Zack: While Nirvana rightfully get credit for
popularizing grunge, they were hardly alone in its innovation. One of their
contemporaries, also from Seattle, were Mudhoney. They started releasing early
projects at around the same time Nirvana released Bleach (except Mudhoney’s
first EP and album are actually supposed to be pretty good) and both of their
opuses came out within months of each other in 1991 (Every Good Boy Deserves
Fudge came out about two months before Nevermind). Now that I’ve actually
listened to a Mudhoney album, I’m starting to think that they don’t get enough
attention. EGBDF was a very strong album. It’s certainly grunge, but softens
some of the harsher edges with extra alternative rock and garage rock. The
result is a very interesting album worth checking out for anyone who wants to
broaden their appreciation of the grunge scene.
Favorite Tracks: Broken Hands; Let It Slide; Something So
Clear
Emily: Early '90s grunge is almost always up my alley. Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Soundgarden are staples of alt-rock radio to this day (and I've heard that they've started sneaking on to classic rock radio as well - guess it's time for that). That's why I was pretty surprised that all of Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge was unfamiliar to me. Mudhoney hits many of the same beats as their Seattle contemporaries - fuzzy guitars, angsty lyrics, and DIY punk sensibilities - with somewhat softer and perhaps more radio-friendly sheen, but they didn't catch on with audiences in the same way. I guess there was too much out there at the time that kinda sounded like them, or the shine of Nirvana blinded listeners to other grunge records in 1991. It's a shame, because EGBDF is a really good grunge album. It's no Nevermind, but a few songs have definitely earned their place on a '90s alt-rock playlist (or, in a couple years, on a deep-dive classic rock station).
Favorite Tracks: Broken Hands; Thorn; Who You Drivin' Now
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