyrics on "Superfuzz Bigmuff" are often characterized by their simplicity and directness. They touch on themes such as disillusionment, alienation, and frustration, which are common in the grunge genre. Tracks like "Touch Me I'm Sick" and "In 'N' Out of Grace" exemplify this, with their raw, confrontational lyrics. There's a sense of urgency and authenticity in the words, reflecting the band's disillusionment with mainstream culture and societal norms. Music: Mudhoney's music on this album is characterized by its raw, distorted guitar sound, heavy basslines, and pounding drums. The band's minimalist approach to songwriting allows the music to be driven by energy and attitude rather than technical prowess. Tracks like "Need" and "No One Has" showcase the band's knack for crafting catchy, riff-driven songs that pack a punch. The overall sound of the album is gritty and abrasive, capturing the essence of the underground music scene of the late '80s. Production: The production on "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is intentionally lo-fi, adding to the album's raw and gritty aesthetic. The guitars are drenched in fuzz and distortion, giving them a thick, heavy sound. The drums are punchy and aggressive, while the bass provides a solid foundation for the music. This stripped-down production style complements the band's sound perfectly, capturing the energy and intensity of their live performances. Themes: The themes explored on "Superfuzz Bigmuff" revolve around disillusionment, alienation, and frustration. The lyrics reflect a sense of discontent with mainstream culture and societal norms, as well as a desire for authenticity and self-expression. There's a palpable sense of anger and frustration running through tracks like "Hate the Police" and "Touch Me I'm Sick," which speak to the band's rebellious spirit and outsider mentality. Overall, the album's themes resonate with the disillusioned youth of the late '80s, capturing the zeitgeist of the era. Influence: "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is widely regarded as one of the seminal albums of the grunge genre, influencing countless bands in the years to come. Its raw, unfiltered sound and DIY ethos set the stage for the explosion of grunge music in the early '90s, paving the way for bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden to achieve mainstream success. The album's impact can still be felt today, as its influence continues to reverberate through alternative rock and punk music. Pros: Raw, unfiltered sound: The album's lo-fi production adds to its authenticity and intensity, capturing the energy of the band's live performances. Catchy, riff-driven songs: Mudhoney's knack for crafting memorable hooks and infectious melodies shines through on tracks like "Touch Me I'm Sick" and "In 'N' Out of Grace." Influential: "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is widely regarded as a seminal album of the grunge genre, influencing countless bands and shaping the sound of alternative rock in the '90s and beyond. Cons: Lack of diversity: While the album's raw, unfiltered sound is part of its charm, some listeners may find that the songs blend together after a while due to a lack of variety in tone and texture. Short runtime: At just under 30 minutes, "Superfuzz Bigmuff" leaves listeners wanting more, with some feeling that the album could benefit from a few more tracks to round out the experience. In conclusion, "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is a raw, unfiltered snapshot of the burgeoning grunge scene of the late '80s. With its catchy hooks, gritty production, and rebellious spirit, the album remains a seminal work in the grunge genre and continues to influence alternative rock musicians to this day. While it may lack diversity in its sound and suffer from a short runtime, its impact and influence are undeniable, cementing its status as a classic of the genre.
Rumbling and tumbling sweet spot scenario
This album captured a moment in time where punk was evolving into what would become grunge. It's worth a listen just for that historical aspect. I'm going to rate this higher than I suspect others will, purely as I was a teenager when grunge hit, so I'm biased towards this style.
Mudhoney’s first EP is an explosive scene defining record. It is clearly heavily influenced by hardcore and punk and is a transitional album. You can hear the emerging grunge sound though it still favors the punk influences.
Reminds me of the Singles soundtrack from the 90's (because they were on it). Sounds like Bleach by Nirvana, also on Sub Pop. Although this sounds heavier somehow. I feel like I've heard Touch Me I'm Sick in a commercial recently. Maybe for Skyrizi or some other drug.
Perfect background music for a late night working session, quite enjoyed and will listen again.
Take 2 parts of Black Sabbath sludge and mix well with 2 parts Ramones bop. Let stand overnight to create Mudhoney. Bonus...allow Mudhoney to ferment in the rain for 6 weeks...this will result in Nirvana.
Hud Money Bigfuzz Supermuff
So that's why it's in Kurt Cobain's top 50. I'll be.
A high-energy burst of chunky guitar riffs, punk sensibilities, and the future sound of the Grunge scene starting to blossom make this EP and other bonus tracks a headbanging good time.
I only listened to the original 6 songs from the first EP release, and I think that's the best way to listen to it, because that is an electrifying 22 minutes. The energy on this album is off the charts, and once it gets going, it’s like a fucking freight train. I ripped on Apocalypse Dudes for not having enough variance, at least to my ears, but this album has enough variance in its short run time to keep everything fresh. I can see why Kurt Cobain liked this so much – there is a truly infectious feeling to it, and for my money, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m gonna go with a 4 – I thought Chain That Door was kind of boring compared to the rest of the album, and I do think there is a hint of repetition in the styles of each song that does become a bit apparent once that initial wave of energy washes away. I still fucking loved that, though.
One of the originals in the world of grunge.
Love it, although I do think there's a reason these guys didn't react the same level of popularity as the big 4. But there's something very raw and uncompromising that's a positive for grunge fans that was probably a turn off for more casual 90s listeners.
I wanted to hate this album before even hitting play just because the title is stupid. "Hur-dur, we named the album after these two guitar pedals we own because it sounds vaguely durty, heh." Unfortunately for my preconceived dislike, the album is actually really great. It's messy and noisy AF... but in all the best ways. From needle drop to lift, the album is full of the frantic, ecstatic energy of so many of my favorite albums. This is grunge by way of punk and I'm 100% here for that.
