Ex Hex Rips

I suffer from about as many delusions because of my expectations as anyone else. Case in point- it took me about 5 listens to get into Mary Timony's new joint. I was never a huge Helium fan, but I was worshipful of Wild Flag- their record was last year's party album. I attribute a lot of that to Carrie Brownstein, because she's a natural born rock star. I doubt that Sleater Kinney or Portlandia would be worth a damn without her, so I can understand why she would bring the rock to Wild Flag. The problem is, that's a delusion. Wild Flag rocked because it was Wild Flag, not because Carrie is Pete Townshend, Joan Jett, Bob Pollard and Gilda Radner in one person.
So, I went in thinking well, this'll be a Wild Flag substitute. Again, my problem, not the band's, but you might have the same problem.
Now, I can actually hear the band, and they do rip, for what they do- late 70's, early 80's power pop. Everything from Steve Diggle styled guitar solos ( check out "New Kid") , to Jane Wiedlin styled vocal harmonies( "You Fell Apart" ), to even some Greg Kihn  styled verses ( Waste Your Time) . You might call it new wave, or even punk, but you'd be wrong. This is Power Pop, in line with everyone from The Raspberries to Weezer.  It's pop music played maximum.  Not to bore with gear talk, but it's the difference between Fender single coils, and Gibson P-90's. The Single coil guitar pick up will transmit the wave form from a vibrating metal string, transparently enough. But the P-90, though also a single coil, emphasizes the mid range frequencies, enough that it'll blow out the input on most tube amps, just enough to distort, but not across all frequencies, like overdriving the amp- it's selective, and so, retains the articulation and treble of the single coil. So it is with power pop- the aggressive blown out power, but tempered with the restraint of pop.
So, this is a pretty excellent representative of the genre. Had it been released in, say, 1979, it would have blown minds, and would be a classic, and Ex Hex would be in the Rocknroll hall of fame ( heck, they even cop a KISS lick or two { the back half of "Radio On" quotes "Plaster Caster", while the rest is Jonathan Richman-meets- Status Quo} to name one HOF inductee)
There's really not a bad track, if you can dig Pop. So, don't delude yourself into thinking this isn't a truly excellent LP- on its own, on its own terms. Just check it out. Oh, and Mary's Hot, too. Yeah, I said it. She's too cool, too hip, and too special for the likes of me, so I'm not looking for anything, but I'm not a dolt, either, she's sexy in that Shirley Manson way- take a look at this video evidence and tell me I'm wrong. Still, the two things that should sell you on this are the perfect pop songwriting, and the blistering power of the playing..
So, yes, sign me up. I'm flying the Ex Hex flag, now.

Melvins Hold it in

I'm  your typical Gen X leftie. I believe in the power of people, but I generally don't like the people I meet. Which is a simple way of saying I'm alienated. I bet you are, too. The Melvins certainly are.
So, it actually makes me angry, the way this record is being reviewed.  First of all, most of you dicks evidently cannot read. The name of the band is The Melvins. Not even " 'Melvins lite" . Not  "A collaboration between the Butthole Surfers and The Melvins". Just because Paul Leary is ( Was?) in das Buttholes, and Jeff Pinkus once played in the Butthole Surfers doesn't mean this is now Buzz replacing Gibby to play "Independent Worm Saloon". This is  The Melvins, and they already released Ozma, so  they might just be done with playing grunge. Yes, they invented Sludge metal, which begat Stoner Rock and grunge, but really the only guiding principle is, was, and ever shall be doing whatever the hell they want, and you can pin expectations on that at your own peril.
So, yes, it's just plain stupidity that people are expecting Grunge-meets- Psyche Punk out of this. Sorry if that offends, but it's deserved.
Thirty years in, and even a good percentage of fans don't get it? Yeah, people suck. The Melvins play rock music, and are good with offending your sensibilities because they're punks. Not in the Safety-pin and plaid jeans sense- in the hoodlum sense. Go in expecting blues based loud music, with some kind of tweak, and you're good. Anything else, and you are bound to hit a wall. Maybe you deserve that wall.