At The Stake: Atlantic Recordings 1993-1996, Melvins, CD

Featuring three albums from Melvins' time at Atlantic Records. When the grunge sound of Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam broke alternative rock into the mainstream at the start of the 1990s, there was a sudden rush by the major labels to sign a slew of previously underground bands with a similar sound. Although a lot of those musicians only saw their underdog status and relative geography in common - many of them came from in and around Seattle, Washington - it was enough to wipe away the hair metal and glam rock that had ruled the 1980s. Many bands from the Pacific North West, including Screaming Trees, Tad, Alice In Chains and Mudhoney, would benefit from this windfall of major label contracts, but one of the more surprising signings were The Melvins. Atlantic signed Melvins for their 5th album, 1993's 'Houdini' (CD1). Sporting a cover design by famed poster artist Frank Kozik, 'Houdini' was in part co-produced by Kurt Cobain, and their most commercially successful release was recorded mainly by Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover. A cover of KISS' 'Goin' Blind' shouldn't have surprised any of their long term fans, and the songs 'Hooch' and 'Lizzy' were issued as singles, with 'Honey Bucket' even receiving airplay on MTV. Bonus tracks include their cover of the MC5's 'Rocket Reducer #62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)', a cover of The Germs' 'Lexicon Devil' and 'It's Shoved' (Live). Their next Atlantic album was 1996's 'Stoner Witch' (CD2), where they were now joined by Mark Deutrom on bass. Their third and final Atlantic album, 'Stag' (CD3), was in fact their eight album, as they had continued to record for various indies in the 1990s. 'The Bit' and 'Bar-X the Rocking M' were issued as singles, with a cover of Pink Floyd's sprawling 'Interstellar Overdrive', 'The Bit' (Radio Edit) and 'Tipping The Lion B' added as bonus tracks