The seedling of the grunge tree grew here
I liked it but I feel like it would’ve overstayed its welcome if it was much longer
In my view 23-minute EPS should not be on the list. It makes just as much sense as including live albums. I would say this EP is not as good as the proper Mudhoney album on the list but it is certainly 4 stars.
Although normally I would not like this vocal style, and the songs initially did not seem that special, I really liked the raw energy of the music, and the songs were catchy enough to enjoy this overall.
Raw, edgy, and melodic; only a bit on the short side.
Wow, my version of this was way less than the 2+ hours that Spotify came up with. Seminal grunge album, but I think that the world's (I've?) moved on. Great album, doesn't have quite the same impact as it did when I first heard it, still excited to have this pop up on the list this morning.
I actually thought this was a lot of fun!
Great name for an album! Have to say I found these guys through some random plays awhile back and downloaded Touch Me I'm Sick. I've jumped into some of their music rom time to time since and have to say if you're in the mood to just bang out to some pretty good tunes, this is a good band to check out. My son shouted out before my review about having a Nirvana sound. Not the biggest Nirvana fan, but after listening, I get it. But I also feel and hear some Stooges in this sound too! Other than Touch Me, there really isn't any other songs that stand out, but damn, they're all bangers. I have been letting the genre play out last couple days and those have been some really good music listening days. I did notice they have a song called Halloween and we just listened to Siouxsie the other day and she has a song with same title. Very different sound but made me smile all the same. I listened to the extended versions on Spotify and loved it when he shouted, Pull down your pants if you like us. Again, just made this guy smile. Saw a couple songs written by Sonic Youth too. Another album I probably rated low, but my appreciation for the has grown as I hear more of more. Anyway, been a fun listen last several days and I really enjoyed. I'm going full 4! 4
4 I’m familiar with Mudhoney within the context of 90s grunge bands, but I didn’t realize that these guys were doing it before anyone else was. If you asked me, I probably would have pointed to Nirvana as pioneers of the genre (as I imagine many others would as well), but as it turns out, Kurt was copying these guys’ notes the whole time (he would even go on to name this specific album among his Top 50 of all-time). I don’t say that to be dismissive of Nirvana - I very much love the group and think that they had an important role in expanding and popularizing the genre - but to be honest, there’s stuff here that sounds nearly identical to their music. In particular, I found the riff on Need to be incredibly reminiscent of Rape Me, and the bass work on No One Else felt very similar to that on Downer. That all to say, I really enjoyed the album and the overall sound, but I don’t think it gave me any one song or even moment for that matter to really grab onto and point to as a highlight. I also feel like I should point out that the original release of this album only consists of the tracks Need through In ‘n’ Out of Grace, so I’m only trying to factor my thoughts on those into my score here, but honestly, I don’t the bonus tracks here did anything to add or detract from those in any way regardless. I will say, I did have a lot of fun with the live tracks that are featured on the Deluxe Edition on Spotify - I gotta imagine these guys were a blast to see live (if you can get past what I imagine surely involves a small, chaotic room full of sweaty dudes). Kept bouncing back and forth between a 3.5 and 4 on this one. I’m still having a hard time thinking of any one particular song that I really liked, but at the same time, I also just really enjoyed the vibe as a whole and found myself rocking out for most of its duration - and isn’t that what should define good music at the end of the day? So, we’ll round up - fun, short and sweet album from a group of guys that deserve wayyyy more credit.
Fékk bara eitthvert delúx-rugl á spottanum. Augljóslega frábær lög en full mikið uppfyllingarefni. Samt best grugg-sveitin. Fær fjóra vegna bjargfastrar sannfæringar minnar um yfirburði þeirra.
Cool early grunge album, short and sweet at six minutes but its here for a good time not a long time.
Based on just the original release, I'd say this is slightly above average for me. I tend to struggle with punk, but I like grunge. Not sure how weird that is. Regardless, I was jamming along for most of it. So then I listened to a few extra tracks that were on the deluxe edition on Spotify and I started digging it a bit more. Perhaps repeated exposure does the trick?
Tää on jämäkkä grunge-ep! Tosin spotify antaa jonku deleuxe version kuunneltavaksi. Pitää osata lopettaa ajoissa. 4/5
According to the stats, grunge is one of my least favourite genres. But this was decent.
I did not expect to enjoy this at all but that 22 minutes of youthful exuberance hit the spot today. No need to listen to more.
Dude, early grunge kicks ass. Why did nobody tell me? Powerful riffs and drums galore here. Very cool and moody. Might come back to it.
I had to listen to this one twice. Judged by the grunge bands they helped Subpop spawn they Mudhoney pales in comparison. They're the first cake recipe that lets you know you're onto something but it hasn't all come together yet. It's not quite melancholy or abrasive or melodic or percussive enough. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, even Bush all do it better and only a few years later. However, as a trashy fun little punk band that spawned a movement, it's good. Nothing revolutionary but it's got heart and those fuzzed out guitars are banging. Hate the Police, Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More and Need were my favorite tracks.
So angry, noisy and raw. I’d say maybe even a bit ahead of its time. Going on the list!
I've really like Touch Me I'm Sick since it came on a compilation of songs performed live from a local radio station. I've gained a new appreciation for this band after listening to this "album". Sweet Young Thing.. is great and In 'N' Out of Grace is good fun too.
amazing late 80s grunge beginnings, one of the most influental albums of the genre.
Great stuff. I was a little too young to catch this at the time and only knew a handful of the tracks. Fun to go back to the early grunge and see what kicked it all off.
Strong album, but not so remarkable that I can give it anything more than a 4.
EP is a 4.5. EP plus singles is a 4.5. Deluxe version has a lot of bloat and is a 3.
Really cool to hear some of the big influence towards the Seattle grunge scene and some excellent harder listening jams.
