| Stoner Witch | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 18, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Studio | A&M (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:47 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer |
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| Melvins chronology | ||||
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Stoner Witch is the seventh studio album by American rock band Melvins, released on October 18, 1994, by Atlantic Records. It is their second release for the label.
The album was recorded with Garth "GGGarth" Richardson and Joe Barresi in 19 days at the A&M Studios in Hollywood. Most of the tracks were captured in a single take, and all of the tracking and mastering was completed in a single, continuous session. [1]
The title comes from a term that drummer Dale Crover and his friends used to describe "the stoner chicks" at their high school. [1]
Described as a grunge, [2] [3] stoner rock [4] and sludge metal album, [5] 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. [1] 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." [6] Grant Alden of Rolling Stone noted that "many of the songs are built around conventional metal structures." [7] 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." [3] 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." [8]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10 [9] |
| Kerrang! | [10] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Select |   [11] |
| Spin |  [12] |
| The Village Voice | C [13] |
Upon its initial release, Stoner Witch sold approximately 50,000 units, with particularly strong sales in New York City and Seattle. [14]
The songs "Revolve" and "Queen" were both released as promotional singles with accompanying music videos. [15] [16]
AllMusic critic Patrick Kennedy wrote: "Where Houdini resided more in an expansive—though lugubriously heavy—metal vein, refining the techniques built up through the band's early struggles, Stoner Witch truly showcases the band at the apex of their wide-ranging creative abilities." [6] Rolling Stone's Grant Alden stated: "Oddly enough, the Melvins don't really have to contend. They seem quite content simply being, doing what they do." [7] 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." [13]
Decibel magazine inducted Stoner Witch on its Hall of Fame. [1] Spin listed the album as number 9 on its list of "The 20 Greatest Grunge Albums of All Time". [2] The album was also featured on Treblezine's lists of "The 30 Best Grunge Albums" and "10 Essential Stoner Rock Albums". [4]
Largely out of print since the 1990s, the album was reissued in 2016 through Third Man Records. [17]
All words written by Buzz Osborne and music written by the Melvins (Dale Crover, Mark Deutrom, and Osborne), except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Skweetis" | 1:12 | |
| 2. | "Queen" | Words: Crover, Osborne - Music: Osborne | 3:06 |
| 3. | "Sweet Willy Rollbar" | Words/Music: Osborne | 1:28 |
| 4. | "Revolve" | Words: Osborne - Music: Deutrom, Osborne | 4:44 |
| 5. | "Goose Freight Train" | 4:38 | |
| 6. | "Roadbull" | 3:25 | |
| 7. | "At the Stake" | 7:56 | |
| 8. | "Magic Pig Detective" | Words/Music: Osborne | 5:33 |
| 9. | "Shevil" | Words/Music: Osborne | 6:29 |
| 10. | "June Bug" | Music: Deutrom, Osborne | 2:01 |
| 11. | "Lividity" | 9:15 | |
| Total length: | 49:47 | ||
Melvins
Additional personnel
Melvins are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Primarily a trio, they have also performed as a quartet, with either two drummers or two bassists. Since 1984, vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been constant members.
Bleach is the debut studio album by American rock band Nirvana, released on June 15, 1989, by Sub Pop. After the release of their debut single "Love Buzz" on Sub Pop in November 1988, Nirvana rehearsed for two to three weeks in preparation for recording a full-length album. The main recording sessions for Bleach took place at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington between December 1988 and January 1989. It is the only Nirvana album released on the Sub Pop label and their only studio album to feature drummer Chad Channing.
Bullhead is the third studio album by the American rock band Melvins, released in 1991 through Boner Records. The album has longer songs than previous Melvins albums. Before this, most of their songs were under two or three minutes.
Dale Crover is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and has also been the drummer for Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, Crystal Fairy and, for a brief time, Nirvana. He is also guitarist and vocalist for Altamont. He has toured with Fantômas, Off!, and Redd Kross. In 2016, Rolling Stone listed him as the 69th greatest drummer of all time.
