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JennYCruisin' to the Seattle Sound...What is Your Favorite Grunge Band/Song?
November 12th 2006 20:54
I went cruising last night. Can you believe that? I am 34 and I went cruising with my friend listening to all the greats derived from the Seattle sound.
The Seattle sound originated with the 'Godfathers of Grunge', Neil Young -(I was a bit surprised by this bit of trivia until my friend
LethalPiano pointed it out and I did some digging)- and to 'Green River', allegedly named after the Green River serial killings, whose members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament started jamming a bit with members of 'Malfunkshun', Andy Wood and Regan Hagar. That musical collaboration then became 'Lords of the Wasteland', which was later renamed 'Mother LoveBone'. There are other major players in the beginnings of this genre, as well.
History lesson aside, my friend and I cruised around blaring 'Nirvana', 'Pearl Jam', and 'Creed' -(I insisted because I wanted to prove that former Creed frontman, Scott Stapp, is obviously heavily influenced by Pearl Jam and my friend didn't really think so.) (I am right, btw.) 'Alice in Chains' has been played during nearly all of our hangout sessions, so they were excluded from the playlist last night.
As someone who has not been a big fan of the greats like 'Pearl Jam' or 'Nirvana' in the past, we specifically focused on some of their greatest...'Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town', and 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', etc. Last night, ladies and gentlemen, I got it. I get it. I came to the light, I see now. I am a reformed sinner...
I have been inspired to pay tribute to this genre of music in the next few weeks and will acknowledge a few of the groups but it would take months to compile anything worthy of the bodies of work of each band and to do an adequate chronology of the genre. In no way am I making a claim to do it justice, but I hope that you will join me and throw in your tidbits of information, (LethalPiano, Bryn and Tinkster, to name a few.) It will be a fun ride...Until then...
The Seattle sound originated with the 'Godfathers of Grunge', Neil Young -(I was a bit surprised by this bit of trivia until my friend
Neil Young-Wikipedia
Mother Lovebone -http://www.glampunk.org/lovebone.html
History lesson aside, my friend and I cruised around blaring 'Nirvana', 'Pearl Jam', and 'Creed' -(I insisted because I wanted to prove that former Creed frontman, Scott Stapp, is obviously heavily influenced by Pearl Jam and my friend didn't really think so.) (I am right, btw.) 'Alice in Chains' has been played during nearly all of our hangout sessions, so they were excluded from the playlist last night.
As someone who has not been a big fan of the greats like 'Pearl Jam' or 'Nirvana' in the past, we specifically focused on some of their greatest...'Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town', and 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', etc. Last night, ladies and gentlemen, I got it. I get it. I came to the light, I see now. I am a reformed sinner...
I have been inspired to pay tribute to this genre of music in the next few weeks and will acknowledge a few of the groups but it would take months to compile anything worthy of the bodies of work of each band and to do an adequate chronology of the genre. In no way am I making a claim to do it justice, but I hope that you will join me and throw in your tidbits of information, (LethalPiano, Bryn and Tinkster, to name a few.) It will be a fun ride...Until then...
who is your favorite Grunge Band? What is your favorite song of theirs and your favorite lyrics within that song?
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Comment by Anonymous
was Pearl Jam and Nirvana that made me start digging into the whold "seattle sound" story. I found
that these bands were all one big group playing clubs every week after another in Seattle. Pearl Jam's
story is what turned me on. Knowing that if Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone had not died of an
overdose, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament would not have tried to form another. This story made the
whole scene for me very romantic and mysterious. I bought Mother Love Bone cd. and I fell in love.
The guitar, the piano there are parts in their songs that remind me of the same pain and struggle that
Layne and Kurt also portrayed in their songs. Although all 3 died because of drugs, there is more to
the musik than just that. Some of MLB's music is almost haunting - it sounds witching. Crown of Thorns
is my favorite song because of these lyrics.
