The band has said that the album was written “from the rhythm up instead of from the riff and the lyrics down" and has also stated that it's the fastest album they made. As singer and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm has said "The effect is to thrust out the bottom-end rumble of drummer Dan Peters and bassist Guy Maddison, and to bring about a cohesive whole not entirely ruled by the almighty riff—although you certainly don’t have to look hard to find ‘em." Rather spontaneously, the veterans recorded the eleven songs found on the record in only 3.5 days, including overdubs. The ninth track on the album is titled "Tales of Terror" in honour of the Sacramento hardcore punk band Tales of Terror that influenced and inspired the grunge movement.
Track listing
All songs written by Mudhoney.
"I'm Now" - 2:40
"Inside Out Over You" - 3:25
"The Lucky Ones" - 4:52
"Next Time" - 3:01
"And the Shimmering Light" - 3:05
"The Open Mind" - 2:26
"What's This Thing?" - 2:54
"Running Out" - 3:28
"Tales of Terror" - 3:17
"We Are Rising" - 4:30
"New Meaning" - 2:39
Personnel
Mark Arm - vocals
Steve Turner - guitar
Dan Peters - drums
Guy Maddison - bass
Tucker Martine - production, mixing
Floyd Reitsma - assistant engineer
Bill Inglot - mastering
Dave Schultz - mastering
Jeff Kleinsmith - art direction and design
Songs
1I'm Now2:41 2Inside Out Over You3:26 3The Lucky Ones4:52