As the Seattle 'grunge' scene exploded, Mother Love Bone shone like a beacon. Far more than just another fad, they were the new rock 'n' roll kings and in vocalist Andrew wood there swaggered a new rock love child for the masses. The potential, the dreams and the visions were sadly unfulfilled as on the eve of the bands release of 'Apple', Wood died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24.
So, what did Wood leave behind ? Well, behind the mysticism of the usual, 'live fast die young' rock way of life, Wood was an exceptional vocalist, flamboyant, humble, glorious and beautiful, with a voice somewhere between Robert Plant and perfumed glam soul, and the Mother Love Bone sound was a vibrant mixture of drug-induced funk glam rock, at times sleazy and oozing, at other moments majestic and sad. For a debut album, 'Apple' is monstrous, and whilst there have been some wonderful debut albums reviewed here, 'Apple' is possibly the finest ever, something far more glittery than the usual Seattle grime, something that inspires yet takes its influence from all manner of extravagant artists, notably Freddie mercury, Marc Bolan and Led Zeppelin, but this record is no mere pastiche, but instead a completely satisfying and bombastic trip that sheds tears from its piano chords, rumbles in its rolling riffs and sways in the wind as Wood, poetically dances like a fleeting ghost from the embers of what could have been.
I could easily fill a whole blog with accolades for what 'Apple' means to me, but to anyone who hasn't experienced its delights, I can only suggest you pick up a copy now and become one with its caressing, sweaty and angelic sound, because as debut records go, this achieves in its sound what most bands could never achieve in a long career.
'Apple' may well have been a beautiful accident, a bit like some of the tracks on Saigon Kick's debut record, but the fact that such an album never reached the status it should have also slips Mother Love Bone into that criminally ignored pigeon-hole where Enuff Z Nuff, Saigon Kick, Kik Tracee and the likes dwell.
'This Is Shangrila' is pure funk strut built on a diamond riff, but it's Wood who drifts effortlessly between catty yowls and poetic majesty, the lyrics being pure dynamite, from tearful love songs and rock 'n' roll Babylon, to self-indulgent and ominous self-pity. The hype you may have read about the past through the whispers of Pearl Jam who rose from the ashes of MLB, were all true. Forget Pearl Jam, forget Nirvana, Mother Love Bone were the real thing, but as the lyrics say, "...dreams like this must die".
'Stardog Champion' is an anthem, a glam rock semi-ballad that melts into the more upbeat 'Holy Roller', the musicianship of Gossard, Ament, Gilmore and Fairweather the perfect backdrop for Wood's shapes, shadows and fragile croons.
'Bone China', is a mellow classic which builds into a summery anthem, it's nothing short of extraordinary, a timeless piece of music that is rivalled by the genial 'Stargazer', here are tracks already that set the heart a flutter and bring a lump to the throat, but it's the two major ballads that put MLB on another planet.
'Man Of Golden Words' is heartbreaking, a beautiful serenade that sees Wood casting self-doubt whilst at the same time climbing to the top of the world to shake his feather boa, and whilst in-between we get more elegance and glam groove, 'Crown Of Thorns', best heard emerging from 'Chloe Dancer' has to be 0ne of the greatest songs ever written, effortlessly rising and touching the clouds, making 'Apple' just ridiculously perfect, putting MLB in their own field of dreams, away from the rest of any scene that may be going on beneath them.
There's no a weak track on here, there's not even a pretty good track on here, for each cut in its own right fits together, making 'Apple' a moment in time yet something so wonderfully timeless.
Words can't really describe the magic of this record, or the charisma and presence of Andrew Wood who lives on today, not just in the memories of the fans, but in this breathtaking recording.
10/10
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