Reviews (page 5 of 9)
I had no idea who this was or what to expect, but it turned out to be pretty decent!
You know it is somehow a good album when you can tell that you hate half of the tracks but absolutely love the rest. i like it that there's always some weird stuffs going on there somewhere. I don't favor some sound choices they made, but they are arranged nicely. Very enjoyable (at least half of the album is). Higher Than the Sun is absolutely a great song. Definitely Above 4/5.
A few ok songs on the second half, otherwise aged and not very memorable 30+ years down the road listening to this without drugs and not in a rave. I liked klf, massive attack etc better.
Boring, good for doing anki at the same time, but not really something I could listen to alone. Second monitor stuff.
Its age is showing, if I'd heard this in the 90s, I probably would've loved it dearly.
Movin on up is great but didn’t like the rest
Time to don my novelty bucket cap and the most ludicrous jeans ever made, down a handful of pills, and pop in a pacifier to bliss out to the ultimate rave rock album.
Startet ganske kult og lovende men så... hva skjedde??
1. Movin on up 2. Loaded 3. Slip inside this house 3.5
A decent listen. I could see liking it more after a few listens.
Bold and experimental, with some highlights that defined the decade. A good shake up of what a psychedelic rock band could be. Many songs do go on for more than necessary though. Best Tracks: - Movin On Up - Loaded Worst Tracks: - Inner Flight - Higher Than The Sun Rating: 4.5/10
Not entirely sure about this psych-dance-gospel-dub smoothie.
On the one hand, this isn't bad. On the other hand, it's not great, and falls firmly into the basket of 1990s UK bands that the author has a fondness for.
Pretty long songs on here, but they're good. I wouldn't call this jawdropping, but great for a house party as background music. 3.25/5
i can hear this album being played on rooftops in the summer
Fascinating, varied, excellent
Kind of got to respect it when a band takes a load of drugs and makes something so different to the rest of their catalogue. A lot of this doesn’t work but when it does it’s great
I remember when I was 14 years old and I thought this to be one of the superior albums of the 90s. Boy, I was wrong. Still a great album nonetheless, but the "baggy/Madchester" gimmick does not last for the whole album. I still had fun revisiting it, though.
Meh - I know the singles and it's an interesting album I guess combining that early 90s dance, some rock stuff and elements of gospel and whatnot but I just didn't really enjoy it...
Rating: 7.5/10 Versatile, interesting, dance-y, and fun.
Inspirational mix rock , dance and gospel
An interesting blend of styles. Soulful at times, experimental at others. Extremely intriguing music. Feels like they've taken notes from multiple decades and decided to mix it up. Absolutely love the harmonies in Movin' On Up. Unfortunately it loses me after that until Come Together and Loaded. I can see why people like the other tracks but once the synths come in it doesn't really hit me right. Not my kind of sound. I do feel a little Beach Boys influence in there though, which I absolutely love. The bongos, brass, and gospel choir make the best bits in my opinion. I'm Coming Down is incredible all around. Overall super solid! Not something I'd listen to a lot but a couple of stand outs for sure
No notes
This was great. I had never heard of Primal Scream before today, and I was bracing for something really brutal and obnoxious, but from the very first instant of the very first track, I was happily greeted with some great-sounding acoustic guitar strumming in a trippy, stilted rhythm that made my ear and brain happy. It just kept rolling from there, and I loved every track. Lots of trip-hop sounding stuff, some sample-heavy stuff, some melodic and psychedelic stuff, just overall great. Sometimes reminded me of Lou Reed in places, sometimes some of the stuff on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack. I listened twice -- five stars.
Started good but lost me a little towards the end
I like the first song, Movin’ On Up, on Primal Scream’s album Screamadelica. Nothing else. This is a 1 rating. 1/5
Movin' On Up sounds like a lost Rolling Stones recording. I really enjoyed that song, but the rest of the album was a bit too electronic for my taste. I really like PS's next album, which was more rock based.
Opening track absolutely slaps. Then there was a bunch of songs that sounded like remixes but I think were original songs. "Damaged" sounds like a Stones song.
Essential. Saw them play the album live a couple of years ago. Magic night.
