Mother Love Bone: An Underappreciated Grunge Classic

Mother Love Bone was a legendary and influential band in the grunge/hard rock genre of music in the late 1980s. They are often overlooked as just another one-hit wonder, but if you dive deeper into their brief catalog, much more lies beneath the surface. With shimmering riffs, thunderous basslines and emotive lyrics, this Seattle-based group made an impact on many listeners who continue to revere them decades later. While Mother Love Bone definitely had its shortcomings such as when they split up amidst tragedy, we can appreciate all that they gave us while also critiquing what could have been even better about them. In this blog post series I'll analyze both the good and bad aspects of this short yet remarkable outfit's vibrant discography!

When people think of grunge music from the 1980s, bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam immediately come to mind. But there was another band that played a crucial role in shaping the sound of the genre - Mother Love Bone. This Seattle-based group made music that was filled with energetic riffs, powerful basslines, and emotive lyrics. Unfortunately, their career was cut short by tragedy, and they are often dismissed by casual listeners as just another one-hit wonder. But if you take the time to explore their brief yet vibrant discography, you'll discover a band that deserves much more recognition than they get.

Let's start with the good: the music. Mother Love Bone's sound was heavily influenced by classic rock and punk, as well as the burgeoning grunge scene in Seattle. Their songs are filled with catchy hooks and soaring melodies, driven by the fiery guitar work of Stone Gossard and Bruce Fairweather. The rhythm section, consisting of bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Greg Gilmore, was equally dynamic - Ament's basslines are often the driving force behind many of the band's most memorable tracks.

But it's singer Andrew Wood who truly sets Mother Love Bone apart from their peers. His emotive vocals and poetic lyrics conveyed a sense of both vulnerability and power, and helped to define the band's sound. Songs like Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns and Stardog Champion showcase Wood's range and intensity, while tracks like Man of Golden Words and This Is Shangri-La demonstrate his ability to craft catchy, anthemic tracks that stick in your head long after the music has ended.

Of course, no band is perfect, and Mother Love Bone had its faults as well. For one thing, their output was tragically limited - only one album, 1990's Apple, was completed before Wood's untimely death from a heroin overdose. And while Apple is a fantastic record, it's hard not to wonder what could have been if the band had been able to continue on and refine their sound.

Additionally, Mother Love Bone's relationship with their label, Polygram, was often fraught with tension. The band felt that their label was pushing them in a more mainstream direction than they wanted to go, which caused conflicts over everything from songwriting to album artwork. While these tensions undoubtedly played a role in the band's eventual dissolution, they also added a certain edge to their music that only served to enhance its impact.

Despite their short-lived career, Mother Love Bone left an indelible mark on the grunge scene and continue to be revered by fans of the genre. Their music was a potent mix of classic rock, punk, and Seattle-style grunge, delivered with passion and intensity by a talented group of musicians. While it's a tragedy that we'll never get to hear more from them, Apple remains a testament to their skill and creativity, and is well worth revisiting for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the history of grunge. So next time you're in the mood for some hard-hitting, emotionally charged rock 'n' roll, give Mother Love Bone a listen - you won't regret it.