Doslovno stooges jr. Ali forica
Touch Me I'm Sick! This is right up my alley and is a huge influence on a lot of bands that were extremely important to me back in the day. That being said, I never really listened to Mudhoney all that much back at that time outside of their My Brother the Cow album that I owned. This album is pretty good, with 3 or 4 songs that really stand out as some of the best from that era. Touch Me..., If I Think, and In n Out of Grace are all great.
Yesterday I listened to Soundgarden's multi-million-selling album which I found to be turgid. Meanwhile this pre-grunge EP is EP-IC! That guitar sounds is glorious, while the songs have so much life and power.
Pretty good punk album.
Sounds great
It sure is an influential record for the whole grunge wave, but *Superfuzz Bigmuff* is technically an EP (later expanded into a compilation). If Dimery betrayed his own rules for his list, I can't see why he didn't include other pivotal EPs (say, Beck's *Loser* or Godspeed You! Black Emperor's *Slow Riot For New Zero Canada*). And if you consider this record as a compilation instead, you must then include far more important ones (like The Buzzcocks' *Singles Going Steady*, The Beatles' red and blue albums, or even Bob Marley's *Legend*). I'm giving four stars to this EP, but it's the very rare case where I won't include it in my own list. Rules matter sometimes, don't they? Even for unruly bands such as Mudhoney. So next, please. Number of albums left to review: 486 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 243 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 115 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 153, including this one.
Was worried I wouldnt like this after not listening to it for so long. But I neednt have worried - it stands up well
Lane Kim would approve
decent punk /grunge
Proto-grunge that's really fun. Apparently this came out before their "make bad music to stick it to the man" phase. Best track: No One Has
Some tracks feel they could have been released last week. Some tracks need to get their prostate looked at - their age is showing. Strange but fun.
I liked Mudhoney when i was in college, but haven't listened much since. To begin with, I felt this hadn't aged that well, but I admit it grew on me as I listened more. Decent proto-grunge. Cate will hate it! Note: listened to the 6 tracks on the original EP plus a few more. 2+ hours of this is too much in one session! Fave track probably "You Got It (Keep it Outta My Face)" This is a 3.5 for me but going to generously give it 4
Du très bon grunge, sonne vraiment typique des débuts du son. J'ai particulièrement aimé les pièces plus "raw". Ça donne envie d'écouter le reste de leur stock. 8/10
Day 95 What I love about first albums is that they usually capture the energy of a band in its purest, rawest form. In the case of a debut EP, you are not running short of pure energy, but you might run short of songs. That's my first complaint about this one. The second complaint is the lack of Touch Me I'm Sick on here. But in terms of an album intended as a document, this album delivers in spades: you can sense the vitality of the Seattle scene just before it exploded/imploded into the international market. And it's so imperfect that it is moving.
A solid record. One of the more approachable albums of the early grunge era.
I mean, who doesn't love some fucking dirty, grimy, late 80s Seattle grunge?
Great energy and tunes 4
8/10 super solid grunge/hard rock nothing that really stood out specifically, more just a continuous fun vibe
Grunge and Alternative music wouldn't be what it is/was without Mudhoney and SubPop records in the late 80s. As a matter of fact, Mudhoney is peak Grunge/Alternative. 4/5.
It took me awhile to get through this album, not because I didn't like it, but because I could never find a full 2+ hours to listen to this until I realized the second disc is the same as the first, just live. I was aware of their contribution to the foundations of the Seattle scene, but never dove into them until this. I was surprised and impressed. Far less polished than the bands that rose to fame a few years later which I appreciated. I think this album provides a little insight into what the Seattle scene was before everyone sold out, got rich, and killed themselves.
The original 6 song album is much better than the deluxe version 1001 sent me to. I like the distortion. Good stuff.
I liked a lot, probly 4
I listened to the 1990 release “Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles”. I liked this a lot. Fav tracks: Touch Me I’m Sick, Mudride, Hate The Police Least fav track: You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)
fun. aggressive.
I like the tone and sound of the album but the vocalist gets really annoying after over half an hour.The songs are all layered in distortion and fuzz with giant sounding Choruses.It gets exhausting after a while.Even the slow songs sound gigantic.Really liked some of the songs though
The original album is 22:25 min long, then why the hell we point to a 2h15 min extended crap album that ruins the experience. The original album is a punk album, is supposed to be simple, short and dirty. We turn it into a bad experience, specially for people that are not fans. Stop the extended version crap, Spotify... bring back original albums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwiGFlZ0KP8
Pretty cool one. Songs I Already Knew: None Songs I Really Liked: Need, Mudride, No One Has, If I Think, In 'n' Out of Grace
Grunge's baby step, still sounds fresh
Grunge sounds more like Mudhoney than Nirvana or Pearl Jam. Pretty important record/EP and it holds up pretty well today. The deluxe version runs a little long in the tooth, especially since I can't tell much difference between the final versions and the alternative recordings.
Spotify only has the Deluxe Edition so I'm listening to that release. Nailing down what grunge bands sound like isn't easy but this album sounds more grunge than most. The guitars sound so good!
Just for the name alone
I understand why this was there, as it is very influential for the grunge movement. This was pretty good, but less good than some other similar things in that genre. 7,4/10
I like their energy.
This is an important release in the early days of grunge. But, it is only an EP and I would not include on the list for that reason. It is solid, however.
Crunchy, grungey goodness. 4 stars.
Shocked that I had missed this, right up my street, really liked it and will be listening to more of them
Sludgy, thick, heavy guitar coupled with frenetic vocals and energy is a perfect combination in my book. Any album named after a fuzz pedal (much less two!) probably rocks, and this LP does so in spades. Things are fairly homogenous in the track length/tempo department, but when the sound is this good you gotta let the little things slide and let it wash over you.
Raw and raucous. Can hear what inspired the like of Curt Cobain etc. Love it.
This sounds like early Nirvana which I like. If I have my dates straight, this was released before Nirvana’s first album which gives them OG status for the Seattle scene.
