Why still the Melvins?

Seriously, there are targets out there much more deserving of ridicule than the Melvins. Like GWAR, for example. Do they now or did they ever serve a purpose?

Because even if their best work is behind them, the Melvins still offer an outstanding live show, and individually they are peerless for musicians who truly pummel their instruments.
Because the Melvins are more an institution than a band (think KISS), and have a rabid fan base who they pay more attention to than the critics.
Because the Melvins are not a disposable Pop band who puts out a couple of singles, here today--gone tomorrow. Their music is what they do in life. Its not some hobby or get rich quick scheme. I can think of less fulfilling day jobs.
Because the timbre of their aesthetic (singularly loud detuned feedback thick and plodding) has meaning. Their signature sound signifies as much to many people as the sound of a Harley-Davidson engine. It serves as a metaphor for the freedom to do what pleases you, regardless of current fashion; for the power of amplified sound to completely engulf you, dissolving all but the present moment; and for stability in an unreliable world. Discarding the song-structures, the content of the lyrics, and the concepts that drive their albums, you are still left with that droning irreducible sound with the resonance of a dark heartbeat. Its laid bare in the epic tone color on Lysol, the vocals (with words made up just because of their aural impact) on Houdini, and even in the ambient street samples floating through Prick. The Melvins can be primative, ill-tempered, self-conscioussly annoying, and arguably too conservative [ie not musically adventurous]; however, they will continue to put out records and tour until a better band comes along to claim the throne (and nu-metal certainly isn't up to that task).

Perhaps you will only listen to me if (like you) I let other critics argue for me, so by proxy I submit a notable excerpt from Trouser Press:

Oppressive in the best possible sense, the Melvins produce richly sensual, stunningly ugly music that gives the feeling of being crushed by a friendly fat guy tripping his brains out. When the band is truly in its glory, the Melvins replay the sinking of the Titanic, invoking the grinding inexorability of an implacable iceberg tearing apart the hull of a great vessel inch by grueling inch. It is a wonder to behold.

it's the amy phillips sort of shit arg (she of the village voice murray street review thingy).

Then some Squealing sax goodness from don and Jim on their Bells together alb.

1000 Pardon Me's chaki. I've been liken The Melvins for quite some time now. The tour I saw when Eggnog came out was awesome. I never seen so man people clutch their ears and run out of a club at the same time..They keep on going...

Bands SHOULD break up... six years is about all I can handle.

Yeah, and those bands are the ones that, only a couple years old, sound like something done 35+ years ago, instead of a band like the Melvins who have been doing new stuff for quite some time.

Melvins should continue their tour through collaborations with the old punk rock bassists and hook up with Watt. They could be called the Melvinsmen and they could cover Big Boys tunes.

That would work.

lol you know they are currently on tour with Redd Kross and using Steve McDonald for bass, right?

they were awesome last Tuesday, I'm only a casual fan but I was very impressed

And Dale Crover drumming for both.

Oh yeah, they have done stuff with Jeff Pinkus from Butthole Surfers and Kris Novacelic a couple times too...

Which is when I was listening to them this weekend traveling through the Ohio river valley it occurred to me they should keep going and do a record with Watt, Chris Kirkwood, David Wm. Sims, Kira etc...

I loved the four-piece, double-drums incarnation of the band but haven't liked anything they've done since then. I feel like their irony-poisoned side has taken over again, and now they're not even rebelling against the strictures of a major label contract, they're just doing it 'cause it's who they are. No thanks.

I'm nearly completely a Melvins-live-not-on-record fan at this point having never really delved into their catalog after catching one of their tours when it passed through a few years back. Great live band, although my knowledge of the material is practically zero.