Green River’s debut album was also its hard fought over swan song, the quintet eventually putting together an eight song set that was often more Sunset Strip hard rock good times than some might have admitted at the time – then again, that’s precisely why Stone Gossard, Bruce Fairweather and Jeff Ament decamped to form Mother Love Bone even before release. Mark Arm’s vocals are definitely well on their way to the later Mudhoney wounded howl, while songs like “Smilin’ and Dyin’” and the leering “Swallow My Pride” mix trashiness with a pro feel.

– Ned Raggett