Gripping, grungey, engaging, gets in, gets out, leaves you breathless and wanting for more.
Older than I remembered, still just as sick though.
The album that defined early grunge. It's hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on a dirty, heavily distorted (often doom-like) guitar and slowed-down, almost evil sounding vocals. It's loud and energetic, and some songs have a surf rock influence that aligns with contemporaries like the Pixies and Sonic Youth. I know this isn't the original album, but I loved almost all the songs, especially the collaboration with Sonic Youth on "Halloween." Favorites: Touch Me I'm Sick, Sweet Young Thing, Need, Mudride, If I Think, In n Out of Grace, Halloween
I want to listen to this again
Nice grunge/garage vibes. Love the music but its far too long.
The deluxe version was the only version on Spotify and the 2:15 hour runtime definitely scared me so I only listened to the original 22 minutes at first. It was an interesting mix of post punk and pre grunge that definitely captures a weird grey area of rock like this in the late 80s. Regardless, this was a 3/5 but once the original tracks ended I wanted to keep listening to the whole deluxe thing so I suppose that bumps it up to a 4
I was surprised by how good this one was! All the songs were pretty much on the same level for me so it's hard to pick a stand out, but if I had to, I'd pick Dead Love.
The guitar riffs are sick. It may be an issue with the spotify album but 2 hours of many of the same songs was a bit too long. The core songs are phenomenal, though.
While the band name looked familiar, I wasn't at all familiar with their music. Overall this was a rocking album and I will be going back and checking out more of their catalog. Also sweet album title!
Big influence on the alternative scene. Honed yum sounds and a loose style to make a pretty good album
Bring the scuzz, properly dirty. Lovely. In N out of Grace is epic
If you lookup 'grunge' music you'll likely be presented with the usual suspects - Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and so on, and in many cases struggle to hear what they meant by 'grunge' sounding - however, stick this on and Touch Me I'm Sick leaves you in no doubt what they meant. This is a great album that makes no apologies about being rough around the edges, gnarly sounding, and even the album artwork you can imagine being stuck together using glue sticks and Sharpie pens.
Not normally a grunge fan but actually quite enjoyed this. Somehow it seemed a bit bouncier and playful than, say, Nirvana. I liked it in the same way that I like early Sabbath - the band revelling in the noise they can make. The lyrics weren’t terrible either, from what I could make out. I think the original 22 minute version of this is probably enough for one sitting, but I left the Deluxe edition running just to hear their version of Halloween. Good stuff.
Large, dirty guitar sounds. The relentless in-your-face fuzziness strikes me as ahead of its time.
The missing link between Iggy Pop and Nirvana.
Punk-grunge ochentero. No está mal. Un 4.
I tried getting into Mudhoney several years ago before seeing them open for Pearl Jam. It was a little too raw for me then. But now I have a better appreciation for heavier and rougher stuff, so this was good.
Goeie oude grunge
So today we're reviewing... *checks random word generator* ...superfuzz bigmuff. Giving this 4 stars just like the other Mudhoney album we got. They're both super decent, hard-hitting, fun & dirty grunge albums. They might not be quite as catchy as Nirvana, but otherwise not all that far behind.
A ton of exciting tracks with plenty of energy held back by some strangely lifeless ones.
Garage grunge/punk type sound. I'm into it
Punk-grunge ochentero. No está mal. Un 4.
4, pretty dope grunge, a lot of good tracks
The linear progression of punk to grunge and everything outside and in between is demonstrated well by this list
Дерзко.
Grimy as hell and I love it. Rougher than the big 4 grunge bands. 8/10
2/6/2022 Today's Album: "Superfuzz Bigmuff" by Mudhoney - I think this is one of the most influential albums for the 90s. Coming out in 1988 and predating the entire grunge movement, this band shows off a lot of talent and innovation. The groany vocals and and slightly detuned guitars that would define the grunge rock takeover in the 90s are all over this record and are well executed. This album is messy, but controlled and there are a lot of diverse ideas on the record, even if the instrumentation stays pretty similar throughout. Some songs sound like they're made for the mosh pit and some just fit that crying-alone-in-your-bedroom vibe and I think if you look at Nirvana and Pearl Jam, which to me are the closest in comparison to this group, you'll find a very similar aesthetic. It seems that the movement sort of took off without these guys, which is really a damn shame since they were such pioneers of the genre. I don't really know if I am totally on board with grunge music, but I have to say that if you're even just tolerant of hard-rock and metal, you'll appreciate this album or at least enjoy listening to it while it's on. It sounds like the exact transition point between the hair metal that ruled the 80s and more subtle grunge rock, with plenty of chugging 80s guitar and bass lines on tracks like No One Has, but also slowed down grunge beats on tracks like Need and If I Think, both of which sound like Nirvana songs before Nirvana existed. In 'N' Out of Grace and You Got It are absolutely crazy tracks and I like them a lot. I think there are a lot of songs on here that are just sort of forgettable or just don't leave a big impact, but the good parts are really great and there weren't really moments where I didn't at least half-like what I was hearing. I think it's definitely worth it for those who like music with an edge. Score: 7.5 Angsty and Grungy Highlights: Touch Me I'm Sick, Need, If I Think, In 'N' Out of Grace, You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)
I love how RAW this album was, but God it was rough to listen to for long. Overall good experience though.
Grunge visceral, pero con buenas melodías. Fuerza sobre el escenario
Rating: 8/10 Best songs:
Grunge incarnate - squalling guitars, fizzing with sass
Some classic tracks from my youth on here. Always worth a listen even though some tracks take it down slightly from a 5.