'This is my kind of love, it's the kind that moves on
It's unkind, and it leaves me alone." Love it. Andrew had an effect on the other musicians. Let's not
give all the facts yet... I might want to wait for other post to entirely go off!!!!!! You know I love Alice in
Chains, but I have to give a lot of credit to Andrew Wood, and the story to MLB and Pearl Jam. Without
this I don't know if I would? love Layne and the boys like I do. I probably still would?, but you never
know. Lethalpiano why did they all love Neil??? Thanks for voices and to your experience and finally
getting it, I have to say......do it some more and Yayyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
You failed to mention if you think Scott Stapp is heavily influenced by Pearl Jam...I am curious if you think so. *wink*
I will keep the posts coming but again, I won't do it justice...
Come back and reveal all...
Voices~
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
LMAO...if you know who Cobain and Pearl Jam are, I refuse to let you call yourself that. I will leave that upto your teenage son...What do they know?? *smile*
Thanks for commenting and come back,
Voices~
Comment by Wendi
Comment by MatthewB
WE WANT ART WITH AESTHETICS!!
Comment by tinkster
Sorry.....
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
You are always welcome and it's fine if you don't like it (no it isnt buy alice in chains). Not everyone is going to like the same music. (Yes they would if they listened to Alice in Chains...look at now deceased frontman Layne Stalely..not only was he hot...he was incredibly talented:
*wink and big smile*
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I think I love you. *smile* I will check out Monster Magnet...
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
And that comment concludes my tribute to the Seattle Sound...sorry, I had to delete it...where was I going to go after that?? I will get to that information in future posts...
Thanks for stopping by and come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Two bands you have to give credit for getting the ball rolling in the northwest are the Melvins and, as you mentioned, Green River. Andrew Wood's first band Malfunkshun are also important and in my mind, better than Mother Love Bone (a bit punkier and rougher around the edges). Actually anything on the compilation Deep Six is worth checking out if you want to know how it started in Seattle, although the stuff on there is much darker and more anti-commerical than bands like Pearl Jam.
P.S. My favourite grunge band is the Scientists. Did you know grunge actually started in Australia?
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I am diving into all the roots of it, making up a spreadsheet of all the artists to see the interconnections and all that...I may have to write a book when its finished. No, I can't say that I knew grunge started in Australia...bring it. I may fight you on that one...give it your best shot. *smile*
Come back,
Voizza~
Comment by tinkster
you on that Voices....sorry about earlier btw. Okay Hellvis, I am definitely checking out "the melvins"
and I want to get "mudhoney" also.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Now as you probably know, music and the spread of its influence is a fluid, organic process. Genre names are also slippery sons of bitches and tend to be thrown around by journalists with little care or knowledge.
But my understanding of 'grunge' is that it was first used by critic Lester Bangs to describe an imaginary album by the Troggs (of "Wild Thing" fame). It was used to capture in words its raw, dirty sound.
Then in the early '80s, the term was used by Kim Salmon about his band the Scientists. They were kind of like Creedence Clearwater Revival crossed with the Stooges. Grunge at this stage was not really considered a genre, just a nice descriptor for dirty rock music with distorted and fuzzy guitars.
When the Seattle scene was getting off the ground in the mid-late '80s, people like Mark Arm of Green River and Mudhoney were big fans of Aussie 'grunge' bands like the Scientists, Lubricated Goat, King Snake Roost, and Feedtime. This Aussie sound helped to inform what was happening in Seattle, and the word 'grunge' became synonomous with Seattle.
As the Seattle scene grew, which included many different types of bands, just like any city does, 'grunge' tended to be applied to anything mildly heavy with guitars in it, and became a genre. This is why you get band like AIC and Soundgarden getting called grunge even though they are more like alternative metal bands, and Pearl jam who are really just a '70s inspired hard rock band.
For me, 'grunge' as a genre has mutated so wildly that it has all but lost any meaning, but the same can be said of punk and R&B.
C'est la vie
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Good on you for checking out the Melvins and Mudhoney. The Melvins are a bit of a frustrating band for casual listeners, and like to fuck with their audience. Still, if you like the sound of Nirvana's Bleach, I highly recommend their album Houdini as a starting place. Kurt Cobain produced it and plays drums and guitar on some songs.
