HOURS AND HOURS: A TRIBUTE TO SEAWEED (Engineer) Rating: NNNN
In a hilarious photo of Seaweed being interviewed by MTV during Seattle’s peak, the band looking nervous and dumbfounded by the attention. From Tacoma, no less, Seaweed didn’t jibe with the grunge movement. Hence they never benefited from its explosion, even though they were signed on Sub Pop at the time. They left their mark nonetheless with a hard-driving, unique punk sound led by Aaron Stauffer’s powerful vocals.
Engineer Records found 17 bands who agree. Many stay faithful, like Ryan Mills on Start With or Elemae on the diamond of Seaweeds’ catalogue, Magic Mountainman. But Nora does a death metal take of Clean Slate, and Emily Whitehurst of the Action Design sweetly sings a slowed-down rendition of Kid Candy, a highlight of the disc.
It may not be a proper introduction, but it’s a worthy dedication.
