The Bootlicker
{{other uses of|Bootlicker}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox album
|name = The Bootlicker
|type = Studio
|artist = Melvins
|cover = Melvins-thebootlicker.jpg
|released = August 24, 1999
|recorded = January 1999
|genre = Sludge metal
|length = 39:59
|label = Ipecac{{cite web|url=https://ipecac.com/artists/melvins|title=Ipecac Recordings - Melvins|website=ipecac.com|access-date=April 2, 2021}}
|producer = Melvins, Tim Green
|prev_title = The Maggot
|prev_year = 1999
|next_title = The Crybaby
|next_year = 2000
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|last=Phares|first=Heather|id=mw0000668724|accessdate=April 2, 2021}}
|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2006|publisher=MUZE|volume=5|page=700}}
}}
The Bootlicker is the eleventh studio album by the Melvins, released in 1999 through Ipecac Recordings.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fie47qSuTsoC&q=The+Bootlicker+melvins+1999&pg=PA1757|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|date=November 20, 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=9781858284576|via=Google Books}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-28-ca-4374-story.html|title=Not Quite Nirvana|date=August 28, 1999|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 2, 2021}} The album is the second part of a trilogy preceded by The Maggot and followed by The Crybaby.{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/08/12/the-melvins-underground-to-stay/|last=Vivinetto|first=Gina|title=The Melvins: Underground to stay|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=April 2, 2021}} The trilogy was later released on vinyl by Ipecac (The Trilogy Vinyl, IPC-011, February 7, 2000).
Production
The Bootlicker was conceived as a more pop-oriented album; The Maggot was marked by a traditional Melvins metal sound, while The Crybaby featured many guest appearances.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-07-16-9907160022-story.html|last=Reger|first=Rick|title=The Melvins Travel the Spaceways|website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 16, 1999|access-date=April 2, 2021}}
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times wrote: "While The Maggot offers more familiar-sounding, metal-tinged sludge, The Bootlicker is a musically richer collection with rock, funk and jazz underpinnings." The Riverfront Times called The Bootlicker "one of the best rock albums of the year: truly beautiful and intelligently (but not pretentiously) presented."{{cite news|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/the-melvins/Content?oid=2475835|title=The Melvins|first=Randall|last=Roberts|work=Riverfront Times|access-date=April 2, 2021}} Tucson Weekly called it "subdued, dark and kind of pop-y sounding in spots."{{cite news|url=http://weeklywire.com/ww/08-23-99/tw_mus.html|last=Bally|first=Ron|title=Music: Pell-Melvins|work=Tucson Weekly|date=August 23, 1999|access-date=April 2, 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Buzz Osborne
|headline = The Bootlicker track listing
|title1 = Toy
|length1 = 1:09
|title2 = Let It All Be
|length2 = 10:48
|title3 = Black Santa
|length3 = 3:41
|title4 = We We
|length4 = 0:57
|title5 = Up the Dumper
|length5 = 2:23
|title6 = Mary Lady Bobby Kins
|length6 = 3:37
|title7 = Jew Boy Flower Head
|length7 = 6:06
|title8 = Lone Rose Holding Now
|length8 = 2:23
|title9 = Prig
|length9 = 8:47
|total_langth = 39:59
}}
Personnel
- King Buzzo – vocals, guitar, noises
- Dale Crover – drums, percussion, vocals
- Kevin Rutmanis – bass, slide bass
;with
- Eric Peterson – piano (track 9)
=Additional personnel=
- Tim Green – producer
- Mackie Osborne – art
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Melvins}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bootlicker, The}}