Quality feels like it’s recorded right off the floor. I’m a clean sounding kinda guy but this is gritty and I dig it. Loved Rape Me.... I mean Need. (Oof another lifted riff for Cobain & Co.) Fave tracks: “in n’ out of grace” “need”
This just blew the cobwebs right away
The 1990 version includes some awesome songs, but I decided for the purposes of this review I'm just looking at the 6 songs on the 1988 release. I wasn't big on grunge when it first broke through, so I think really listened around bands like Mudhoney at the time. I suppose that's fine, as I don't think I would have much appreciated them at the time. But man, these guys are great. They're the only band I can think of that consistently embodies the raw energy of groups like the Stooges and the MC5. This is some stellar proto-grunge that burns with a ramshackle energy, with some furious guitar work and hard driving drums. The vocals by Mark Arm are some of the most blistering and I have heard. I like the contrast between slow burn and straight up rage he does in “If I Think.” Following it up and closing it out with the high energy “In 'n' Out of Grace,” and that’s a pretty compelling group of songs. It makes me want to hear more. Fave Songs (1988 version): In 'n' Out of Grace, No One Has, If I Think
Straightforward, short, but oh so tight. The closer clinches it, stretching out without losing the edge that has been honed by the other five tracks.
I believe that this is the pure definition of a very historical album that sounds "simple" or "old" because of so many things it influenced after its release. The songs are great and the spirit is pure 90's grunge.
I liked the later mudhoney better, but this was a solid angsty garage rock EP. 7/10
Decent grunge, especially the last song. 7/10
Focused rocker. I didn't realize EPs were included in this list
Really enjoyable, liked it more than most grunge i've heard due to the great energy and dirty sound.
Nice proto-grunge. Grunge is my favorite genre and this is one of the early trendsetters. I can totally hear Nirvana and Soundgarden here. Good album.
Another solid album that rocks hard. Early grunge. A few great songs, especially toward the end but not consistent throughout. A 3.5 but will listen again so I'll bump to 4
definitely grew on me. some songs were too similar and repetitive but the screaming and guitar were kinda additive. cool name x
Punk-rock en estado puro. Buen disco, buen estilo, un imprescindible de esta lista.
This dirty, messy garage punk makes me want to buy another Big Muff pedal. This album was fun, and short enough that it didn't outstay its welcome like some bands like this
Yet another surprise for me. This one grabs me immediately with big noise. It follows up with fast and medium hard sound that really keeps me interested. For '88 this seems like a really groundbreaking album.
May have been the template for grunge, but it's possible to make poppier, hookier songs without selling out.
Seattle... Lärm!
ну во-первых как постоянный юзер биг маффа хочу заявить, что строить весь альбом на этом звуке — максимально хуёвая затея. Его для ритма и не используют почти, он же ватный сильно, да и для соляков звук как-то недокрутили. Если уж делать звук с ним, то используя какую-нибудь грелку, меня например тащит подрубать его через боссовский турбо дисторшн. Но ладно, цэ всё лирика. Во-вторых — песни на этом альбоме просто на пять голов выше всего, что я слышал от мадхани до этого. хз, может они так скатились в будущем, но ожидал я вообще другого. Это-то ну. норм. даже очень. Как для пост-хардкора — вощще конфетка. Как для гранжа — ну чутка хаотично и мелодики не хватает порой, но влияние на того же Кобейна очевидно. Как для 88 года — передовая нахуй музыка. Вокалист просто зверюга, тащит энергетикой через эти фуззовые стены и долбящие ударные. Трек Hate the Police — вообще один из самых впечатляющих вокальных перфомансов, что я когда-либо слышал. Mudride тоже где-то близко валяется. Композиционно не откровение, конечно, но определенные треки радуют. Для меня небольшой проблемой стала так называемая Ear Fatigue — «ушная усталость», когда под конец альбома уже так много этого фузза и однообразного звука, что физически устаешь это слушать (я гонял полную версию, ясен хуй). В общем для своего времени — ништяк, для нашего — детский доктор, группа когда-то была горяча, 8/10.
Не, саундом пропёрся. Сразу прям захотелось уши через звуковуху подключить. Покачивает, покачивает. Вики бы не написала - я бы даже не особо выкупил, шо цэ гранж. При оценке альбома возникает вопрос занимательный. Не "А судьи кто?", а "А судить то что?". В оригинальном EP всего 6 треков, в итоге 22,5 мин. А в современном издании эти 6 треки помещены внутрь дополнительных. Ещё и второй диск присобачен. Я угарну, если кто-то в рамках этого движа вместо 6 треков будет 32 слушать, лол.
Ich finds geil und liebe den Sound, die Hits und die Attitüde. Dreckpunk, Proberaum, Heroin, Power, Amerika. Sehr ambitioniert ist das natürlich nicht, aber wer Touch Me I'm Sick und Mudride an zwei Enden einer Platte packt, darf dazwischen gern auch mal bisschen stoppeln. Und schon aus Prinzip kann ich hier nicht weniger geben als für Pearl Jams Ten.
Grunnnnnge
Early example of grunge
I liked it. But didn’t we always hear some of these songs on this project?
3/5. Definitely liked this one more than “every good boy deserves fudge.” Though I still wasn’t fully in love with it. I respect Mudhoneys legacy of being a foundational grunge band and helping to put SubPop on the map as a label. But when it comes to grunge I do just vastly prefer the 90’s hitmakers like Nirvana or Alice In Chains over these early bands. The opener “touch me I’m sick” is a banger however.
Back in the early '90s I might have convinced myself that I really like this.
Listened to the EP on Youtube. On paper - four young punks discover distortion and play really loud - this should be better than it is in reality. Because in reality you come up against the fact that they're no Nirvana. The vocals are a bit weak and the guitar is a bit one trick pony. Fine, but a bit meh
This is good! Maybe even better than the last mudhoney album, but still just a 3.
