For the past 40 years, the irrepressible iconoclasts known as the Melvins have skulked around the rock underground like bottom-feeders in an aquarium, all the while influencing practically every single one of your favorite alt-rock bands. But during the entirety of that enviably lengthy timespan, one Melvin in particular has sucked up most of the oxygen in the room: frontman Buzz Osborne, a.k.a. King Buzzo. A card-carrying Melvin since 1984, percussionist Dale Crover is figuratively overshadowed by King Buzzo’s grandiose command of the stage (and literally overshadowed by his humongous afro)—but his role can’t be overstated in anchoring the band that inspired Nirvana, Tool, Mastodon, and countless other rock heavyweights that blew up after Melvins helped show them the tricks of the trade.
Only occasionally during the grunge forbearers’ rakish yet reputed career has Crover cashed in his due. Sure, he’s had multiple chances to establish himself as an underground demigod in his own right: For crying out loud, Crover played with Nirvana for a brief spell, and also had more than one cup of coffee with Redd Kross, Mike Patton’s Fantômas, and other legendary crews. As if that weren’t enough, Crover slipped out two solo albums on Joyful Noise that, sadly, even most devoted Melvins fans missed. Disheartening as the track record for one of rock’s most influential drummers may sound, Crover now finds himself on the precipice of becoming—well, not a household name, exactly, but a musician who’ll finally get the respect he deserves, with a little help from friends including Tom Waits, Ty Segall, and Pinback’s Rob Crow.
With the album out today via Joyful Noise, Crover granted us the opportunity to publish his thoughts on each track of his new collaboration-heavy solo album Glossolalia, which, as he notes, “is the technical term for ‘speaking in tongues.’” Stream the record and read his notes below.
1. “Glossolalia”
We got Tom Waits to speak in tongues at the beginning! I thought it was a great way to open the album. Sort of influenced by the song “Gary Floyd” by the Butthole Surfers. Probably The Beatles or The Who, too.
2. “Doug Yuletide”
This was the last track I wrote and recorded, and one of my favorites! Written with my friend, Dan. It sounded like The Velvets to me and was written around Christmas—hence the title.
3. “I Quit”
I had this riff that I thought sounded dissonant, kinda like Sonic Youth. It’s a bit noisy too. It’s in a tuning I call “Lazy Keith Richards.” It’s open G, but you only tune the A string to G. Kim Thayil from Soundgarden did a really cool guitar solo on this.
4. “Blow’d Up”
Sometimes things go wrong unexpectedly and you suffer from the results. It blowed up real good, right in his face!
5. “Rings”
It’s sort of a hard luck story about drinking, doing meth, and doing time. I was listening to a lot of Elliott Smith. Good vibes! Rob Crow from Pinback sings back-up vocals, and Kim Thayil plays lead guitar again.
6. “Jane”
My version of a French pop song. Inspired by seeing Jane Birkin in the film La Piscine. She passed away right after I saw the film.
7. “Don’t Worry About It”
I was trying to write a Neil Young–style acoustic song, like something from his album After the Gold Rush. Rob Crow guests on this song and plays guitar and does some nice harmony vocals.
8. “I Waited Forever”
Cheap Trick and Beatles influence on this one. Aubrey, a little Devo, too. Rob Crow sings harmonies and Ty Segall does the guitar solos at the end.
9. “Spoiled Daisies”
Inspired by a bad trip! The walls were breathing and talking to me. I barfed all over myself. Sad! Ty Segall plays a raging, psychedelic guitar solo!
10. “Kitten Knife”
It was originally titled “Kitchen Knife,” but was misspelled, so I just left it that way. I worked pretty hard on this one. I played all the instruments and did all the vocals except for a harmony that Toshi Kasai sang. I’m not sure what it’s about. Each line is something different and doesn’t really relate at all.
11. “Punchy”
A song about having anxiety dreams.