Not what I expected at all, Moving on Up is bait to a totally different album and then all of a sudden you've got an acid album on your hands. But I enjoyed quite a few songs. 4* for the bravery.
This album cover is like the banana on Velvet Underground and Dark Side of the Moon. I had seen it a ton but never listened to it. This album is fantastic, a perfect blend of alt rock and electronic/house keeping the interest of rock with the new textures of the emergent electronic scene.
Brit pop at its core, pointing to much greater versions of the genre
As if the Mick Jagger took acid at a European techno club in 1989. Crazy sound design that somehow just fucking works, but too many down songs for a super high rating. 6/10
3.5
One of those albums that caught the zeitgeist of its time. The bands Beggars Banquet in some respects but also featuring some of the electronic sensibilities of late 80’s / 90’s. Has a place on the list
One of the best
Love it. Want to spend more time with this album.
How can a band named Primal Scream release an album named Screamadelica, and not include any screaming? This was disappointingly tame, even with a mashup of genres. Honestly, some of the songs were alright, but nothing grabbed my attention and the neo-psychedelic parts were kind of underwhelming.
God this was interminable. Never ending dull shite.
Haha! Was definitely expecting not to like this, given the artist name and album name, but it was actually quite enjoyable.
3.5
Albumi #171, 10.03.2025 Skottilaisen Primal Screamin kolmas ja varmaankin tunnetuin albumi julkaistiin vuonna 1991. Mainio albumi, jossa Primal Screamin aiempaan indierockiin on otettu vahvasti vaikutteita acid-house-skenestä. Erityismaininta nykyään jo edesmenneen Paul Cannellin LSD-päissään suunnittelemalle kansitaiteelle.
Loved this one before the project. I honestly don't even know what to say about it, but I associate Screamadelica with summer - headphones on, eyes closed, laying in the sun - and it makes me happy. High 4.
This album changed so much from song to song that it's really hard to say what I liked and didn't like.
the 1990's were a huge time for electronica. first off, the "rave" became an actual thing people went to instead of something you simply did accompanied with the words "rant and" beforehand. it was a time in which people started gathering together, dancing to trippy, psychedelic music, and doing copious amounts of drugs. it was the beginning of a revolution, and a lot of people wanted in, including the rockers. of course, this was before grunge and Britpop swept away the dancers to their own separate corner, from 1988 to the end of the Cold War, it seemed like the two could collaborate. Primal Scream are a band best known for making the first C86 song you're likely to hear with "Velocity Girl". Bobby Gillespie, the group's leader, never really jived with just one sound, and would basically switch up what Primal Scream "was" for each album. For 1991's Halloween party, they went as E ravers, swinging their arms and sweating up a storm. you could consider this a form of cultural appropriation, sure, but i do get the feeling that the group knew what they were doing. in between "Movin' On Up" and "Loaded" like a bunch of different attempts at electronic squibbles, tribal house, tinky Casio pianos, and proto-trip hop that are there not because it's what Gillespie thought those genres sounded like, but because he was probably spending some time at the Hacienda and wanted to make a record that sounded like going to that club, both in emotion and feeling. unfortunately, the last third of the feeling -- the comedown if you will -- often fades into the background and sends me into apathy, but i truly do love "Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts)" because of how committed it is to creating this sort of "walking home at 3 AM" atmosphere. "Screamadelica" is dated, sure. "Screamadelica" isn't even really what Primal Scream would sound like in a few years, choosing to pursue the rootsy sound of "Damaged" for some reason or another. i mean this as honestly and positively as i can: "Screamadelica" feels like fanfiction. someone was a fan of a thing they heard while high off their tits in a club, and wanted to make more of that thing, not even necessarily in their own style; just more. i respect it.
