Although considered by many as the Godfathers of Grunge, Mudhoney was never as angst-ridden as Nirvana, never as serious as Pearl Jam and not as metal-influenced as Alice In Chains or Soundgarden. Oh sure, they wore the flannel but their sound was closer to LA’s Jane’s Addiction than anything going on in Seattle. While the band was Sub Pop’s first real success story, they never took home the big paycheck like their contemporaries. In fact they were dropped from Reprise Records in 1999 after the release of Tomorrow Hits Today and resigned with Sub Pop.
Since We’ve Become Translucent comes two years after Mudhoney’s ‘welcome back to Sub Pop’ comprehensive career retrospective, March To Fuzz and is perhaps the group’s most adventurous record to date as they incorporate horns on three tracks and violin on one. Recorded in just eight days, the disc has an Iggy Pop and the Stooges edgy-jam vibe to it. Raunchy cuts such as, “Baby, Can You Dig The Light” and “Where The Flavor Is” are noticeably Fun House inspired. The brash and gloriously grimy feel continues through out the record. “Our Time Is Coming” features a nasty guitar riff, crashing drums and Mark Arm’s screaming vocals. The addition of horns gives “Take It Like A Man” a fuller and more robust quality.
Despite line-up changes, most notability the resignation of Matt Lukin, Mudhoney is the last band from the Grunge era besides Pearl Jam who has successfully shifted away from that stale ‘Reality Bites’ sound and thrust aside the stereotype. Despite the fact that Since We’ve Become Translucent is far reaching, vast and somewhat experiential at times, Mudhoney prove they can still kick the shit out of you with an impeccable youthful spirit.