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Post by armedwithmud on Feb 20, 2008 10:45:40 GMT 1
I got something nice off ebay the other day - 'Songs Mudhoney Taught Us' - a homemade compliation which included stacks of original versions of songs they covered (or anything else Mark lent his singing voice to)
I always wondered how they'd changed Revolution to piss off the guy from Spaceman 3. Now i know. The original is a lame, naive protest song. Mark took the lyrics structure and turned it into a fantastic Ode to Heroin...! Quite a revolution indeed.
I was also chuffed to get to hear all those rare, out of print goodies by the cruxifucks, fang etc. It was like getting a whole new 'Rarities' disk.
anyone want a sneaky mp3 gimme a holla!
peace
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Post by Smallstone on Feb 20, 2008 16:25:35 GMT 1
Interesting take on the song  Personally I really really really like the original version as... well ... Spacemen 3 are one of my favourite bands - despite the addled pro-drug rhetoric. Live they totally totally ruled. Their narcotic daftness was part of their charm. Not sure Mudhoneys version is an ode - or a pro- heroin take on the song .... not sure thats what your saying anyway - more a tongue in cheek look at the downside of opiate addiction! I don't think they expected such a negative reaction from the band either nor did they do it to intentionally piss them off (as far as I know). The bands were supposed to be covering each others tunes for a split single a la the Touch Me I'm Sick/Halloween - Sonic Youth release. That got nixed after this. Back in the day it was quite common for bands to openly talk about themselves in the context of being a 'drug band'. In the UK in the late 80s Spacemen 3 were the most notorious - but Primal Scream (pre and post Loaded), J&MC, Shamen etc etc all barfed on in MM and NME about drruuugggggggggssssss. Bit of a pissing contest really. Ironically most of the Sub Pop Seattle bands didn't much talk about drugs in interviews. Nirvana weren't viewed a drug band...... not until later. The early press was all about ... woo hoo long hair grunge rock Seattle rain Jack Endino Sub Pop these bands are amazing ramma lamma fa fa fa. If you know what I mean |
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Post by armedwithmud on Feb 21, 2008 0:11:06 GMT 1
No, totally. I wasn't saying ' Yay what a cool song about heroin - lemme try!' Lyrically they're worlds apart thematically but side by side I think Mark's is much stronger and a cooler song. I'd say Revolution is not so much a cover as an original which used spaceman3's as the template.
Yeh i think at the time the guy from Spaceman 3 was offended coz he'd cleaned up and there were Mudhoney nicking his fix-the-world type song and turning it into an drug song albeit ironically.
anyway not meaning to slate a band i barely know. Couldn't help it - when u listen to mudhoney covers there's a Real spark to em. It usually tops the original on singing and playing u agree?
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Post by Smallstone on Feb 21, 2008 10:14:40 GMT 1
I'll make you up a CDR comp of Spacemen 3 tunes man There's better stuff than Revolution. Send me you address. There's a great book written by some dude from New York about their history which even if you don't like the band is a cracking read. What a hilarious mess they were!! I like Mudhoney covers yeah. Their cover of Angry Samoans 'You Stupid Asshole' is amazing - but Hate The Police - thats sort of 'their' song now innit. I've been tempted by that Mudhgoney comp a few times on Ebay (whats the deal you buy a 'badge' for £3 and he sends you a 'free' CD as well....  Hmmmmm |
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Post by armedwithmud on Feb 22, 2008 13:50:50 GMT 1
yeh it came with a free Suck u Dry pin. obviously the cd was homemade but it wasn't too shabby. it had on-disk prints of mudhoney artwork which made it a little more cherishable. Anyway, yeah i'd like to hear more Spaceman 3. check ur messages Smallstone I am partial to reading about messed up bands so i'll keep an eye out for the book though it sounds like its pretty rare  |
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