Lyrad's Random 10

At the time, Mudhoney was my favorite band in the grunge world. They were close to making it big, but never got to the level of Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. They were a sloppy band and their albums were sloppily produced, though that was all part of their schtick and they always seemed like the band having the most fun. What Mudhoney really lacked was a charismatic leader. Before the salad days of Seattle music, most of the members of Mudhoney and Pearl Jam were together in Green River, who released a few EPs during their short tenure. Green River was a very, very good band but Mark Arm, the singer for Mudhoney, also fronted them. When that band broke apart, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard joined Mother Love Bone, with their golden-throated, soft-faced Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose. They then found the golden-throated, soft-faced Eddie Vedder and the rest there is history. Scraggly ol' Mark Arm and the rest became Mudhoney. No End in Sight is the second track off Piece of Cake, the album promoted when the scene broke. Piece of Cake is catchy as hell, every song is dirty pop blues, and it's stayed the test of time pretty well for me. Still Mudhoney's best work is with Jimmie Dale Gilmore on Buckskin Stallion Blues. The EP is excellent, one of the favorites in my collection. Each artist does Gilmore's "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown," each does Mudhoney's "Blinding Sun," then they join forces for Townes Van Zandt's "Buckskin Stallion Blues." It's awesome; I recommend it wholeheartedly.

1. Mudhoney--No End in Sight
2. Max Bruch--Concerto No.1 in g for Violin & Orchestra, Op.26; 1.Allegro moderato (Masuko Usioda, vn; Japan PO, Seigi Ozawa, cond)
3. Bunk Johnson--Franklin Street Blues
4. Sex Pistols--Something Else
5. Max Steiner--Runaway Blues--from the sountrack to Son of Kong (Moscow SO; William T. Stromberg, cond)
6. Jewlia Eisenberg--Gershom Is Shocked
7. Chris Knight--Hello Old Man
8. Blind Willie McTell--Statesboro Blues
9. Ludwig van Beethoven--Variations (33) on a Waltz by Diabella for Piano, Op.120; 29. Adagio ma non troppo (Arthur Schnabel, pn)
10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart--Concerto in D for Piano & Orchestra, K.175; 1.Allegro (Sviatoslav Richter, pn; Japan Shinsie SO; Rudolf Barshai, cond)