Melvins - Basses Loaded

Steve McDonald, Jeff Pinkus, Trevor Dunn, Dale Crover, and Krist Novoselic are honored as guest musicians on the aptly named Melvins’ 23^rd studio album, Basses Loaded.  (four tracks with Redd Kross bassist Steve McDonald, a track with Butthole Surfers bassist Jeff Pinkus, a track from Fantômas' Trevor Dunn, four tracks with drummer Dale Crover holding down the low end, one with the current Melvins lineup assisted by the two members of Big Business and, one with their Seattle buddy Krist Novoselic of Nirvana.  This will be the Melvins' first recordings for Sub Pop in their 33-year history.

In June the band will drop Basses Loaded, an album featuring a whopping six different bass players: four tracks with Redd Kross bassist Steve McDonald, a track with Butthole Surfers bassist Jeff Pinkus, one with upright bass from Fantômas' Trevor Dunn, four tracks as Melvins 1983 with drummer Dale Crover holding down the low end, one with the current Melvins lineup assisted by the two members of Big Business and, most notably, a collaboration with their old friend Krist Novoselic of Nirvana.

Longtime fans of The Melvins will appreciate their longtime dedication to the sludge sound.  Though some may complain that their sound hasn’t evolved, others will be glad that they have stayed true to their ilk.  Basses Loaded, originally set for release in 1999, may show some signs that the band is aging, that the record lacks a cohesive through-line, but they’re not dead yet.