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Honky
Melvins-honky
Cover for the original CD issue.
Studio album by Melvins
Released May 5 1997
Recorded 12 - 17 February 1997 at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, California
Genre Experimental Rock, Sludge Metal
Length 70:53 (CD)
45:43 (Vinyl)
Label Amphetamine Reptile Records
Producer Joe Barresi
Melvins chronology
Interstellar Overdrive
(1996)
Honky
(1997)
Singles 1-12
(1997)

Honky is the ninth studio album by Melvins, which was released in 1997 through Amphetamine Reptile Records and the band's second album through the independent label. It is widely considered to be the band's most experimental album. Their first studio album after being dropped from Atlantic, the album has a heavy emphasis on soundscapes, collages and abstract instrumentation, with a few songs of sludgy rock within. A video was made for "Mombius Hibachi". The final track, "In the Freaktose the Bugs are Dying", concludes with more than 25 minutes of silence. Notably it would also be the band's first album to feature recurring guest David Scott Stone and the last to feature bassist Mark Deutrom, who was fired the same year.

Background[]

Sometime after being dropped from Atlantic Records following the release of 1996's Stag, The Melvins would begin work on their ninth album, working with GGGarth and Joe Barresi on a lighter budget. In an interview, Buzz Osborne said that album cost $3000 to make, three days rehearsal, and six days recording. The project was an attempt to plug the gap after the major release of the previous album Stag under Atlantic label. Osborne has also joked that if Stag did not get the band dropped from Atlantic then Honky definitely would have. Notably it would feature co-lead vocals from Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland on the eight-minute opener "They All Must Be Slaughtered".

Honky would be initially released circa May 1997 on CD and Vinyl. The vinyl version was also released by Amphetamine Reptile Records in a limited amount of 2500 copies, eight of which were defective and signed by the band.[1] The vinyl version splits the twelve-minute song "Air Breather Deep in the Arms of Morphius" into two parts due to limitations of the vinyl sides. Also the final song "In the Freaktose The Bugs Are Dying" omits the 25 minutes of silence. The album would be largely ignored by critics at the time of release though several retroactive reviews have surfaced, often with mixed reception,[2][3] though Sly Vinyl would cite Honky as one of the band's most underrated works.[4] Mark Beaumont, writing for NME, would award the album a 1/10 score, citing the band as "Noodling around pretending to be avant garde ambient maestros between trying to wrestle a solo out of an angry moose under the impression that it's a guitar." and that "The Lord giveth and he taketh away, they say, so here's hoping he knows where The Melvins keep their record contract.".[5]

In January 2011, Melvins played a series of four shows at Club Spaceland. A special handmade digipak edition of album was sold there, limited to 50 copies. This version had a typo in the album title, spelling it "Honkey". Another CD re-issue would surface in 2016, also as part of a limited letterpress run. Finally Amphetamine Reptile would re-issue the album on Vinyl and CD in 2019.[6]

Tracklist[]

All songs written by The Melvins.

  • 1. They All Must Be Slaughtered (8:17)
  • 2. Mombius Hibachi (1:58)
  • 3. Lovely Butterfly (2:10)
  • 4. Pitfalls in Serving Warrants (3:36)
  • 5. Air Breather Deep in The Arms of Morpheus (12:12)
  • 6. Laughing With Lucifer at Satan's Sideshow (2:16)
  • 7. HOW --++-- (3:26)
  • 8. Harry Lauders Walking Stick Tree (3:17)
  • 9. Grin (4:11)
  • 10. In The Freaktose The Bugs Are Dying (29:23)

Personnel[]

  • King B - Guitar, Vocals
  • Dale C - Drums
  • Mark D - Bass
  • Katherine Bjelland - Vocals (1)
  • David Scott Stone - Bowed Cymbal, Oscillator
  • Mac Mann - Piano, Bells, Synthesizer
  • Joe Barresi - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
  • Ryan Boesch - Assistant Engineer
  • Mackie Osborne - Artwork, Polaroids

External Links[]

References[]

  V·T·E Melvins
Current Members Buzz OsborneDale CroverSteven McDonald
Past Members Mike DillardMatt LukinLori BlackJoe PrestonMark DeutromKevin RutmanisTrevor DunnJared WarrenCoady WillisJeff Pinkus
Albums Gluey Porch TreatmentsOzmaBullheadLysolHoudiniPrickStoner WitchStagHonkyThe MaggotThe BootlickerThe CrybabyElectroretardHostile Ambient TakeoverPigs of The Roman EmpireNever Breathe What You Can't See(A) Senile AnimalNude With BootsThe Bride Screamed MurderFreak PukeEverybody Loves SausagesTres CabronesHold It InThree Men And A BabyBasses LoadedA Walk With Love and DeathPinkus Abortion TechnicianWorking With GodFive Legged DogBad Mood RisingThrobbing Jazz Gristle Funk HitsTarantula Heart
Select Extended Plays and Splits Six SongsEggnogNight GoatKing Buzzo (EP)Dale Crover (EP)Joe Preston (EP)Interstellar OverdriveSmash The StateSludge GlamorousHurray For Me Fuk YouThe Bulls & The BeesHigh Desert OverdoseSteven McDonald (EP)SabbathHot FishBangersEscape From LAWhite Lazy BoyMulletSlithering SlaughterThe Devil You Knew, The Devil You KnowControlling Data For a Better Feeling Future
Live Albums & Videos Your Choice Live Vol. 12Salad of a Thousand DelightsTora Tora ToraAlive At The F*cker ClubLive At Slim's 8-Track TapeColossus of DestinyA Live History of Gluttony and LustThe EndMelvins Vs. MinneapolisPick Your BattlesEndless ResidencySugar Daddy LiveMelvins Live At Third Man RecordsAround The USA in 51 Days: The Movie!The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins TaleLive Stream Obscene
Compilations Singles 1-1226 SongsNeither Here Nor ThereMangled Demos From 1983Sieg Howdy!The Making Love DemosChicken Switch
Associated Bands and Artists Nirvana • Fantomas • Butthole Surfers • Redd Kross • Mr. Bungle • AltamontPorn (The Men Of)ShrinebuilderOFF!Crystal FairyCrystal Fairy (Album)Big BusinessBilly AndersonAcid KingSawed OffMelvanaDrumbWe Reach: The Music of The Melvins
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