Melvins - Nude With Boots (Ipecac)

by Ari Abramowitz
21 June 2008

I’m chuffed to say that the MELVINS surprised me two and a half times on their new one. Hey, BUZZO, DALE, and an endless procession of bassists have been doing their idiosyncratic hard rock for around a quarter-century now. The drums/bass duo, BIG BUSINESS, that was annexed for 2006’s relentless A Senile Animal is still here (though I can’t say I hear them as much on this one). To know the band can still deliver a new twist or two is friggin ace. That doesn’t make the upcoming Nude With Boots (release date, July 8) a great album, or even a really good one. With two undistinguished tracks near the beginning of the album and three stinkers near the end, this is not their finest hour. But there is a fantastic quarter-hour in here. And in an era that encourages taking the tracks that kill and killing the tracks that don’t, this is not a tragic flaw. In fact, after each listen of the disc, I don’t feel bummed or disappointed as much as all-around ready to rock.

Here’s why. The opening track, “The Kicking Machine” is the only song of its kind the Melvins have ever recorded. It’s a slamming, thwomping succession of classic, hard rock guitar breaks and drum breakbeats. It reminds me of the best stuff by the 70s hard rock band, HARD STUFF, and could be sampled by a DJ with steel nuts. Half way through, the track releases into hyper drive and it’s “see ya…” Total killer. Fast forward to track four, “Dies Irae,” an instrumental. Another surprise track of devil’s mass, spaghetti western doom. Unusual, subtle, way heavy, elegant, atmospheric, and massive. Skip the next track. The band next drops the bomb on “The Smiling Cobra.” Classic Melvins hard rock: walloping, throttling, dynamic and kick-ass all the way through. Not a suprising track, but it could possibly fit somewhere on Houdini, or certainly on Stoner Witch or Eggnog. Which brings us to the title track. Following an obligatory drum intro, the band enter the “Freedom Rock” zone. Pure, rockin’ down the highway, straight from the 70s, classic rock radio style all the way, but so kick ass and anthemic. If I said I heard isolated chords from BIG STAR and DAVID BOWIE you’d justifiably laugh at me, so I won’t put too fine of a point on it. But this track might be the free-est and most “feel good” I’ve ever heard the Melvins sound. And the sound fits just fine. And end the disc right there. You don’t don’t need anything else on this one. You’ve just picked up one ace track in the classic Melvins mold, one rad, atmospheric instrumental, and two of the freshest Melvins tracks you could have hoped for. Say thanks and pocket a good day’s bounty.

Filed under hard rock indie-rock