Buzz Osborne -This Machine Kills Artists
Buzz Osborne is best known for his work with the mighty Melvins; having played with them for over 30 years, he is now stepping out to test his fans with his solo acoustic effort.
When talking about his debut solo album King Buzzo said that he has "no interest in sounding like a crappy version of James Taylor or a half-assed version of Woody Guthrie" and he doesn't, so hooray for him.
Osborne's guitar has been down tuned for the entirety of The Machine Kills Artists, on some songs such as New River that sound really works for him; on others it leaves a lot to be desired.
While Dark Brown Teeth and The Blithering Idiot are great numbers which highlight why Osborne has been hailed as a king by many, that can't be said the entire album. Osborne would have benefited from putting more effort into his vocal stylings.
Instrument Of God is by far the highlight of the album; it's simple but incredibly likeable. The vocals are soft, and Osborne's guitar work leads the track. It is refreshing to see a veteran musician step out of his comfort zone and not only challenge himself, but also challenge his fans but there are only a small handful of numbers where that gamble has actually paid off.
Overall, This Machine Kills Artists is far from being a wanky, weepy singer/song writer effort but you can't help but think everyone of the 17 tracks featured on this album would sound a hell of a lot better if they were played in a big, booming manner that only a full electrified band can produce.