Mudhoney are a dirty, snotty garage band. Their compilation March to Fuzz will tell you all you need to know about them, and more.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I love this comment. A lot of great information in there. But you can't take away what happened in Seattle. Seattle may have been inspired by Oz and that is all well and good. But Seattle cultivated, evolved and developed the genre into what it is today. It is no coincidence that Seattle is known for some of the most influential groups ever known to music.
I do agree with you that the term or classification of grunge is overapplied...Heavy Metal went out with the eighties...they had to call it something...Alternative is too vague...so grunge gets slapped on anything remotely deep or angry.
I will have more to say in future posts...come back and hang out,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
However, it's no secret why the Seattle scene gets all the attention. Much of what happened in Seattle was way more commercial than anything happening in Australia, and it had the major label backing to distribute it and promote it. I suppose it came full cricle with Silverchair getting huge on a sound similar to what was happening in Seattle, but even that took acceptance in th US before it broke big. Bands in the US obviously have an advantage due to their cultural monopoly on the world.
As for what 'grunge' has evolved into, it saddens me to talk about it. Some of the stuff that gets called 'grunge' is the most generic, humourless, unimaginative crap I have ever heard.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Commercial? I will give you Pearl Jam but AIC? Mother Love Bone? I think all musicians get into music to be successful, Hellvis. I really do. If they didn't, they wouldn't sign with labels. I think there is a vast difference between commercialism and success.
While some of the grunge scene is commercial today it wasn't back in the day. No way was it commercial in the sense of the word as it applies to music today. Just because a group or band is known, liked and gets some air time doesn't make it commercial. I do agree on most of what you have said, though. Anything that strikes a nerve with people will be overdone, eventually. It's all about the green for labels and that is the price to pay for true artists who want to do what they do but make a living at it, too.
When I mentioned the Seattle scene being the root of the evolution of grunge music, I wasn't referring to what it is today, which is pretty much the rich kids angry anthem, I was referring to the start and where it went from Green River, to Mother Love Bone, to Alice in Chains and so on. When listening to those groups back to back, you can hear it.
It was a powerful, wonderful, and I think, pure evolution. It was about mutual respect between artists, and it was above and beyond all else, about the music. That's why so many frontrunners in the grunge genre were in various bands together, all at the same time, just making music. It wasn't about who would hit first.
I love your passion for music, Hellvis...Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
All I'm saying is some bands are obviously more palatable to a mainstream audience than others. Success or no success, Mother Love Bone were a commercial band. I don't think this is a bad thing, just a difference in outlook. Some work against the grain while others work with it. Mother Love Bone were definitely working with the grain more often than not. The same can be said of AIC, whose music is dark and eerie, but is palatable to a larger audience than something like the Melvins.
MLB could've been huge if their timing was better (and of course, if Andy Wood didn't sadly pass away). The same can't be said for a band like Mudhoney. Yeah, they write some catchy songs, but there's too much noise, too much feedback, they're always drunk, and they aren't pretty. This doesn't make one band better than the other, it's all a question of taste.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I do not think commercialism is relative, at all. Commercialism refers to the mass production of something for the masses, correct? To package something so that the maximum amount of people will buy into it to make the manufacturer money, would you agree? Britney Spears, blonde hair, blue eyes, tanned, dumb as hell, not aware of what key she sings in, shakes her ass at every given moment would be commercial. Alice in Chains, angry lyrics, haunting music, incredible talent, not so much. Again, there is a vast difference between commercialism and success. Air time doesn't equate to commercialism, necessarily.
Hellvis, my friend, we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one...
Great comments,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Still, signing to a major label is a commercial move. It's a career move, rather then an artistic one. This doesn't make it a bad thing. It's about people wanting to make a living off their art, and good luck to them.
Perhaps a better word would be accessibility. Alice In Chains music may not be as commercial as Britney's, but it is accessible to a different, admitedly smaller audience.
