Touch Me I'm Sick

Mudhoney, 1988, from Touch Me I'm Sick. Solo by Steve Turner.

A blown-out fuzz break that defined the early Sub Pop sound in a few seconds of noise.

Touch Me I'm Sick is a short, snarling single, and Steve Turner's break lasts only a few seconds, but it helped define the early Sub Pop sound. The guitar is drenched in blown-out fuzz, so thick and ragged that notes blur into a roar. The solo is barely a solo at all, more a burst of noise that captures the song's sneering, garage-punk energy. Its crude power made it a touchstone for the Seattle scene before grunge became a mainstream label. Listen for how the fuzz swallows the attack of each note, turning the lead into a single, wild smear of sound.

Touch Me I'm Sick by Mudhoney is featured in our Grunge (#22) list. The solo is played by Steve Turner and the song was released in 1988.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Grunge Guitar Solos — #22
• The Best Mudhoney Guitar Solos — #1

Sources