I didn't know this album or the band but as I was listening I kept wondering why several of the songs sounded so familiar. After a while I finally realized that those songs were used in a Cindy Crawford exercise video from the early 90's! This isn't something I would normally listen to but it's not bad.
eclectic as hell, moments i liked but it lost me here and there
Another nice surprise
Let's set aside the illusion that we are writing these reviews for anyone other than ourselves. If other people read them, fine, but this whole project is about us sharing our exploration of these records. Well, Malachy, with Screamadelica, we've already been there. I have a very vivid memory of you talking me through the whole album in the old Waterstones, before it burned down. It must have been late '98 or early '99. Paul was there, but I don't think he was listening. You retold the record like you would retell the plot of a genre-bending film. "It opens on an acoustic... then bam! It's gospel... you think it's going this way, but, no, it's that way... it's house... it's rave... then horns... but you're not expecting the country ballad." No album could live up to that and Screamadelica didn't. Not initially and not entirely. I did try to get Peter Barronwell to follow me into the Orb's of Higher Than The Sun, but it was too much for him. Your approach was the better one of course, as the album is experiential - it must be taken as a whole and it is the swerves and dips that keep you going. All the songs are very long, but none feel that long, because you are riding a wave. I presume it is supposed to describe the experience of taking ecstacy, but I wouldn't know much about that. This saves me having to do so anyway. I don't feel that I ever need to, knowing Screamadelica is here. It's like experiencing a rave through a VR headset. That it is the work of multiple different producers feels wrong - surely it was masterminded by Andrew Wetherall. Anyway, I have come to enjoy the album a lot (probably after Exterminator sweetened me on the band) even when it sounds like new age music, even when Bobby Gillespie sings vague hedonist good vibe bromides that would make Noel Gallagher cringe, and especially when Bobby Gillespie isn't singing - not true; Higher Than The Sun is the best. It loses its potency after Loaded. That's probably just the nature of the comedown, so maybe it needs to be there. Our last 4 star album was Debut, which is a collection of great songs. Not all the songs here may be so good, but it is as good, if not better as a record, an experience. Though never quite as good as your 5 star retelling of it, putting paid to the lie about dancing about architecture. 4 I loved listening to this today. How brilliantly stupid is this album. Five minutes into ‘loaded’ when Bobby Gillespie, presumably referring to the recent reentry of the horns, suddenly yells ‘AH YEEAA AAHH’ I always chuckle. He only does it once and he doesn’t do too much else in the 7 minutes. It’s a moment both ridiculous and sublime. That is Screamadelica in a nutshell. It has two paragons of concision worthy of any of pop’s music’s best writers - Movin’ on Up and Higher than the Sun each packing 10 minutes of musical action into about 3 1/2 minutes. It also has ‘Come Together’ and ‘loaded’ which pack about 2 minutes of musical action into 10 minutes and 7 minutes respectively. Those tracks are also, somehow, perfectly crafted. Come Together is, I reckon, one of the quickest 10 minutes in pop music despite having so much of that stupid squeaky rubber duck-sounding keyboard in it. What a stupid idea. What a brilliant idea. Slip Inside This House is an inspired reimagining. Inner Flight, this album’s heart and the sound of the album’s cover artwork in my head anyway, has a naive, wild beauty worthy of Eno/Bowie. Damaged is lovely and worthy of the band it rips off. The saxophone solo on I’m Coming Down….Ridiculous. Sublime. I hate Don’t Fight it, Feel it. It’s 7 minutes long. I am utterly indifferent to the ludicrously titled ‘Higher than the Sun (a Dub Symphony in Two Parts)’. It’s 7 minutes long. Shouldn’t that be fatal to my affection for this album? I don’t know why it isn’t. It’s just more of the inexplicable from an album of quantifiably bad ideas - possibly beginning with having Bobby Gillespie as the singer - which come together to make something magical. I love Bobby Gillespie’s voice by the way. Ridiculous. 4/5
Writing this about an hour after finishing the album and haven’t listened to anything else since. I can say there was nothing memorable about this
Smorgasbord of mediocrity.
Ok, I understand why people were so into Primal Scream in the 90s.
This decidedly falls into the “not for me” category. Quit after 5 or 6 songs and went back to finish the white album (it is so long).
3.4 If I was more familiar with the album, I would probably give it a higher rating. Really interesting percussion/drum tracks on the album and particularly on Higher on the Sun
I remember listening to part of this album back in the 90's and not being impressed. A lot of time has passed since then and I have changed a lot. I still think this sucks. It's music for a certain type of person on a certain type of substance. I'm not that type of person and although having dabbled, those type of substances aren't my thing.
