REVIEW: Mudhoney, Tomorrow Hit Today (Reprise)
- Kerwin So
Okay, quick question: How many of you out there first heard of Mudhoney only after Nirvana rocketed the Pac Northwest and the "grunge sound" into the international spotlight, or even after the cinematic opus Singles came out in 1992?
Unlike other influential Seattle luminaries from back in the day like Nirvana and Soundgarden, Mudhoney today continue on with, amazingly, the same lineup-- and the same sound-- they unleashed on the world ten long years ago. As vocalist/guitarist Mark Arm reveals, the title of the latest LP, Tomorrow Hit Today, flashes back to "When Tomorrow Hits" off of Mudhoney's first record: "So now it's ten years later and-- WHAM!-- 'tomorrow hit today.'" Obviously the passage of time is not lost on these four gentlemen; unfortunately, the songs on Tomorrow Hit Today seem to indicate otherwise.
From the predictable opening sludge-rock riff of "A Thousand Forms of Mind", to "Oblivion"'s pointless narrative of a woman in a wheelchair slaughtering ABBA's "Dancing Queen" karaoke-style (Ed. note - also see the Jams, 1987, "The Queen and I" ) , to Arm's greasy snarl on the offensive throughout (save a token instrumental number), Mudhoney, while noticeably less frenetic, sound pretty much the same as they always have.
Despite the talents of producer Jim Dickinson this time around (who has previously worked with countless rockers from Big Star to the Replacements), Mudhoney just can't-- or won't-- shake the tried and true formula of distorted aggro-guitar, slow yelps and growls, and the bludgeon of a-- dare I say it?-- grungy attack.
While Mudhoney has never cared much about selling records, and this latest effort may satisfy long-time fans of the band, don't expect Tomorrow Hit Today to win over any new fans. Like 1995's similar My Brother the Cow, this new LP sounds exactly what you'd expect a Mudhoney record to sound like - nothing ground-shakingly innovative, but consistent with their tag as grunge's elder statesmen.
Savvier musicians know the key to remaining artistically vital lies in staying open to varied influences and stretching the limits of their own creative potential-- R.E.M. being the classic example. With grunge music fading from the scene, perhaps it's time for the members of Mudhoney to evaluate their remaining potential as the milennium looms ever larger.
