Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 09/13/1990
Run Time: 57:37
Collecting
Green River's second and third releases, plus three rare tracks,
Dry As a Bone/Rehab Doll is a near-definitive look at the Seattle band that, along with
the Melvins and
Soundgarden, virtually invented grunge. Out of all the bands that branched out from the
Green River family tree, the originals sound most like
Mudhoney upon first listen. That's due both to their punky aggression and the fact that
Mark Arm's signature sneer is firmly in place. However, the differences reveal themselves rather quickly. Where
Mudhoney was sort of
the Ramones of grunge -- their best material consisting of simple, catchy, highly similar garage rockers --
Green River's instrumental attack was much more intricate and complex. That's because it was anchored by the inseparable team of guitarist
Stone Gossard and bassist
Jeff Ament, whose work here mixes the swagger of '70s hard rock (particularly
Aerosmith) and the ferocity of hardcore punk. Melody and hooks aren't exactly
Green River's strong point; their music gets over on straight-from-the-gutter attitude, kicking up a filthy, distorted racket punctuated by
Arm's nauseous moan. Since
Dry As a Bone/Rehab Doll is more energetic and less murky than many proto-grunge artifacts, it's arguably the most effective and enduring building block in the music's early evolution.
~Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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