Winced as I hit play, expecting this to be a continuation of the audio-rape Metallica had inflicted on my eardrums the day before. Luckily, despite being called Primal Scream with an album called Screamadelica, it was actually an okay listen. Nothing incredible, pretty tame. A middle of the road 3 for me.
For an album with the title it has, by a band with the name they have, I was just glad it wasn’t hardcore metal screaming. Pleasant listening, Enjoyed Come Together and Loaded. Both seemed like nostalgic football songs you’d see on a barclaysman highlight reel. John Carew smacking the top corner or Dmitry Payet embarrassing people. Sprinkle in some Jay-Jay Okocha, Michu and Tim Cahill and you’re flying. Other than that, very background-ish. Middle of the road with Prime Barclays doing it a favour and rounding it up to a 3
An album that blends house and indie music and does neither very well. Damaged wasn't bad. Ok melody and well-written. Loaded is pretty iconic, great use of sampling from Wild Angels, enjoyable tune heaped with nostalgia from that era. Overall, it's a bit nothingy with a few brief moments of vibey goodness.
Chill
I enjoy it a lot
I’d give this a 3.5, it was pretty interesting
There wasn’t really anything memorable about this
The backup singers reminds me of xtian music. I thought there'd be more screaming xp. Reasonably melodic. The individual songs can be a bit repetetive, probably good when high, but I'm not... currently. 4/5
I had never heard of nor heard this band before, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I found the album to be a mixed bag…I really liked about half of the songs, and the rest I found to be throw-always. At times I found the lead vocalist’s penchant for sliding between the notes annoying, but enjoyed the gospel-like sound of the backing singers. I enjoyed the horns as well. And as I often comment, most of these songs were just too long. It’s hard for me to land on a rating for this one, but I will give it a three. I will also save it, and will listen to some of the songs again.
# 413 : I don't love it, I don't hate it. I thought it was very ordinary quite long and rather forgettable. This was another album where I didn't feel like it warranted the "must hear before you die" label. Honourable mention: Movin' On Up
I thought this would be, naturally, a lot of screaming and shouting. Turned out to be one of the most interesting albums on this list. Love the idea of a rock/indie band taking on board a DJ that had never produced in a studio before, and they come up with this. Brilliant stuff, high 4* for me.
Gets points for being kinda cool, and for really being a no skip afair, but looses points for having an utter lack of soul
This started off with a kind of fun pop anthem. It then devolved into a lot of shitty acid house inflected Brit Pop. Boooooooo!
Cool and decent
Funky I like it
This was fun to listen to but either I didn't get deep enough into it or it's just not got that extra edge
I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Good background rhythm. Plus horns. Phish-ish in it had a laid back vibe in parts.
This will never be my favourite album ever, but I think having given it a fair crack it's just about a 5* It's varied, complex, nuanced - it takes you on a journey. I can totally see why this was the big acid/LCD soundtrack in the 90s. Totally deserves the iconic status it has, in my opinion.
Nope, not for me. Couldn't get through it. Boring
наааайс
Felt like a mix between early Stones, Duran Duran, and whatever Jesus Jones was trying to be.
pleasant
I didn’t know what to expect and it was fine. Admittedly I was preoccupied with work and suck while listening but what I bought didn’t interest me enough to listen again. I think a theee is warranted here.
Correcto
My ex’s absolute favorite. I have no choice but to hate it.
5+ Stars (15/15)
The overly repetitious 90s strike again. A few decent tracks but found it a chore overall.
Did not resonate with me as much as I would have
Not I what I was expecting at all based on the band name. They really threw all their influences in the blender on this one: psychedelica, Beatles, Stones, gospel, samples, lots of instruments, and even a proto-house track. It’s good but I also don’t want to relisten. I’m going 4 bc 3.5 isn’t an option, and I’m more positive than my usual neutral 3 rating
Ilmeisesti tätä pitäisi kuunnella aineissa. Vähän onkin semmoista rentouttavaa ja maalailevaa elektronisia looppeja. Kappaleissa kanssa vähän intialaisia viboja. Parhaat: Movin' on Up,
Interesting mix. Started off super strong but fell down a little after that. Still really liked it.
