Buzz Osborne Says These Are the Best Melvins Albums

Since 1986, the Melvins have released twenty-seven full-length albums and fifteen EPs. Think about that for a second. That is a staggering output, the kind of output that I think must be either truly intimidating or incredibly welcoming to new listeners — intimidating because there’s this question of “Where do you begin?”, and welcoming because the answer is basically “Anywhere you want.” The band doesn’t have a famously terrible era — no Cold Lakes or St. Angers here! — so you throw a dart and you’re probably gonna hit something pretty good.

This being the case, it is especially interesting to hear which of these releases guitarist/vocalist/band mascot Buzz Osborne thinks are the group’s best. Old folk like me will find Osborne’s picks, as provided to Louder, jarringly devoid of ’90s albums, but I get it. Fans always think the old shit is best, because it’s what made them fans in the first place; artists always prefer the new stuff, because they feel it’s most representative of who they are now. It’s just one of life’s peccadillos.

You can check out Buzz’s entire list below. Head to Louder to read his explanations for his choices.

Eggnog (1991)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2L8AretDfE

Pigs of the Roman Empire (2004)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq6tpRD9R-M&list=PLA57227343DCB3824

Hold It In (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Ze152Mo4A&list=PLwMNt7-rvFKLvwq3XPs-0QQYNAy7Yb-TF

Nude with Boots (2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsAj3ZtPgQ

Freak Puke (2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zayRLKx_Lfs

Stoner Witch (1994)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AF57VL9Om0

Bullhead (1991)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQxCsTPuXvo

Basses Loaded (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8e3pv6MKjw

Colossus of Destiny (2001)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiqS4gsePTc