The theory goes that Vancouver's Slow invented Grunge. The authors of a six-hundred page book on The Canadian Underground of 1985-1995 [!], argue that when Slow brought their anguished but hooky psych-garage-punk-metal sound, all wrapped up in flannel, down south they lit some kind of inextinguishable subterranean coal fire. While there is definitely some truth to this theory, it's too tied to this erroneous single-band-who-invented-a-genre kind of thinking. First off, it's pretty clear that the endlessly-dissected grunge phenomenon had numerous for-bearers both ancient and contemporary. Secondly, who wants to be known as the inventor of 'grunge' and go around arguing 'If it wasn't for me there'd never have been a Candlebox or even a Nickleback"? Yes, yes here during the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind we're only supposed to talk about the the more vital aspects of grunge but since the garbage utterly outweighed the gold, let's give Slow credit for more than just being a foundational influence in a dead-end genre.
"Have Not Been the Same" is a total head-fuck. That compellingly repellant guitar riff hypnotizes, while those whoo-hoo-hooo backing vocals pull the listener, like sirens of yore towards the rocky coast of self-disgust ("It seems like lately I just can't keep myself in line) only to deliver you to a possibly glorious horizon in the forum of that ferociously buoyant chorus - "Have not been - have not been - have not been the SAME!
Is there anything else that matches that odyssey on this mini-album? No. But then I'd trade this single song for 99% of all albums labelled 'grunge'.
So what do you make of Slow and their legacy? Let us know in the COMMENTS section (which is where you'll find the Against the Glass link).
Update: Roy Pearl said...
If anyone's interested, I put up a Slow family tree here:
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http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?o19eh9srxronwm7
Oh, so disappointing (link no longer works). Does anyone know where mp3s of Against the Glass can be had? Much appreciated. My album was stolen at a party, and now I can't even find digital versions of these songs to buy. It's a crime.
DeleteWhere does Mudhoney fall? I would say Slow are comparable...
ReplyDeleteHey Jeffen
ReplyDeleteI am definitely enjoying this latest series of posts!Thanks.
Doug
@ Rinjo Njori!
ReplyDeleteMudhoney started up in 88' but the Melvins and Green River were already up and running by 85'.
slow is fast enough
ReplyDeleteNice post, Jeffen! One of my favorite bands ever. And if anyone's interested, I put up a Slow family tree here: http://unherdmusic.blogspot.com/2010/09/slow-family-tree.html
ReplyDeletenice one - between this and the enigmas - and some old vancouver oversoul seven sounds at wilfully obscure - i'm having a full on high school flashback. i loved slow - remembering the expo 86 fiasco - then there was (c) or circle c - or copyright, and of course tankhog... makes me wonder about my other memory bands - the Hip Type... anyone remember them? and of course - brilliant orange.....
ReplyDeleteI saw someone ask Hugh Dillon who the best Canadian bands ever were. He said Slow were the most influential Canadian rock band and that they were one of the forerunners of grunge. I liked him more after that.
ReplyDeleteThis EP was always a bit of a "Holy Grail" for my group of friends.
ReplyDeleteOlder siblings sending home mixed tapes from UBC fueled that by including 'Against The Glass' or 'Have Not Been The Same' made us try desperately to get it to no avail.
I don't know if it was the crappy Zulu distro or limited pressings, but none of us were able to get our paws on it until 1992, likely rekindled by the release of 'Last Call: Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988' in '91.
But as to The Grunge Theory, that just sounds like more CANCON-tonguing revisionism. Blargh!
I've got the Slow 7" (I Broke The Circle / black Is black) as well as the Circle c album. any interest in posting these?
ReplyDeletetl
Still have this on vinyl. Saw them in Guelph years ago, and they brought the roof down--literally! Still have the gig poster, too.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only person who purchased this record. I have bragged about what a great disc it is to many a deaf ear. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteI remember when MuchMusic used to have some sort of edge (for a brief moment in history) and played the crap out of Have Not Been the Same.
again, one of the better bands that just somehow evaporated and seemed to leave a lot of footprints for other musicians to follow but when you play their material for mere mortals, no-one recognises or remembers them. maybe it's a geographic thing, since some of my west-coast friends know them, but here in toronto (and montreal, in my experience), the response is always spmething like "who are these guys and why have i never heard of them?"
ReplyDeletegreat band, great release, and many thanks for bringing them a new audience.
Rinjo
ReplyDeleteWell Mark Arm was in Green River around the same time as Slow *And they would have been more known nationally than the early Melvins).
Doug
regionalism!
Anon
Amen!
JC
We'll talk more about the mid-late-80's Vancouver scene on Sunday (and it'll be GOOD!)
CY
Yeah that did increase my respect for him too (even though he used the 'founders-of'-grunge' rationale) .
Bio
Did someone mentions "'Last Call: Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988' in '91."
"CANCON-tonguing revisionism" perfect!
tl
you can reach me at jeffen69@hotmail.com if you want to send the circle c my way. I'm sure some readers here would appreciate it!
fuzzpsych
If you ever scan the poster let me know...
Grant
I'm still doing my part to spread the word, even 20+ years later.
Mark
i swear between Indie Street, Going Coastal and The Wedge they did cover some great stuff...
Postbear
Yeah like any idependant thing in the 80's this moved around the country in fits and starts. It must've made some impact in Ontario as those Ontario guys who wrote the book on CanRock named it after the title track.
P.S. Thanks for all your comments, each one is appreciated.
Atta boy
ReplyDeleteI dug out my copy of ATG... it looks to be in mint condition. I intend to make a flac and share it someplace, and I'll include a single plus any compilation tracks I have. Anyway, yes, awesome band; I deeply regret not going to see their Expo gig, but it was a weeknight and I'd seen them live a bunch of times already.
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