I've known and enjoyed the song Damaged before listening to the entire thing. I wish the rest left more of an impression on me but I don't care as much for this as I wanted to.
A band I know the name of but none of their songs. Or so I thought. I actually recognised quite a few from this album! Opening the album with Movin' On Up, what a song. I haven't heard that song in like 20 years probably, but I could sing along like I heard it yesterday! I haven't heard Loaded in a good few years either. Full of nostalgia! Enjoyable 4 ⭐️
"Movin on up", "Loaded", "Damaged" are just o.k.
Not listened to this one for a while. Some of the songs are great with an uplifting and euphoric feel whilst others bring you back down. A couple of tracks let things down a bit, a bit too dull. I guess this is another one of those albums that’s probably enhanced by the time of day it’s listened to and by certain substances consumed.
The best album artwork we have had on the list so far. I can see that this broke new ground when it arrived, and I like the hits on the album, but quite a few duds on there too. Top track: loaded
It’s one of those albums that really defines a time and era. I’ve always thought it really quite unique in how much freedom the band gave the producers to remix and transform it into the classic indie/dance crossover it is. I can’t really think of another time that happened, or at least been this successful/rewarding. Anyway, there’s some absolute classics tracks in here, and with a nice range of dance styles, rave, house, dub. The whole thing has such a happy psych euphoric vibe, and while it has aged a bit in some ways, it’s just as cool today as it was originally. I do love this album, however, there are a couple of filler tracks here so I can’t give it a 5 sadly. So close! (It wasn’t until years after this was released that I realised the 2nd track is a 13th Floor Elevators cover - pretty good one at that!)
psychedelic electronica that forms a trance-like basis that's fun to work to. Really need to re-listen to this album.
Scottish wizards. Late 80s early 90s UK dance music continues to prove that it can be done while still having songs, with lyrics and structure and shit. Later ignorant british mfs take note!
I’m so good on this.
3.5/5 Screamadelica begins with the fantastic, timeless Movin' On Up and the trippy, groovy Slip Inside This House. There is another great change up quickly with the funky Don't Fight It, Feel It. Higher Than the Sun is a great three minute journey, just a really unreal feeling and then Inner Flight floats slowly and beautifully. Come Together is a slow burner, but somehow works alright as a 10 minute interlude and Loaded continues the chill, lengthy vibe, but maybe too chill. Damaged is a delicately written and performed folky number, and I'm Comin' Down succeeds as being trippy and weird, but perhaps not as being very good. I don't have many positive things to say about the first part of Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts), if at all. Somehow both boring and annoying. Then the second part is alright, but just a bit empty, maybe needing vocals. Finally Shine Like Stars finishes us off with a decent ballad. This album is varied, with some fantastic songs, but ultimately front-loaded (no pun intended) and a bit long. Movin' on Up 5/5 (FAV) Slip Inside This House 5/5 Don't Fight It, Feel It 4.5/5 Higher Than the Sun 5/5 Inner Flight 4.5/5 Come Together 3.5/5 Loaded 3.5/5 Damaged 3.5/5 I'm Comin' Down 2.5/5 Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts) 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Shine Like Stars 4.5/5
This felt like multiple bands in one. All over the place in terms of feel and genre.
What a random hodge-podge of different styles, methods and sounds. Some I liked. Some I wanted to skip right through. Absolutely no rhyme or reason or common theme to the album.
The more I listened to it the more I just kept loving this album. It's weird, it's unique, it's got a lot of variety, and it just slaps. Favorites were Movin On Up, Don't Fight It, Feel It, Loaded, and Damaged.
I liked this much more than the other Primal Scream album I listened to before. The album cover is really great showing the hazy brightness present in the music. I also feel like this earns this length unlike many other 90’s albums. Favorite songs were Moving On Up, Higher Than The Sun, Come Together, and Loaded.
Weird sounds, reminds me of random noise, crickets, frogs, etc. A lot of instrumental but not the greatest
Movin on up is a great tune and great way to start an album and set the tone. Unfortunately, the album goes downhill very quickly, as the album progresses it gets worse. Psychedelic background music is a struggle and not an easy listen. I have had this album in my collection for years and years and this challenge is the first time I have managed to get all the way through it. The album has some great moments though that give it a score of 3/5 like come together and loaded (even though loaded is about 4 minutes too long) Favourite song: Movin on up Least favourite: Dont fight it, feel it and inner flight. Album artwork: Brilliant cover
For this one, Don’t Fight It, Feel It. You’ll feel Loaded afterwards.
