Melvins guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne is notorious for not enjoying the interview process. In fact, a quick search produced an exchange from 2006 where he says, “Almost every interview I’ve ever done has been nothing but complete bullshit.” So there you go.

Of course, the counterpoint to that is simple: They are what you make them. But let’s assume — just for the sake of argument — that Osborne probably didn’t feel like talking about the Melvins‘ new album, The Bride Screamed Murder (Ipecac), about how the band has changed over the course of its three albums with bassist/vocalist Jared Warren and drummer Coady Willis (collectively also known as Big Business) in the lineup with himself and drummer Dale Crover, or even really about why or how they put together their new 13-CD box set. I guess that’ll happen.

Nonetheless, as Osborne, Crover, Willis and Warren made their way to Phoenix, Arizona, for the second date of their current tour, questions were asked and answered with a minimum of condescension and scolding, and I still made it to the ballgame that evening on time. In the end, everyone wins, one way or another.

I’ll say this about it: I still like the Melvins. The Bride Screamed Murder rules and I’m still looking forward to seeing them in New York this Friday — and if I have the cash, I’m still going to plunk down $200 for that box set, assuming there are any left. I’ve come out of interviews before and never been able to listen to the artist or band again, so take that for what it’s worth.

Please find enclosed after the jump a Q&A with Buzz Osborne of the Melvins, and enjoy the ensuing bullshit.

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Whatever’s left that hasn’t yet been said about Melvins, I don’t know what it is. Good and bad, they’ve been polarizing audiences since the mid-‘80s, and with The Bride Screamed Murder (Ipecac), which kicks off with a killer doomed-out riff and moves into percussive jaunts and military march cadences, I’m going to guess that’s not going to end anytime soon. At this point, you probably already know who they are and you probably already know how you feel about them. Guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover are still working with drummer Coady Willis and bassist/backing vocalist Jared Warren of Big Business, and if you dug this incarnation’s previous studio full-lengths (as opposed to the countless singles, live albums, limited releases, splits and others that pop up), namely 2006’s (A) Senile Animal and 2008’s Nude with Boots, you’re going to dig The Bride Screamed Murder as well.

That’s not to say the seminal Aberdeen, Washington, outfit is treading water either creatively or performance wise. The magic of Melvins has always been Osborne’s ability to keep the songwriting fresh and maintain the experimental edge – at times balancing the output in one direction or the other as regards accessibility – and The Bride Screamed Murder is no exception, from the aforementioned call and response of opener “The Water Glass,” on through the memorable runs in “Pig House” and the warning “Don’t look down/You might regret it” in album highlight “Electric Flower.” Their take on The Who’s “My Generation?” (here with an added question mark as though they’re not certain whether or not it is) is bound to surprise some, but it’s not without precedent when you consider their take on Kiss’ “Going Blind” from 1993’s Houdini. “Evil New War God,” being the first cut to follow “The Water Glass,” is a decent example of what The Bride Screamed Murder’s more “straightforward” – this is still the Melvins we’re talking about – material has to offer.

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To be fair, it has been a couple months since the last Melvins album, a remix affair called Chicken Switch came out. They are due. It should come as no surprise, then, that the PR wire has details on a new record, The Bride Screamed Murder, set for release on June 1 through Ipecac Recordings. Anyone else thinking redemption for the Melvins/Big Business lineup? Here’s hoping:

The Melvins release The Bride Screamed Murder on June 1 via Ipecac Recordings with a US tour launching the same day in San Diego and including a stop at the Bonnaroo Festival.

The Bride Screamed Murder is the third release featuring Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover and Big Business’ Coady Willis and Jared Warren. While Melvins recently celebrated their 25 anniversary, the latest incarnation debuted with the highly-praised (A) Senile Animal (2006) and continued with Nude with Boots (2008).

Joining the Melvins on tour for a half dozen shows will be label mates Isis (who will also perform at this year’s Bonnaroo Festival) while Totimoshi will be along for the full run of Melvins dates.

Tour dates:
June 1   San Diego, CA   Casbah
June 2   Tempe, AZ   The Clubhouse
June 3   Albuquerque, NM   The Launchpad
June 5   Austin, TX   Emo’s
June 7   Houston, TX   Warehouse Live
June 8   Baton Rouge, LA   Spanish Moon
June 9   New Orleans, LA   One Eyed Jacks
June 10   Birmingham, AL   Bottle Tree
June 12   Manchester, TN   Bonnaroo Festival **
June 14   Athens, GA   40 Watt Club *
June 16   Washington, DC 9:30 Club *
June 17   Philadelphia, PA   TLA *
June 18   New York, NY   Webster Hall *
June 19   Brooklyn, NY   Music Hall of Williamsburg *
June 20   Boston, MA   Paradise *
June 21   Boston, MA   Paradise *
June 23   Cleveland, OH   Grog Shop
June 24   Detroit, MI   Small’s
June 25   Chicago, IL   Double Door
June 26   Madison, WI   High Noon Saloon
June 27   Des Moines, IA House of Bricks
June 29   Denver, CO   Ogden Theatre
July 2   Calgary, AB   Sled Island Festival +
July 3   Calgary, AB   Sled Island Festival +
July 5   Vancouver, BC   Rickshaw Theatre
July 6   Seattle, WA   Showbox at The Market
July 7   Eugene, OR   John Henry’s
July 9   San Jose, CA Blank Club
All dates feature Melvins (two sets) w/Totimoshi except:
* = Melvins/Isis/Totimoshi
** = Melvins/Isis
+ = Melvins

I’ll say it: I’m feeling damn good going into this weekend. Got that Iron Man show tonight, and next week marks one year of The Obelisk. The numbers look good and a little bit ago I got off the phone from interviewing Dave Fucking Chandler of Saint Fucking Vitus, so I’m pretty stoked on life right now. It’s way better than flushing your car keys down someone’s toilet. That interview and a bunch more about the anniversary (and hopefully some other stuff) kick off next week, so until then, please enjoy this awesome Melvins video, filmed live at Amoeba Records in California. They do “Honey Bucket” from the classic Houdini album. Rock.

For anyone who, like me, pissed and moaned that the last Melvins record, Nude with Boots, was boring or samey or sounded like the unused b-sides to its predecessor, (A) Senile Animal, the PR wire reveals there’s a remix album in the works. Dubbed Chicken Switch, it’s bound to be completely unlistenable. Still, it’s Melvins news, so it’s news. Look for them to tour with Down and Weedeater in the fall and to be the coolest cats in the room at the All Tomorrow’s Parties fest in New York Sept. 12.

The Melvins will release Chicken Switch, a 15-song remix CD with a twist, on Sept. 29 via Ipecac Recordings. Unlike usual remix CDs where the remixer is given a single track to work with, for Chicken Switch each remixer was given a full album to work with and pull from to create their track (and in some cases, more than one full album was used as source material). The song names were also newly selected by their remixer.

Chicken Switch track listing and remixer:

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Holy crap, I need a break from reviews. Too much thinking equals sleepy in the brain. Here’s a Melvins video from a show I could have gone to but decided to stay in my hotel and watch Wayne’s World 2 on Comedy Central instead. I’m by no means the biggest Big Business fan in the world, but you get what you pay for.