Needed to look up the historical relevance. Deserves a place for it's influence. Didn't find it particularly good though. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
I actually enjoyed this a lot, and it was perfect to listen to while driving in rush hour traffic on the interstate. Great rage outlet and fun sounds
I know it was first, but there’s a reason Mudhoney didn’t have the success of the Seattle bands that followed. It’s just average good grunge. Nothing great.
Brief noisy fun
They have a song called Halloween: if I had heard that song, and the rest of the album, would I have gone to see them in 91?
not the biggest fan of grunge, just not my style. i will say that this is a lot better than bleach by nirvana and a lot of what’s on here makes it seems like kurt bit off their style hard
When you just listen to the original tracks, it hits.
It's like you can feel the grunge forming in and around them.
Not a bad album again. Some clearly influential early grunge stuff. But nothing that really jumped out overall. Listenable and fun though
Best proto-grunge / punk album we’ve had yet.
Solid album, but could not fully get into it. Some really good tracks, and a lot of just okay ones.
The *other* grunge band from Washington state
This seems like an instance where the album was included because of its importance - being one of the first Seattle scene records. Musically it feels pretty thrown together, lots of energy but lacking in substance.
I dig it. Also, this gets at least 1 point solely for the album name.
God this was a hard one. Initially sounded very sloppy and lo-fi, but I think that's exactly the point. It grew on me with further listens. Definite teenage garage band vibes, and that's okay. I am certain that this band inspired a LOT of the bands that I love today, so for that I'm grateful. Favourite tracks: Touch Me I'm Sick, Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More, No One Has.
Interesting sound and a precursor to “grunge” as the people say. But not something I’d come back too.
For grunge it's really tight, especially for a debut and being so early to the scene. Makes sense to be on the list and if I hadn't ever heard grunge and this was on it would 100% get my attention. Cool listen.
This was a fun listen. Mudride clicks for me. Reminds me of some of the stuff I was listening to in highschool. Great album cover. Love that it was only 23 minutes.
Like it 3/5
Super fuzzy grunge rock. 6/10
Ei oikein jääny mieleen. Perus vähän aggrompaa grungea, melkein punkkia. Varmasti niillä sanomaa ois, mutta en jääny kuuntelee
Es ist ein dreckiger, lärmender Urknall – roh, verschwommen, elektrisiert. Mudhoney klingen hier, als würden sie Garage‑Rock, Punk und Proto‑Grunge in einen einzigen, vibrierenden Stromstoß verwandeln. „Touch Me I’m Sick“ ist ein schmieriger Klassiker voller ironischer Selbstzerstörung, „In ’n’ Out of Grace“ ein wilder, chaotischer Ritt mit legendärem Intro‑Monolog.
01) Touch Me I'm Sick - 7,0 02) Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More - 7,5 03) Twenty Four - 6,5 04) Need - 6,5 05) Chain That Door - 6,0 06) Mudride - 6,0 07) No One Has - 6,5 08) If I Think - 6,5 09) In 'n' Out of Grace - 6,0 10) The Rose - 6,0 11) Hate the Police - 6,0 12) You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face) - 6,0 13) Burn It Clean - 6,0 14) Halloween - 5,5 TOTAL: 6,29 (63/100) Current ranking: 653/899
Enjoyed it. Punk grungy without being offensive
gostei mais da segunda metade do álbum
Good energetic grunge sound, even if the vocals are weak. This is one of those albums where there's not a standout song, but it has a standout vibe. You just listen to it and all the songs blend into each other, which works if you wanna just chill, but doesn't make it any better than 'fine'.
Mudhoney is fine, and this is a good sample of their sound. It's not my favorite album of theirs and not sure why more than one of their albums are on this list. This is the weaker of the two.
One of the originals of Grunge. Highlights: Touch Me I’m Sick, Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More, Need 3.6
Great grunge album but not my favorite
What makes it great is that it does not pretend to be more refined than it is. The fuzz is the point. The sneer is the point. The whole record sounds like it was dragged through a garage floor, kicked down a staircase, and then turned up louder.
A little too garagey for my taste I think. It's not bad and some of the songs are pretty good but overall not my thing.
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden did it better, but Mudhoney did it first. More of a legacy inclusion than something I want to listen to every day but still interesting to hear these roots of 90’s Grunge
I always heard about Mudhoney as the influence for some of my favorite bands. I like the path they blazed, but I like the next era they ushered in much better
Interesting enough.
Ok grunge but not my fave 3.4/5 Almost 4 but not quite
Heard it before. A grunge classic and an album the inspired many bands that came after them 3/5
Its not bad. A good precursor to what was coming in Seattle
Runs a little long, but it's a fun album.
Yup…this is some slaaaaacker grunge for ya. Mark Arm’s yowls and drawls sound even more indifferent to you than J. Mascis’, and the buzzy guitars are right at about the midpoint between Melvins and Nirvana. 3.5 stars
3.9 but not 4
It’s ok. A decent early rough around the edges sort of proto grunge album. 3.5⭐️ album. 5⭐️ album name
I didn't know they named an album after your mom.
listenable
Very solid grunge rock. They are no Nirvana but still good!
Not the best or worst grunge I have heard. Low 3.5 stars
I appreicate this album (EP) as being a really early example of grunge, but I don't think Mudhoney quite matches the best the genre would offer in a few years. "Touch Me, I'm Sick" is definitely the best thing here, and I think the added on stuff is better than the original EP in general. 3.5 stars.
Kindafine whatever even if it's not really a proper album. It's cool that it did an early hardcore grunge thing although Nirvana Bleach went and did it a billion times better. Primal Scream took the same 'we wanna be free and we wanna do what we wanna do' sample from The Wild Angels and again used it on a record that was a billion times better.
