The Melvins are one of the few bands to actually improve with the passage of time. With Stag, Buzzo and the boys alienated some of their die hard loyalists by opening up their sound from the slow, brutal, smart metal style they created into something much more grand and kaleidoscopic. This album features at various points the sitar, coronet, ambient sound ditties, chipmunk styled vocals, and (god forbid) keyboards. They do all of this without compromising any of their massive RAWK spirit. It is one of the most accesible Melvins' records (there is something for everyone) and at the same time one of their oddest.

Stag is maybe the strangest Melvins album yet, and there are quite a few strange ones. One minute Buzz is scaring the hell out of you, the next you're giggling like a little kid. It's their tongue in cheek approach to the heavy that makes them so unique. Stag blends an array of unique sounds for the Melvins. You can hear slide guitar, synthesizers, a grand piano, valve trombone and a sitar. They must have had a blast putting this one together. It took me a while to realize the song "Cottonmouth" is performed entirely by drummer Dale Crover. It's hard to understand the words until you realize his mouth is stuffed full of cotton.