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Stoner Witch
Stoner Witch
Studio album by Melvins
Released October 18 1994
Recorded 1994 in England
Genre Grunge, Stoner Rock, Sludge Metal
Length 49:37
Label Atlantic Records
Producer Melvins, GGGarth
Melvins chronology
Prick
(1994)
Stoner Witch
(1994)
Tora Tora Tora
(1995)

Stoner Witch is the seventh studio album by The Melvins. Recorded in 1994 and released in the Fall it would be considered a seminal work among fans and retroactive critics alike, often cited as one of the band's most accessible releases.[1][2] It is also notable as the first Melvins album to feature artist Mackie Osborne, whom Buzz married the year prior.

History[]

Following extensive touring in support of the band's mainstream debut Houdini and not even a year after it's release, The Melvins would begin work on Stoner Witch through 1994. The album was recorded with Garth “GGGarth” Richardson and Joe Barresi in 19 days at the A&M Studios in Hollywood. Buzz Osborne has confirmed that the sessions for Stoner Witch were easily the longest time spent on a single Melvins album[3] and that the amount spent was roughly $20,000, which he described as "a King's Ransom for us.". Mark Deutrom would confirm that all of the songs had been written beforehand except for "Lividity".[4][5] Most of the tracks were captured in a single take, and all of the tracking and mastering was completed in a single, continuous session. The title comes from a term that drummer Dale Crover and his friends used to describe "the stoner chicks" at their high school.[6]

In the Decibel Magazine induction for Stoner Witch, the band would talk about their economical approach to recording:

Deutrom: We lived on it. That’s one of the things that anybody with a brain does. There’s no reason to spend all of the money you get from an advance on recording, unless you’re hiring orchestras or the label assigns you a producer whose fee is 75 percent of your budget. This was the band’s sixth or seventh record, so they knew how to go into studios and be efficient. We toured virtually the entire time I was in the band, but it created a safety net. We drew the line immediately and said, “We’re not going to spend more than this much on this record,” and we stuck to it. We bought a little gear, too, like road cases. I’d love to say that we spent it all on drugs, like the Dickies. But that didn’t happen.

Crover: We bought a bunch of gear. We bought four SVT cabinets, two Hiwatt stacks and road cases for all of our gear. Then we went on tour with L7 and had a massive amount of gear every night. That was back when we thought it was a good idea to have a bunch of gear like that. Of course, the older we get, the less gear I want to carry around. I remember that there were a couple of gigs where there wasn’t enough room onstage for all four SVT cabinets, but our sound guy was determined to get all of them up there, so he ended up stacking the cabinets on top of each other, and it ended up looking like Black Sabbath’s old backline. That’s how he got his nickname, “Old School.”

Osborne: We always wrote some money into the budget for ourselves. We figured that it was all we’d ever get, and I wasn’t wrong about that. We each got a little bit of money. It’s not like I went out and bought a Bentley or anything. If you consider what your living expenses would be for two years, we didn’t even get that. So, we went out on the road and worked and made up the difference. I’ve always been pretty prudent with money. To this day, I approach everything from the standpoint that it’s not going to work out. I’ve never had the idea that the tap’s not going to shut off. That way, you’re a lot more careful and less aggressive with the decisions you make. Nothing kills a band faster than having no money at all.

 
— The Melvins, Decibel Magazine[7]

Stoner Witch would be the first Melvins album to feature layout and artwork by Mackie Osborne, a decision that Buzz Osborne insisted on, as elaborated further in the same interview with Decibel:


Crover: The front cover was originally a piece of 1950s-era wallpaper from a Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogue, I think. Atlantic made her change it because they didn’t want whomever originally designed it to come out of the woodwork and say, “Hey, pay up!” I don’t know how much it was altered—I never saw the original. But it’s similar in spirit to a lot of our previous art. The Bullhead cover was a tablecloth we found at a store in San Francisco. We always had album covers that weren’t very “heavy metal.”

Osborne: If you look at the name of the band and glance at our artwork, it’s clear that we’re not taking ourselves too seriously. I have always loved the found art aesthetic, so it was consistent with Bullhead, Lysol and Eggnog. When we did Stoner Witch, we were able to work with my wife, who is a graphic designer by trade. It was a piece of wallpaper, but she completely redesigned the whole thing to make it work for the cover. It may be one of my favorite record covers we’ve ever done. The funny thing is that once we told Atlantic that we didn’t want to use their designers, their staff got really pissy about it. But I visited the office in New York, and what did they have right in the front of the art department? A blow-up of the Stoner Witch album cover! I took that as a compliment. It meant that we weren’t wrong.

 
— The Melvins, Decibel Magazine[8]

Several songs were recorded in the same sessions as Stoner Witch but ultimately ended up on other releases. On the last day of recording, Dale Crover would record a series of drum recordings which would become the 7" single Drumb, released by Man's Ruin Records in 1995. Crover would also record a session with The Obsessed, a cover of "On The Hunt" by Lynyrd Skynyrd as the two bands has toured together and The Obsessed had been performing that song live. The recording would end up on the compilation album Incarnate, released by Southern Lord Records in 1999 (And later Blues Funeral Recordings in 2020) along with a 7" split with The Mystick Krewe of Clearlight.

