Mudhoney

Mudhoney’s first proper LP might be the most physical of all the early Sub Pop releases. Aside from their signature sonic attack — a Stooges-derived stew of mud and guts — Mark Arm’s lyrics constantly return to descriptions of bodily discomfort. “I’m crawling out of my skin,” he sings on “Get Into Yours.” “My head is spinning,” he yowls on “Running Loaded.” “Limb from limb you tore me apart,” he says on “Dead Love.” Beneath all the groans and complaints, most of these songs are about romantic frustration — not an unimaginable problem for the fellows in Mudhoney, who look like they were raised in a drainage ditch. Still, for all its disaffection, Mudhoney is undeniably a celebration of good old rock ‘n’ roll. While a lot of bands in the Seattle scene were introverts, Mudhoney were pure extroverts. These songs are shoving, thrusting, pumping — always ready to explode. Bassist Matt Lukin and drummer Dan Peters gave the sludgy music an undeniable bounce, and the songs are continually propelled by Arm’s first-class howl. He leads the band like a psychotic Indian brave, reeling off war whoops while riding towards combat.