| Freak Puke | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover for the CD edition. | ||
| Studio album by Melvins | ||
| Released | June 5 2012 | |
| Recorded | December 2011 - January 2012 at Sound of Siren Studios in California | |
| Genre | Sludge Metal, Alternative Rock | |
| Length | 42:14 | |
| Producer | Melvins, Toshi Kasai | |
| Melvins chronology | ||
| The Bulls & The Bees (2012) |
Freak Puke (2012) |
Everybody Loves Sausages (2013) |
Freak Puke is the eighteenth album by the Melvins, under the name "Melvins Lite", released on 5 June 2012 through Ipecac Recordings. It is the first to feature one of the Melvins' alternate lineups with Trevor Dunn on standup bass. Notably, the album also features a cover of "Let Me Roll It" by Wings.
Background[]
In 2011 The Melvins would tour with Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, etc.) under the moniker "Melvins Lite", with Dunn performing on a stand-up bass. This in turn would lead to the recording of the next albu, done through the Winter of 2011 going into 2012. Notably Buzz played an Electrical Guitar Company All Aluminum Guitar through Emperor Cabinets, Trevor played a Standup Bass with no electric bass or bass amp used and Dale played a 1940s Gretch Drumset.[1] Allegedly over forty songs were recorded in the Melvins Lite sessions.
Details on the album would surface in February 2012,[2] and by the time of the album's release The Melvins Lite would announce the 51/51 Tour where the band would perform in all 50 states along with Washington D.C. in 51 days.[3] Freak Puke was released on CD via Ipecac Recordings on 5 June 2012.
Freak Puke was released on vinyl through Amphetamine Reptile Records in a box featuring the album cover. Inside would be a picture disc depicting the album cover on one side and one of five different artists on the other. The five artists chosen to provide the artwork were Skinner, Dave Cooper, Tara McPherson, Gary Taxali and Mackie Osborne. The only way one could find out what artist they got was by opening the box and were not able to choose which picture disc to pick, in their words: YOU DON'T PICK WHICH DESIGN YOU GET.[4]
Notably, "A Growing Disgust" was omitted from the LP release, to which it would be released on a split 7" with Hammerhead titled Post Moral Neanderthal Retardist Pornography. It would be a picture disc limited to 2500 copies, split between five different designs. the split 7" was made in conjunction with the "Post-Moral Neanderthal Retardist Pornography" art shows in LA on June 8, 2012 & NYC on June 30, 2012. 5, count 'em 5, different variant artwork by the likes of Camille Rose Garcia, Shepard Fairey, Junko Mizuno, Chris Mars & Haze-XXL.[5]
Freak Puke would attain mostly positive reviews. Consequence would notably give a "C-",[6] The Line of Best Fit would award a 6.5/10[7] and Pitchfork would award a 6.7/10, but both reviews would speak well enough of the album with the latter describing Freak Puke as "they cover Macca, improvise, and turn plenty-weird songs into still-weirder jams, creating a 42-minute funhouse of horror and delight."[8] Punknews would award an 8/10 and state that "While Freak Puke likely is an "experiment," the term doesn't quite do justice to the recordings. Rather, Freak Puke is an experiment that works so well, it's no longer an experiment, but an advancement.".[9] In a retroactive writeup, Doodlehound would praise "Mr. Rip Off" as one of the best Melvins songs of the 2010s though would also be critical of the guitar tone and recording.[10]
Tracklist[]
All songs written by Melvins except where noted.
- 1. Mr. Rip-Off (5:52)
- 2. Inner Ear Rupture (1:56)
- 3. Baby, Won't You Weird Me Out (3:50)
- 4. Worm Farm Waltz (3:54)
- 5. A Growing Disgust (4:28)
- 6. Leon Vs. The Revolution (2:47)
- 7. Holy Barbarians (2:31)
- 8. Freak Puke (2:46)
- 9. Let Me Roll It (4:30) (Paul McCartney)
- 10. Tommy Goes Berserk (9:40)
Personnel[]
The Melvins[]
- King Buzzo - Guitar, Vocals
- Dale Crover - Drums, Vocals
- Trevor Dunn- Standup Bass, Vocals
- James McAleer - Backing Vocals (9)
- Dan Raymond - Additional Guitar, Backing Vocals (9)
Technical Personnel[]
- Toshi Kasai - Engineer
- John Golden - Mastering
- Mackie Osborne - Design