I can't be objective about this one. It probably has a little too much filler to truly deserve a 5 star rating, but the whole album is such a vibe, and the standout tracks are such classics in the indie/dance crossover genre, that anything less would be a disservice. Can we talk about the album cover too? Iconic.
name is misleading
I think these guys might be on drugs!
So mostly this album made me wish I was “loaded” or high to listen to it. Movin on Up may be the only song I recognized. And most of the music was instrumental only.
above average for me
There are a couple of songs that come across as middling Rolling Stones outtakes, and the rest sounds like the music the farmer from Shaun the Sheep would listen to.
I wanted to like this album, but it was honestly a slog to get through. I think it's redeemable enough for a 2, but I don't want to listen to the whole thing again. There are fun psychedelic moments, like on Inner Flight, but in general, this album feels like a hollow representation of the early 90s. Best Songs: Movin' on Up, Damaged Worst Songs: Higher than the Sun, Come Together
Ok, so admittedly this is probably a nostalgic 5 but this is great. Primal Scream never did anything else remotely as good as this though so I think Andrew Weatherall (r.i.p.) has to get a lot of the credit
Low intensity hypnotic electronica. pass.
This album was ok. Best song on it was the first one, Movin' On Up which makes you think you've heard it before as it sounds similar to a George Michael song. There are a couple other decent songs on here though most of it veers into the electronics genre. Overall o... k...
First track: this isn’t bad what’s everyone complaining about? The rest of the album: oh.
Decent. Good music, meh vocals.
This really fell into the background for me. It was just ok
Bangin'
I think I've summoned this album by mentioning that the bloke from primal scream has a full voice a few reviews ago. Don't really get primal scream, I want to like them sometimes but I feel they are a proper nothing band. Never particularly exciting or chilled, happy or sad, they always just coast along. Some decent sampling here and there, mildly psychedelic, but I'm just not a fan
The album is too long and too boring. Really middling. Sure, it does sound ahead of its time, but not all futuristic-sounding albums hold up. Movin' on Up is decent, but everything is played to the same tempo with a very similar drum beat. Not awful, but definitely won't be returning.
Listened to this album before.... Not quite my thing, but equally I can tell that it's a very good example of what it is. Think these guys might have taken a drug or 2 during the process of making this. There was a period in my life when I'm sure this would've been way more up my street. Moving on up, Come together, and loaded are pretty iconic 3.5, but I think it's worthy of a 4
Didn’t resonate with me much. Some songs were enjoyable and “trippy”. I could feel lots of 70s ifluence with what was going on in the 90s, extremely pleasant. But it is one of these albums i might never get back to. Maybe some songs i would. All in all? I love the master, so chill and pleasant to the ear.
Fav Song: I'm Coming Down Man, Happy Mondays really did a number on the industry in the UK. That being said, this album was fun and had some great production to boot. It's late enough into Britpop's lifespan that it wasn't bland, but early enough to retain that iconic 90's British sound.
Kuunneltu pelkkä 59 min aljuperäisosuus..m. Ei kauheasti bullshittiä löytynyt... onko kumommetoihien häränpaska mistä kptoosiin heh taitaako omasta päästä tässä albumissa ei...
A bit all over the place but there are enough good tracks on here to make this a decent listen. I wish they would have gone all in on the electronica side because those were the best songs on the album.
First song "Movin' on up" = awesome. Hand claps, gospel chorus, jamming guitar, uplifting lyrics - I love it. I really like this whole album; I listened to it 3 times in a row.
Groovy. I liked it.
The alt/rock/dance vibes of this album are great. I can definitely hear how this could have influenced 90s bands like Blur and The Eels namely.
Not worth listening to. Some of the instrument choices were interesting/cool. The musicianship wasn't very good, and I didn't like the singer's voice. The instrumental parts made for interesting background music, but that's about all the album really had to offer. Favorite Song(s): Movin' On Up, Loaded
I liked some of it (notably Movin' on Up), but overall it was just too much psychedelica for me.
