The Fluid - Not Grunge

In the early days of The Fluid (from 1985 up until their woeful grungewagon-hopping 1990 album Glue), the Denver quintet was by far the most exciting and powerful live bands in the world at that moment. While nearly every other underground band was playing prophylactic hardcore or "going" metal, The Fluid was revivifying the psychedelic garage punk sounds of the MC5, the Stooges and early Who. Its live shows easily matched the legendary energy of the MC5 -- great rhythm section, great frontman and impeccable songwriting -- and its songs are still some of the catchiest rock'n'roll anthems ever written. There were precious few bands with the same rock swagger in the mid-80s, and none could hold a candle to the burning intensity of this band borne out of early hardcore Killed By Death faves The Frantix, Madhouse and Urban Waste. The Fluid's debut album, Punch 'n' Judy was recorded at a half-assed 8-track studio on low-grade equipment by an inadequte engineer (how do I know? my own high school band recorded there later with similar results), so it sounds tinny and unrepresentative of the band's real sound (a problem that plagued them on their sophomore Sub Pop debut Clear Black Paper as well as its classic followup Roadmouth.) Nonetheless, all three of the band's early albums are packed with great songs that deserve to be heard, and the sound quality has its own charm as well. Songs like "Cold Outside" and "Try, Try, Try" are perfect rock gems in the tradition of Small Faces and The Who, while "Saccharine Rejection" and "Madhouse" evoke the subterranean filth of early 70s rock like Alice Cooper and The Stooges.

Sadly, all three albums remain unavailable -- the Rayon records debut Punch 'n' Judy (reissued and remastered on Glitterhouse in the 1990s, now out of print), and both Sub Pop albums Clear Black Paper and Roadmouth are out of print. So, you'll have to seek these out via eBay or other sources. All tracks here were encoded from the original vinyl editions.

(Download - "Cold Outside")

(Download - "Try, Try, Try")

(Download - "Saccharine Rejection")

(Download - "Madhouse")

Comments

[Tyler]

Was it fun pissing off John Frusciante?

[Travis Keller]

Dave pissed on A Chilli Pepper? Like golden shower style?

[Tyler]

totally

[Kev]

This business is perfect. Shove up some Gray Matter for the people, burn no bridges or chutes and ladders are well worthy.

[shelbot]

I like Dave! I like!

[Andy The Panda]

I like it too davey...

[Dave Clifford]

Was it fun pissing off John Frusciante? (This question in reference to the most recent issue of Skyscraper magazine.) To answer your question, no. I don't give a shit about celebrity distance, and I could care as much about cutting an artist down as I do about building an artist up. It has nothing to do with him being in a mainstream band. My reasons for interviewing him are rooted in my curiosity about his own perspective on his work considering the depth of personal expression that I find in his guitar playing and how that relates between his breathing life into a tepid mainstream rock band and his own mostly self-indulgent solo work. How does the former somehow eclipse the latter? Does John Frusciante seem to be an asshole? Yes, of couse. But he's a product of his environment -- consider whatever you do with heart and soul... anyone handed the world on a platter at 18 years old to do anything you want, that is a serious mind-fuck (and I'd like to see the condition of the glass houses any of you doubters live in.) I can think of countless fuckers who put their entire being into their playing -- those are the exact assholes that I want to understand on their own terms. Regardless, John Frusciante exists in a rare and unique pantheon of mainstream artists who put intangible soul and personaity into their playing which ultimately gives music its ritual, beautiful value above and beyond the scope of irony and whatever other political values you might ascribe to the music you give your approval. So, to answer the question... it was more telling to hear him name-drop "my friend Omar from the Mars Volta" in order to ground himself to something else somewhat vibrant than it was "fun" to piss him off...

[Tyler]

You handled the situation fairly well.

"How does the former somehow eclipse the latter?"

I wonder the same thing. After hearing To Record Only Water for Ten Days, it's virtually impossible to listen to the Chili Peppers.

[Susan]

You know "Saccharine Rejection" is my favorite song... thanks for spreading the word. Lemme know if you need more Fluid rarities!!

[Mitch Weintmanberg]

makes sense that he's friends with omar. both of their bands suck and both of them are out of touch with reality.

[Dave Clifford]

Dear Susie, yes, if you have any kind of Fluid rarities I would love to hear them. Particularly any high school crush practice-space interview recordings -- though I highly doubt anyone from Aurora ever endeavored to meet those Front Range badasses face-to-face. If you can prove that you've been in the shark tank, then I will give you a lifetime of props.