the Breeders “Last Splash” 1993. 30th anniversary edition; 3-LP’s at 45 rpm on clear/colored vinyl. 4AD Records. Remastered from the original analog tapes and includes two previously unreleased album session tracks: “Go Man Go” and “Divine Mascis” featuring Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, as well as a glossy booklet of lyrics and photos (plus a really cool Drivin’ on 9 sticker that will be perfect to place on our new teardrop camper).

Unfortunately I didn’t receive this in time for the actual 30th anniversary date (August 30th) and it’s the first time we’ve had it on vinyl: I bought Last Splash on cd in the fall of ’93, pretty soon after its release. I have very distinct memories of driving up the Milwaukee freeway to my mind-numbing first job out of college September of ’93 blasting the shit out of this album and singing along to Kim and Kelley Deal at the top of my lungs.  It was then and remains one of my favorite records from the 90’s.

Last Splash went to #33 in the US and to #5 in the UK; publications like NME, Rolling Stone, Spin and Pitchfork all include it on best-of lists, both from the 90’s and of all-time. It helps to define all the best that alternative rock in the 90’s had to offer: fuzz, loud-quiet-loud, heavy yet effervescent, and – probably most importantly for commercial success – it was approachable with catchy pop hooks. The first and breakthrough single “Cannonball” is still one of my favorites: it went to #44 in the US and to #40 in the UK. The Breeders also released “Divine Hammer” (#28 US Alternative, #59 UK) and “Saints” (#12 US Alternative) as singles. My other top picks are the album opener “New Year,” the surfy instrumental “Flipside,” “I Just Wanna Get Along” and “Hag.”

Back in 2018 we won tickets to see the Breeders at the Rave here in Milwaukee and it was amazing (even though it was at the Rave, which sucks). They played a ton of songs from Last Splash: most of my faves plus “No Aloha” and “Drivin’ on 9.” For that song on the 2018 tour in whatever town they played last they would secure a local violin player to play that instrumental part of the song, however they weren’t able to get one in Milwaukee so Kelley sang the part, beautifully. Here’s a photo of Kim Deal from that show in 2018: