Come On Down (EP)
Come On Down | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | November 1985 | |||
Recorded | December 1984 | |||
Studio | Crow Studios, Seattle, Washington. | |||
Genre | Grunge[1] | |||
Length | 27:46 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Homestead Records | |||
Producer | Green River, Chris Hanzsek | |||
Green River chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Come On Down is the debut EP by the Seattle-based alternative rock band Green River. It was released in November 1985 through Homestead Records, while the band were on their first US tour. It is considered the first grunge record because it was released several months before the Deep Six album that included them as well as five other Seattle grunge bands.[1]
Overview
In the early 1980s, the Seattle branch of the indie movement was influenced by punk rock, however it removed its speed and its structure and added elements of metal.[3] Although Malfunkshun and Soundgarden were more popular in Seattle at this time, Green River was the first band of this movement to release a recording. Come On Down has been described as a balance between punk and metal, being similar to a mashup of 1980s metal together with early Mudhoney, and with the sound being "dirty".[1] In audio engineering, the term "dirty" or "fuzzy" describes "the opposite of clear, clean sound. A dirty tone would have some amount of noise, distortion, or overdrive in the signal."[4]
This record also marks Green River's only record with original guitarist
In mid-1985, Green River embarked on its first nationwide tour to promote Come On Down. Release of the record was delayed however, thus negating the purpose of the tour. From all accounts the experience was less than positive, though it did help cement alliances with other emerging American indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. In 1986, the band continued to play in and around the Pacific Northwest to steadily larger crowds (most notably in Seattle).
Leighton Beezer, who played with Mark Arm and Steve Turner in the Thrown Ups, states that when he first heard Green River play Come On Down, he realized that they were playing punk rock backwards. Additionally, he noted that the augmented fifth note was used by Black Sabbath to produce an ominous feeling but it is not used in punk rock. In the 1996 grunge film documentary Hype!, Beezer demonstrated on guitar the difference between punk and grunge. First he played the riff from "Rockaway Beach" by Ramones that ascends the neck of the guitar, then Come On Down by Green River that descends the neck. The two pieces are only a few notes apart but sound completely unalike.[5][6] He took the same rhythm with the same chord, however descending the neck made it sound darker, and therefore grunge.[7]
"Your Own Best Friend" (Demo) is a bonus track on the 2018 remaster.
The album’s title track discusses the Green River murders from the murderer’s point of view.[8] The murderer, Gary Ridgway, is the second most prolific serial killer in the U.S., and is also a source behind the band's name.[9]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Mark Arm; all music is composed by Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, except where noted
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Come On Down" | 3:23 | |
2. | "New God" | Alex Vincent | 4:29 |
3. | "Swallow My Pride" | Steve Turner | 3:04 |
4. | "Ride of Your Life" | 4:16 | |
5. | "Corner of My Eye" | 5:04 | |
6. | "Tunnel of Love" | Ament | 7:27 |
Total length: | 27:43 |
Personnel
- Green River
- Jeff Ament – bass guitar, back and sleeve designs
- Mark Arm – vocals
- Stone Gossard – guitar
- Steve Turner – guitar
- Alex Vincent – drums
- Production
- Green River – production, cover concept
- engineering
- Charles Peterson – photography, cover concept
- Paul Scoles – assistance
References
- ^ a b c d Anderson 2007, pp. 24–33
- ^ a b Torreano, Bradley. "AllMusic Come On Down review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ Anderson 2007, pp. 12–22
- ISBN 978-0240819150.
- ISBN 978-0760346617.
- ISBN 978-1844496402.
- ISBN 978-1858284217.
- ^ "Green River | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
- ISBN 978-0-307-46444-6.
Bibliography
- Anderson, Kyle (2007). Accidental Revolution: The Story of Grunge. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-35819-8.