There are a couple of versions of this record. I listened to the EP that was the original recording. The album was re-released in 1990 as a full length album called "Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles". There was also a deluxe edition released in 2008 that included a bunch of the demo recordings, as well as a second disc that had live recordings of all of the songs. Mudhoney and this album in particular really paved the way for what would become the 1990s grunge movement and bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and others. It's pure rock with everything you'd want out of a garage rock band sounding album. Great listen!
Seattle Grunge from '88.
Ultimately not my vibe, but I appreciate it anyway
I probably wasn’t ready for this much grunge in 1988, but I sure like it now. I wish the vocals were a little more quirky or interesting. 3.5?
Mudhoney walked so Nirvana could run. Sick album cover.
I gave this a few listens. I get it. I get the Nirvana and grunge influences. I like a fair bit. But it's all a bit samey and crungey. Need. Chain That Door and Hate the Police stood out. I was amused to hear the same sample from Primal Scream's Loaded but didn't find that much joy.
It was ok. Forgettable
Cool even cooler band name
Really punk, I actually think the songs are pretty cool. Talking about being drunk on ouzo (that's the first), Hate The Police is a proto-Chat Pile song, overall some sick concepts. The music isn't really there for me, though. I think it is okay but not great by any stretch. I hear the influences on the way from punk to grunge but this is a band that is more foundational than really excellent (IMO).
Algo copado, corto yyyyy me olvidé de todo. Nota: 2.8
I’ve heard Mudhoney's debut “album” before, as I read a book called Everybody Loves Our Town, which was an oral history of the grunge scene in Seattle. I hate the term grunge. Nirvana wasn’t the same band as Pearl Jam, which wasn't the same band as Alice In Chains, which wasn’t the same band as Soundgarden, which wasn’t the same band as Mudhoney. But I already digress. Mudhoney formed out of the band Green River, whose split also formed Mother Love Bone. Mother Love Bone later became Pearl Jam after MLB's lead singer, Andrew Wood, died of an overdose. MLB would have been legendary had Wood survived. They were a cross between the Seattle sound and glam. Such a fun band. Much like the boys in MLB took on the form of Wood, when those guys became Pearl Jam, they took on the form of Eddie Vedder. Check out Mother Love Bone’s Apple. It’s a great album. Digression.... Anyhoo, Mudhoney’s debut EP was released in 1988 and later re-released in 1990 as the original EP with several other singles the band recorded The album went from six songs to 12 songs in 1990. That’s the album I decided to listen to, as the super-deluxe is 32 tracks, about half of them live. Track 1 is Touch Me I’m Sick which was a stand alone single that was not on the original EP. Mudhoney was the Seattle band that sounded more similar to Nirvana than the others. Very punk rock, fast and loud music. While Kurt Cobain’s love of the Beatles shone through in the songs of Nirvana. Mudhoney were basically the Stooges. Just big, loud guitars and singer and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm just screaming the vocals. Lots of feedback and fuzz, hence the album title. Track 2, Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More, is the Stooges with a slide guitar. I really dig this. You talk about no frills rock and roll compared to the bloated hair metal scene at the time. I used to be angry at grunge and alt rock for destroying my beautiful hair metal scene, but over time, I realized, hair metal destroyed hair metal…Or rather, the record companies did. Instead of finding good bands, they signed any band that looked or sounded like Poison, which ended up eating the scene alive. And besides, I'm not an androgynous-looking, pretty boy glam guy/ I'm a dirty, ugly grunge guy. It was music for me, I later learned. Track 3 is Twenty-Four and this could be a Nirvana song. I’m surprised people didn’t latch on to Mudhoney as a substitute for Nirvana, but it seems people kind of turned on them. Guitarist Steve Turner thought people were angry that Mudhoney was still around after Cobain died. Which is weird. This is such an old-school punk album. Track 4 is called Need, and it’s more of the same except Arm is singing a bit more than screaming, and the band is providing some nice backing vocals for him. This album just rocks. Track 6 is called Mudride, and the guitars are extra fuzzy for this one. The tempo is also slowed way down compared to the previous songs. I love the groove of this song. Again, it sounds like a Stooges song. Track 8 is If I Think and it shows a bit more songwriting ability by the band, as it’s more than just a punk song. For Mudhoney, it’s almost a ballad. But it still rocks. This album is just in your face rock and roll. Track 9 is In ‘n’ Out of Grace and it’s my favorite song on the album. It’s got a great groove to it, and in the middle, there’s a breakdown that's just drum and bass playing their tails off. The guitars are screaming too. Just a great song that’ll get you fired up. at I bet this was insane to see live. It kind of reminds me of Queen’s Brighton Rock as times. It’s not as polished, but the tune is hidden there underneath all that fuzz. , Track 11 is called Hate the Police and it sounds like a Hole song. Let’s just say it has a message and it’s not favorable to the police. I’m not in favor of painting with such broad strokes, but there are always bad apples in the bunch. You just hope those bad apples aren’t out there taking lives. That song was unexpected, but the passion shone through. Track 12 is called You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face), and something tells me I should maybe pay more attention to the lyrics, as I might be missing a deeper meaning in some of these songs. Not sure what he wants outta his face, but whatever it is, that person has got it. Mudhoney and Nirvana formed around the same time and shared the same musical sensibilities, though Cobain was a huge Beatles fan, which made Nirvana’s music more palatable to the squares. Mudhoney has the same anger and frustration in their music. You can clearly hear that in Arm’s voice. I imagine Mudhoney was trying to be the next Stooges, and maybe they accomplished that because those who know, well, they know. I won’t say I loved this album as 14 songs of fire and flame can wear on you, but I do think it’s perfect for fans of Seattle music in the late 80s and early 90s. If you aren’t really a grunge or punk fan, you can probably skip this album. But I recommend checking out the Stooges, and if you like them, then give this a listen.
By about song eight, they were all the same.
Imagine my horror when the EP turns out to be 33 track deluxe version! However it was pretty good though and didn’t bother listened to all the different versions of the same song!