AIC made some great music, and put a lot of talent and creativity into what they did. Fact is, it was still accessible, and they went through commercial channels to get it out there. Once again, there's nothing wrong with this. As long as an artist stays true to what they do, and doesn't compromise their vision, then I don't see a problem with commerciality. I think AIC wanted to be commercial, and successful, but they did it with integrity. Britney has none
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Ok. Gotcha. Point taken...see? We weren't disagreeing at all, then. *smile* However, it has occurred that we are having one of those multipost conversations. Why do we do this? We are always so tired the next day after we have chased each other around.. (I know...you belong to someone else...I am just kidding.)
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Mark Lanegan has a few great solo albums as well. The Winding Sheet even has Kurt Cobain playing guitar and doing backing vocals. Lanegan is also a member of Queens of the Stone Age.
But what is extra specially excting is the album by Mad Season he appeared on. Mad Season includes a few members of Pearl Jam and the Scremaing Trees, WITH LANE STAYLEY ON VOCALS. Not sure if you've heard it, but if you haven't: GET IT NOW.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
It is on my list as we speak. I am also going to get some of the other stuff you have mentioned just for a listen. I am the most excited about Mad Season, though for obvious reasons. Screaming Trees is now on my list...will let you know what I think of them. Thanks for the heads up.
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Am listening to Mad Season's Above now but have to go and write some reviews. It's only the first song and already I know you will like it. I forgot how beautiful it is, like Jar of Flies.
Oh, and the Screaming Trees albums to check out would be Sweet Oblivion and Dust.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Are the reviews for Orble or for your new gig or both? Hopefully both. I love to read your reviews..and I am not just saying that...
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
The reviews are for both, provided that Tsunami lets me use them on Earache Hotel. They are due Monday, but I'm venturing into a computerless wliderness over the weekend, so need them done early, like right now, which is Saturday morning.
Aaah! (*imitates Mcauley Culkin in Home Alone*)
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
You mean an entire weekend without the internet?? Do you have a mobile phone to access it? Are there any net cafes? Dear lord, what did you do to deserve that? Oh...wait...you ARE Hellvis...and you DID leave that naughty comment on my post yesterday...well, I hate to say it but maybe if you think about what you did...*smile*
Good luck on the deadline!
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by tinkster
"Singles" sountrack, Mudhoney, Smashing Pumpkins. You are right about Mudhoney. They are okay,
but too much noise. The Screaming Trees "Nearly Lost You" is on Singles soundtrack. Very good
song, and I remember liking it when it was released. I don't know why I haven't bought any cds by
them. I drove home from Chicago this evening listening to all this musik, and it was fuckin great!!!
I just stopped by the computer to catch up, and then I am going to drive some more. I am not ready
to quit jammin yet.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Thanks for stopping by and Rock ON! *smile*
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Being away from the internet is more like a holiday than a punishment, for she is a cruel mistress. Having said that I'm glad to be back, although I can't do any posts til tomorrow because I have visitors to entertain. So much for five posts a week.
Oh, and the deadline went fine, and I even got a nice email back from the editor. The reviews will be going up on Earache Hotel soon, but I might expand upon them a little first.
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Hey, have either your or Voices seen the documentary about Seattle 'grunge' called Hype? It's a must see.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
No I haven't seen Hype, yet. I want to though and plan on it soon. I am neck deep in researching the Seattle Sound. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get a decent post together. I am excited to do this series.
I am glad that your deadline piece went well, can't wait to read it on Earache...
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by tinkster
that you are turning me on to things I haven't heard or seen....
Comment by ChrisM
my favourite grunge song would either be burden in my hand by soundgarden, heart shaped box by nirvarna or jeremy by pearl jam. good stuff.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Thanks for stopping by. I will be doing a series on grunge in a couple of weeks, with the help of a guest speaker. Hope to see you before then but if not, definitely try to come back around my way for that, it should be a lot of fun.
Come back,
Voices~