An alternate, distorted mix of "Queen" would be recorded as a joke to mess with the band's A&R, along with "Theresa Screams" which was a session of the band teasing one of their friends and having her record various screams. The band also recorded a cover of MC5's "Poison" with Wayne Kramer. Kramer would put the song on a solo album, albeit in a different mix. All three of these outtakes would appear on the Amphetamine Reptile Records monthly singles series and ultimately the compilation Singles 1-12.[9]

Described as a grunge,[10][11] stoner rock[12] and sludge metal album,[13] Stoner Witch melds hallmarks of the band’s earlier work, such as "molten tempos and guitarist Buzz Osborne’s nonsensical lyrics" with a relatively radio-friendly ear towards arrangements. According to AllMusic's Patrick Kennedy, the album picks up on the "basic framework of Houdini, resolving into an ear-catching workup of classic rock themes, tempered, of course, with a fairly judicious sampling of acid-trip detours."[14] Grant Alden of Rolling Stone noted that "many of the songs are built around conventional metal structures." [15] Treblezine's Paul Pearson described the record as "the Aberdeen band’s happiest album, which is meant to say they took it upon themselves to reconstruct classic rock and metal themes and run them through their typically hazy filter."[16] Peter Buckley, the author of The Rough Guide to Rock, wrote that the record showcases the band's "dual allegiances to industrial noise and Southern rock."[17]

Upon its initial release, Stoner Witch sold approximately 50,000 units, with particularly strong sales in New York City and Seattle.[18] Reviews at the time were mostly positive. Rolling Stone would award the album a four star rating[19] while SPIN Magazine would also offer a positive review.[20] Notorious critic Robert Christgau of The Village Voice, who gave the album a C rating, wrote: "They're always slow, always ugly, always protodeath, always protoindustrial. And always slow. Faster here, actually, up to Sabbath speed at times, with nine minutes of din at the end to shore up their cred.".[21]

In the years since it's release Stoner Witch has attained much more significant praise. Stonerrock.com, writing a guide to The Melvins, woulc cite Stoner Witch as their most accessible record and highly praise Dale Crover's drum performance.[22] Writing about the album in December 2012, The Obelisk would cite "Stoner Witch" as a classic.[23] A Year of Vinyl would particularly praise "Revolve" and cite the album as heavy, brutal and catchy all at once.[24] Heavy Planet,[25] Post-Trash[26] and Rock & Roll Globe[27] would be among critics to elicit retroactive praise to Stoner Witch.

Decibel magazine inducted Stoner Witch on its Hall of Fame in their 114th issue.[28] Spin listed the album as number 9 on its list of "The 20 Greatest Grunge Albums of All Time.".[29] The album was also featured on Treblezine's lists of "The 30 Best Grunge Albums"[30] and "10 Essential Stoner Rock Albums".[31]

Largely out of print since the 1990s, the album was reissued in 2016 through Third Man Records and Music on Vinyl.

Tracklist[]

All words written by Buzz Osborne and music written by the Melvins (Dale Crover, Mark Deutrom, and Osborne), except where noted.

  • 1. Skweetis (1:12)
  • 2. Queen (3:06) (Words: Crover, Osborne; Music: Osborne)
  • 3. Sweet Willy Rollbar (1:28) (Words & Music: Osborne)
  • 4. Revolve (4:44) (Words: Osborne; Music: Deutrom, Osborne)
  • 5. Goose Freight Train (4:38)
  • 6. Roadbull (3:25)
  • 7. At The Stake (7:56)
  • 8. Magic Pig Detective (5:33) (Words & Music: Osborne)
  • 9. Shevil (6:29) (Words & Music: Osborne)
  • 10. June Bug (2:01) (Music: Deutrom, Osborne)
  • 11. Lividity (9:15)

Personnel[]

  • King B - Guitar, Bass, Lead Vocals
  • Dale C - Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals
  • Mark D - Fender Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals
  • GGGarth - Producer
  • Joe Barresi - Engineer
  • Geetus Guido South Aguto - Assistant Engineer
  • Mike "Elvis" Smith - Assistant Engineer
  • The Magic Eight Ball - Spiritual Guidance
  • Scott Humphrey - Door Squeaking & Pencil Sharpening
  • Paul Dicarli - Digital Editin, Back Cracking, Moog
  • David Lefkowitz - Management
  • Mackie Osborne - Art Direction
  • Annalisa - Photography

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Pitchfork
  2. Stonerrock.com via Wayback Machine
  3. Louder Sound
  4. Decibel Magazine
  5. themelvins.net
  6. Decibel Magazine
  7. themelvins.net
  8. themelvins.net
  9. themelvins.net
  10. ["The 20 Greatest Grunge Albums of All Time". Spin. 20 (4): 62. April 2004. ISSN 0886-3032.]
  11. Treble Zine
  12. Treble Zine
  13. [Mallon, Tom (May 2002). "Melvins - Hostile Ambient Takeover". CMJ (101). ISSN 1074-6978.]
  14. AllMusic
  15. Rolling Stone via Wayback Machine
  16. Treble Zine
  17. [Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 664. ISBN 1858284570.]
  18. [Sprague, David (June 8, 1996). "Melvins Poised for Sweeping Success". Billboard. 108 (23): 13. ISSN 0006-2510.]
  19. Rolling Stone via Wayback Machine
  20. SPIN Magazine via Google Books
  21. Robert Christgau
  22. Stonerrock.com via Wayback Machine
  23. The Obelisk
  24. A Year of Vinyl
  25. Heavy Planet
  26. Post-Trash
  27. Rock & Roll Globe
  28. Decibel Magazine
  29. ["The 20 Greatest Grunge Albums of All Time". Spin. 20 (4): 62. April 2004. ISSN 0886-3032.]
  30. Treble Zine
  31. Treble Zine
  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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