Mudhoney, Throwing Muses are at it again

ROSS RAIHALA

Originally published Friday, March 8, 2002

Two of alternative rock's biggest almost-rans have announced plans for new records: Throwing Muses and Seattle's Mudhoney.

Throwing Muses formed way back in 1983 when Rhode Island stepsisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly began performing together, with Hersh assuming the bulk of the singing and songwriting duties.

After self-releasing two mini-albums, Throwing Muses became the first American act to sign with the influential London-based 4AD (the Pixies followed soon after). They released a series of increasingly great records that culminated with 1991's "The Real Ramona."

By that point, Donelly had assumed the George Harrison role in the group. Only a few of her compositions ended up on each of the band's records, but they were usually among the best.

Liberated by her role in the Breeders' fantastic 1990 debut "Pod," Donelly left the Throwing Muses for one great Belly record, another not-so-great Belly record and a 1997 solo debut beloved by absolutely no one. (The Breeders, by the way, are finally ready to release a new record as well. For real. Advance copies of "Title TK," due May 21, have finally been released to journalists by Elektra Records -- a mere nine years after the last Breeders disc.)

Hersh, meanwhile, went on to release three more Donelly-free Throwing Muses records (1992's "Red Heaven" is the best of 'em) as well as a series of low-key solo albums that found a small, but devoted, audience.

And now, just as Donelly's second solo album "Beauty Sleep" hits stores, comes news Hersh and Donelly have recorded a new Throwing Muses album with the help of David Narcizo and Bernard Georges.

It won't be out until early 2003, but early reports suggest the dozen new songs display a certain "speed, intensity and rawness" that's long been missing from the non-Muses music of either Hersh or Donelly.

Those who can't wait should check out the band's Web site, www.throwingmusic.com, which offers a downloadable MP3 subscription service.

Fifteen bucks buys a dozen unreleased, live and demo Muses/Hersh tracks, one per month for an entire year. The current MP3, "Civil Disobedience," gives a taste of what to expect from the new Muses record.

As for Mudhoney, they've signed a one-album deal with Seattle's Sub Pop, the label that released the band's seminal "Touch Me I'm Sick" some 14 years ago.

As the Trouser Press Record Guide all-so-sassily put it, the band is probably best remembered (outside of the Northwest, that is) for consisting of "the guys from Green River who didn't join Pearl Jam."

Indeed, of all the first-wave grunge groups to sign major-label deals in the early '90s, Mudhoney never really earned the sort of attention afforded to the likes of Nirvana and Soundgarden.

Sub Pop put out the first two full-length Mudhoney albums, then the band moved to Reprise for a series of records that were appreciated by the band's hardcore fans and few others.

After 1998's "Tomorrow Hit Today," Mudhoney broke up -- sort of.

Today, bass player Matt Lukin remains retired and his place has been filled by Guy Maddison (who played in Mudhoney leader Mark Arm's other group Bloodloss).

The new-look Mudhoney has been recording tracks with a variety of Seattle producers for an album tentatively scheduled for release in late August.

Says Sub Pop's press department in regards to the impending comeback: "Reunited and it feels so good!"

Upcoming at the Showbox

The Showbox in Seattle boasts a seriously cool lineup of shows for the coming week:

- Modest Mouse play a 21-and-up show at 8 p.m. today with guests FCS North.

- The Long Winters celebrate the release of "The Worst You Can Do Is Harm" with an opening slot for the Posies at 8 p.m. Sunday. (The Long Winters is John Roderick, late of the Western State Hurricanes, joined -- on the record, at least -- by members of Death Cab for Cutie, Harvey Danger, Sunny Day Real Estate, Built to Spill, the Posies and Fountains of Wayne.)

- "XXXtreme Karaoke" kicks off at 9 p.m. Monday with host French Fillup (aka Jared Warren of Kill Rock Stars' Tight Bro's from Way Back When).

- Former Bikini Kill leader Kathleen Hanna brings her much-loved trio Le Tigre back to town for an all-ages show at 6 p.m. Thursday. K Records' Chicks on Speed and Tammy Hart open.

Fastixx is handling tickets for all these shows (except for "XXXtreme Karaoke," which is free). Contact them at 800-992-8499 or www.fastixx.com.

Ross Raihala covers music for The Olympian. Send items of interest for this column to: rraihala@olympia.gannett.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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