Cheeky Melvins/Karp/Murder City Devils/White Shit/etc-associated sludge-rock heroes Big Business are celebrating the late 2010 addition of fourth member, guitarist Scott Martin of Crom/400 Blows, and upcoming tour with aesthetic allies Torche by following 2009′s Mind The Drift with the Quadruple Single 12″ EP on their very own, recently launched new label Gold Metal. As the EP’s title suggests, it’s four songs, each strong enough to be its own single. Get a taste via mighty opener “Always Never Know When To Quit.”

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Anthemic Seattle sludge dudes (and karaoke champions) Big Business’ third album Mind The Drift was mentioned favorably a few times in my year-end metal roundup. I’ve enjoyed bassist/vocalist Jared Warren’s work since his days in the awesomely heavy and often out of place Olympia/K Records trio Karp. Now he and ex-Murder City Devils, etc., cohort Coady Willis split time between Big Business — with guitarist Toshi Kasai — and the Melvins. It’s a stellar resume even without factoring in Tight Bros From Way Back When, the Whip. I’m looking backwards because it’s interesting (and rare) to follow a relative contemporary’s aesthetic progression/expansion across a couple decades, to watch the streamlining of his take on punked-out stoner rock. At this point Big Business’ tongue-in-cheekiness isn’t always my thing — though, yeah, it’s always been their thing — but the silly charisma and fake mustaches work well in the old-timey/elk-exploding/bloody/Western-saloon backdrop Wesley Belak-Berger’s created to house “The Drift.” Helps that it’s also just a great song.

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White Shit is the excellently addictive project of Big Business (and now the Melvins) dudes Jared Warren and Coady Willis along with guitarist Andy Coronado (the Monorchid, Wrangler Brutes, Skull Control) and a fourth member named Tits. Their nine-song debut Sculpted Beef, out now as one-sided vinyl via Dean Spunt’s PPM, rips past in less than 15 minutes, which means you can listen to it multiple times in an hour. The fuzzed-out shredding and Warren’s howl ought to be an especial treat to those of us who still hold a (very) special place in our hearts for his ’90s Olympia crew, Karp. Or folks who find themselves craving a streamlined punk rock shredder. Or just want to hear a song called “Bathroom Cop.” In that spirit, dive-in headfirst via White Shit’s longest song, the two and a half minute “Jim Morrison.” It’s not about who you think it’s about.

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