MELVINS — 26 Songs (review)

MELVINS — 26 Songs album cover Boxset / Compilation · 2003 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"26 Songs" is a compilation album release by US heavy rock/metal act the Melvins. The compilation was released through Ipecac Recordings in March 2003. The album features 25 tracks and a full playing time of 70:53 minutes. Tracks 1-10 are culled from the "10 Songs" EP from 1991, which was actually itself a compilation/re-release of the band´s 1986 pre-album 6 track EP. The 6 tracks from the latter mentioned release are tracks number 11-16 on "26 Songs" (the versions of the tracks are different, from the ones which appear on the "10 Songs" EP from 1991). Tracks number 17-19 are outtakes from the 1986 EP sessions. Tracks 20-24 are unreleased tracks and some demo versions of tracks which appear on the 1986 EP. Track number 25 titled "Ever Since My Accident" is taken from the various artists 1991 "Kill Rock Stars" compilation. So all tracks originally appeared on limited edition releases. While some tracks appear in 3 different versions on this compilation, all versions are different enough to be a worthwhile listen.

Stylistically this is unmistakably the sound of early Melvins. Raw, noisy, sludgy heavy rock played with great conviction and skill, and featuring a great organic groove. So it´s the fans of the first two Melvins albums that´ll enjoy this the most. The sound production varies a bit as the tracks are culled from different sessions, but all tracks are listenable and powerful sounding. The demo recordings are for example among some of the best sounding tracks on the compilation.

Upon conclusion "26 Songs" is a nice collection of early recordings by the Melvins, which will appeal primarily to fans of the early part of their career, but also more broadly to fans of raw, organic, and heavy rock/metal with a live "garage" atmosphere. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Tupan wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Thanks, haha
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
The last track on the album features two songs: Ever Since My Accident / Hugh
Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
it's The Melvins. They could be fucking with people's minds...
Tupan wrote:
more than 2 years ago
if the album has 25 tracks, why its name is 26 songs?

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Goblin Sessions Heavy Metal
THEM
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 days ago
Sunmancer - Realms of Dilemma (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 8 days ago
Sunmancer - Lower Cavalier (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 8 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed