Tanx

Tanx is the eighth studio album by English glam rock act T. Rex, released on 28 January 1973 by record label EMI. Tanx was a musical departure from previous works: still containing tracks in the vein of The Slider, Marc Bolan showed his interest for both american soul music and funky music. Female backing singers appeared on a few tracks. New instruments such as saxophone and mellotron were used to make the T. Rex sound evolve.

Upon its release, Tanx peaked at number 3 in the UK Albums chart.

History and music

The recording sessions first took place in France in August, and then in October 1972 after the American tour. In the US, the band had appeared on stage, accompanied with female soulful backing singers on a few dates. Bolan recorded "Left Hand Luke and the Beggar Boys" with other female singers who had worked for Aretha Franklin. They doubled Bolan on the soulful choruses but were not credited on the sleeve. "The Street and Babe Shadow" with saxophone as one of the main instruments, showed Bolan adding a funky side into his music. "Life is Strange" and "Broken Hearted Blues" were ballads closer to the T. Rex sound while "Shock Rock" was a boogie track.

Melvins

The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne (also known as King Buzzo) and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's ongoing members. The band was named after a supervisor at a Thriftway in Montesano, Washington, where Osborne also worked as a clerk. "Melvin" was despised by other employees, and the band's members felt it to be an appropriately ridiculous name.

History

Early days

The Melvins were formed in early 1983 by Buzz Osborne (guitar/vocals), Matt Lukin (bass) and Mike Dillard (drums) who all went to Montesano Jr./Sr. High School in Montesano, Washington. In the beginning they played Cream and Jimi Hendrix covers, and also began playing fast hardcore punk. When Dillard left the band, Dale Crover took his place, and the band's rehearsals moved to a back room of Crover's parents house in Aberdeen, Washington. Soon afterward, they started to play songs slower and "heavier" than nearly anyone else at the time.