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. 3⭐️
Heard of these guys and they were always credited with the start of the grunge movement in the Pacific Northwest. Now Spotify is a little annoying with the record as it is only deluxe and has 2.25 hours run time. The original release is around a half hour. Anyway it’s fine raw, and grungie. Cover looks like a sound garden cover louder than love. Need to compare. Looks like they all did the same thing. Flavor of the day. I stopped listening after an hour. The rest is all demos and live. Fine record. No issues with it.
Solid album, not for me, but not a bad listen. 5.2/10
An album of its time. When so many albums and bands of that Seattle scene are reassessed as to whether they were grunge or punk or just rock, Mudhoney were always grunge. Definitely an interesting album, but one that doesn't make me want to return to it each day.
Mudhoney seems super important to grunge and a lot of 90s alt rock but they’re mostly just ok. I prefer the stuff that came after them generally though
*70 Rating baseret på original EP - track 4 - 9. Der er god riv, og det er generelt meget i min smag, men det blev lidt for rodet.
2.9. Vigtigt og definerende for genren, men som så meget andet, der har gjort noget, der ikke er blevet gjort før, er det blevet overhalet senere. Desuden - Nirvana did it better
Can certainly see how this album influenced the Seattle grunge movement, so points for that but I don’t think I’d sit down and listen to it again.
Cool stuff, especially from a historical perspective. Encouraged me to read about pedals and distortion which was neat.
Never really got into Mudhoney for whatever reason. This EP is probably the longest sustained time I've given to them. I understand that this was key to the development of grunge and the establishment of Sub Pop but kinda just sounds like a standard punk record. I think their second album is on this list, so I'm looking forward to giving them another look.
I can see how they are the precursors to Nirvana, Sound Garden, etc.
Sounds like my high school rock band. We weren’t that good
Middle of the road. Little to screamy but the guitars are rad.
"Superfuzz Bigmuff" marks my first proper introduction to Mudhoney's music. The title alone is wonderfully silly. Though often categorised as an album, its six-track runtime firmly plants it in EP territory, and a decent EP it is. Overall, I enjoyed the wall of fuzzy, thrashy noise, but the song writing didn't quite land for me; the vocals and lyrics felt like an afterthought. "Mudride" offers a welcome bit of groove amidst the chaos. "If I Think" is the standout track. "Superfuzz Bigmuff" is an okay listen, but not a life-changer, and certainly not enough for me to explore the deluxe version of this album further. Three stars. 265/1001 143/265 albums reviewed were new to me
I don't like grunge, but this is more hardcore punk than grunge. What immensely helped was the fact that it was so short. It was pretty good.
No private session used for Spotify. Being a fan of the Seattle Grunge scene I have checked this out. It's hard to not listen to this album and think of what it meant to the whole Seattle scene. I need to remember to crank this one when working in the garage.
Im js now expanding my music taste and I can say this is one of my favorite albums with this type of sound and I can't wait to explore more like it.
1988??? this is so sick i had no idea people were moving like this in the 80s
This one is raw and will deserve more of a listen than I gave it.
I do love me some good ol' dirty garage rock! A solid 3.5 for me
Pretty rad, songwriting not particularly sticky but I like the energy.
Very raw and energetic and grungy. Didn't feel the need to listen to the whole thing. The album title is very appropriate.
3/5
It's a decent album. Nothing extraordinary, but it's solid. 3/5 Might listen again
Strangely fun at times and just outright strange at others. At first I was like wtf but some of it grew on me. Definitely an album that could have been upexperienced differently with some type of stimulant - would be an even wilder ride!
Sounding like the bastard son of early Nirvana and Butthole surfers, this somehow has passed me by over the intervening years. Thing is, I've plenty of Kurt and Gibby already on my shelves, so not sure this will add much. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 235 Already owned : 53 Purchased : 12 To buy list : 3 Nope : 167
Some great guitar in here, and some of the songs are pretty catchy. I feel like I got taken to some skeezy bar to watch these people play, and I was sketched out at first, but then I got into it.
Liked: Touch Me I'm Sick, Twenty Four, No One Has, Hate the Police, Halloween Added: Touch Me I'm Sick, Twenty Four, Hate the Police
There was a place in time I would have loved this. Killer album cover tho.
A classic
Me and Lilia very much enjoyed blasting out ‘In ‘N’ Out of Grace’ in the car on a Sunday morning
It kinda smacks! This things got some teeth. It’s nice and chunky. Probably much more representative of what grunge set out to be, before it was diminished to wearing flannels in the rain. Some favorites were “Mudride”, “If I Think”, and “Hate The Police”. Nice little run of songs there in the middle. Strong 3/5, elite beer drinking energy
not bad, but not my cup of tea
# Album Name: Superfuzz Big muff # Artist: Mudhoney # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Meh, too much fuzz. Was arlight. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? No
Electric energy, but most of the songs are somehow mediocre. "Touch Me I'm Sick" and "In 'n' Out of Grace" are worth the admission.
Such a long album and it seemed like the tracks reappeared multiple times on the album? The stuff was good and v foundational punk
It's alright. High value of 3, can't quite say I actually Enjoyed it though.
Hmm. Band's name as onomatopoeia for how their music sounds? StickyFilthySweet.
A cool early grunge record. Really glad I finally checked these guys out. The album cover is cool as fuck. Favorite track: Touch Me I'm Sick 3.5/5
7/10 06.02.2026
This wasn’t my favorite, but I could definitely hear its influence on grunge.
Apparently the original release of this album was just 6 songs and 23 minutes long. That sounds like a much better format. It's an interesting vibe but just barely too noisy to be worth listening to again.
I dunno, it just sounds like slightly harder grunge. Not really for me.
Feel like a band that are better live than on an album
I concur with Mcginn, would be a lot better live
A grunge punch to the grunge hole.