Houdini is the fifth studio album by American rock band Melvins, released on September 21, 1993, by Atlantic Records. The album was the band's major label debut after releasing their previous albums through the independent label Boner Records.
Stag is the eighth studio album by American rock band Melvins, released in 1996 through Atlantic Records. This is the final album the band released under Atlantic before being dropped from the label. Promotional singles were released for the songs "The Bit" and "Bar-X the Rocking M" with the latter having a music video.
Roger "Buzz" Osborne, also known as King Buzzo, is an American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He is a founding member of the rock band Melvins, as well as Fantômas and Venomous Concept.
The Bootlicker is the eleventh studio album by the Melvins, released in 1999 through Ipecac Recordings. The album is the second part of a trilogy preceded by The Maggot and followed by The Crybaby. The trilogy was later released on vinyl by Ipecac.
Electroretard is the thirteenth album by the Melvins, which was released in 2001 through Man's Ruin Records. The album contains an experiment in backmasking, three covers, and four reworked versions of old Melvins songs. Although released on CD, it was going to see an LP release, but Man's Ruin closed beforehand. It was later re-issued on June 2, 2015, together with The Bulls & the Bees EP via Ipecac Recordings.
Melvinmania: The Best of the Atlantic Years 1993–1996 is an album by Melvins, which was released in 2003 through Atlantic Records (UK). Tracks 1–5 are taken from the 1993 Houdini album. Tracks 6–10 are taken from the 1994 Stoner Witch album. Tracks 11–15 are taken from the 1996 Stag album.
Fecal Matter was a punk rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. The group was formed in 1985 by Kurt Cobain, the future frontman of Nirvana, along with Dale Crover of the Melvins and drummer Greg Hokanson. Melvins members Buzz Osborne and Mike Dillard appeared in a later version of the band during rehearsals the following year. The band was short-lived, disbanding in 1986.
Smell the Magic is the second studio album by American rock band L7, released in 1990 by Sub Pop. Originally issued as a 12" EP containing only the first six songs, it was reissued on CD in July 1991, expanded to album length with three more tracks: "Packin' a Rod," "Just Like Me," and "American Society." The opening track "Shove" was released as the band's first single.
Houdini Live 2005: A Live History of Gluttony and Lust is an album by the Melvins, which was released in 2006 through Ipecac Recordings. It is a live rendition of their 1993 album Houdini.
(A) Senile Animal is the 15th album by American rock band Melvins, released on October 10, 2006 on Ipecac Recordings. After bassist Kevin Rutmanis' departure the two remaining members of the Melvins joined forces with Big Business, a duo consisting of Jared Warren on bass and Coady Willis on drums.
Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Some copies of the album were accompanied by a documentary titled "Sho(r)t".
Live from London 2006 is a DVD by the Fantômas Melvins Big Band that was released on August 26, 2008.
The Bulls & the Bees is an EP by American rock band the Melvins, released on March 13, 2012 through Scion A/V for free download. It was also released as a free CD for their May 2012 tour with Unsane and released as a 10" vinyl later that year for the 51/51 tour. On June 2, 2015, an expanded CD containing the Electroretard album was released on Ipecac Recordings.
"Honey Bucket" is a song by American rock band Melvins. The song was released as the third single from their fifth album, Houdini (1993). It is the fifth track off the album.
"Harvest Moon" is a song written by Canadian and American singer and songwriter Neil Young, released in November 1992 by Reprise Records as the first single from his 19th album bearing the same name, Harvest Moon (1992). The song was both written and produced by Young, reaching No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart, and Rolling Stone ranked it his 30th best.
Toshi Kasai is a Japanese record producer, engineer, mixer and musician. He is most well known for his strong vocal production work with hard rock and metal groups such as his long standing relationship with The Melvins and his work with Tool.
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