Various Artists — Deep Six (Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, U-Men)

Various Artists -- Deep Six (Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, U-Men)

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Deep Six (Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, U-Men)
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Where?
• Keeper: Yes

This summary from the C/Z Records site pretty much says it all:

“1985 – C/Z is born (a year prior to the launching of the Sub Pop label) with the release of the DEEP SIX compilation featuring the first available recordings from Soundgarden, Melvins, and Green River (who later spawned Mother Love Bone & Pearl Jam). The record marked the earliest beginnings of grunge. In time these bands are signed and successful.”

The six bands are: Green River, Malfunkshun, The Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden and U-Men. The most noteworthy descendant band not mentioned above is Mudhoney. Singer Mark Arm was first in Green River. Many would consider this the first significant record from the burgeoning 1980s Seattle scene. Some would call it “grunge”, but I’ve read that many of the bands didn’t like being lumped into a single category.

Wikipedia has a good article about Deep Six where you see the song list and the band rosters. Scan the list and you’ll see a lot familiar names sometimes under less familiar bands. These guys moved around a lot.

I was very excited about this music because it was essentially guitar-based rock that wasn’t, for the most part, stupid mainstream stuff from guys with teased up hair and makeup. I suppose it was punk in its own way, but with better riffs.

There were only 2000 copies of Deep Six made. It’s supposedly collectible, and tonight I saw a copy on eBay for $75.

U-Men — Solid Action

U-Men -- Solid Action

I’m not the only guy who likes the U-Men. I can see from my Google Analytics account that, on a pretty regular basis, people end up at this site by searching for the band. Hard to believe that ImHeavyDuty.com is the first link when you search for “U-Men Step On A Bug” on Google.

From the homemade look of the packaging you would think that the U-Men are some typical punk/hardcore band. (I swear that it looks like someone touched up the cover of my record with a Sharpie; it bled through. Were they making these one-at-a-time?) But this is an edgy, arty, and just plain noisy single. I’ll stick with the lazy Birthday Party comparison. Although Mary thinks it sounds more like Primus. What!? Anyhow, I doubt “Solid Action” or the flipside “Dig It A Hole” will get your foot tapping, but at least it’s interesting.

A little more info at Wikipedia.

U-Men — Step On A Bug

U-Men -- Step On A Bug

• Artist: U-Men
• Title: Step On A Bug
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Fans of Birthday Party will love this, though the band was part of the Seattle scene through most of the 1980s. I first heard them on the “famous” C/Z record label compilation which also included tracks from Soundgarden and others.

Birthday Party may be a lazy comparison, but I think it’s accurate. There are, of course, differences, but it’s hard not to think of Nick Cave when you hear the frenetic, strained vocals on this record. I believe this was their only proper, full length album.