Interesting but meh.
3.75
Meh
Cool album cover Really don’t understand why Movin On Up is on this, it sounds nothing like the rest of the album That said, it is by far my favourite song and made this generally quite boring album a decent amount better.
Enjoyed this more than expected. Feels like if britpop met Acid House
Interesting........
Movin' on Up kicks things off on a bright note reminiscent of Sympathy for the Devil. Something in that combination of hand-percussion + choir + keys + vocal delivery. Fine enough intro, although I feel like it is a bit of an outlier relative to the rest of the album. Slip Inside This House is cool as shit. Love the wompy bass tying this whole thing together. Don't Fight It, Feel It also is that good kush. The trilly whistle that forms the repeating melody along with deep cyclical bassline work great together to form a bright, but dirty foundation for everything else that is intermixed. Definitely have heard I'm Comin' Down before -- or at least elements within. Feel like it might have been in a James Blake boiler room or something. In any case, this song jams. Love the saxophone work and completely relaxed vibe. Shine Like Stars is a fine way to end the album. Bright and pretty. I enjoyed this album quite a bit and will definitely be back. I only vaguely remember the other album we had from Primal Scream on this list, but from what I remember this one is significantly brighter in overall tone. Still psych-laden electro alt-rock that I can get down with. Solid 4 / 5
This album is not what I was expecting. It fell a bit into the background, but it was more alternative/classic than I was expecting. Maybe a 3.5, but this warrants a re-listen so if I give it a 4 it'll show up again
This Primal Scream band is very cool I have really liked both of the albums that have come up. Very unique sound with some rock and psychadelic mix. Didn't pay attention to song title names because I was cooking while listening. But overall album was very good. This is a very solid 4
Fuck yeah I loved the last Primal Scream album. Still listen to it occasionally. This is wild just 3 songs in. Like a mixture of a bunch of genres all at once. Hard to pinpoint it but it's groovy and certainly interesting. I feel like a ton of songs start out like a choir singing and then just bounce into something completely random from that. Loaded fucking rules. What a jam of a song. That was fun. Liked Vanishing Point a bit more but still very solid.
Started off loving this but it quickly faded into the background. But I think it’s because I was too busy and overtired to give it my full attention, not that it was boring. Will need to revisit this album but rating 4/5 for today
I'm hard-pressed to think of a reason to listen to this again, or, ten hours later, to remember any songs. Seems somehow simultaneously drug-filled and sleepy.
First half of the album was okay but then things fell apart. “Come Together” was twice as long as it needed to be, and the latter half of the album was soft and uninteresting.
I liked the Oasis-like songs better than the euro-techno songs. Unfortunately, there were more euro techno songs. Ultimately it was just kind of forgettable.
That's not my taste in music. But ok.
Iconic! So many classics. Varied and fun. Only on song I really didn't like. Loved the change in pace. Good stuff
Really good groovy album. Loaded is obviously an absolute banger. Sort of track you can guarantee an aging DJ will be playing somewhere at a festival at any one time.
This is fine, though there's nothing primal or screamy about it. A lot of silly sounds in a disco-ish dance-music kind of format. Perfectly okay to have on in the background.
As Peter Fonda said in The Wild Angels "Well, we wanna be free, we wanna be free to do what we wanna do and we wanna get loaded and we wanna have a good time... And that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna have a good time, we're gonna have a party." This album soundtracks that party.
Damn, this has all kinds of sounds. Very house-based with some rock, most might recognize "Movin' on Up" right off the bat. That being said, I might be too sober to fully enjoy this. Gotta strap in for this one.
I enjoyed Primal Scream's mixing of genres. A couple songs were quite good.
Tonally a little funky, and not in the good way. The long songs are always the highlight, almost wish this was an instrumental band at some points. When it gets in a groove it gets REAL good
Exciting from start to finish
J'ai malheureusement pas eux le temps de le finir, mais je peux affirmer que c'est un très bon album qui mérite moult réécoute.
Dit album boeit me zo enorm niet dat ik al drie dagen niet weet wat ik hierover zou moeten zeggen. Het duurt allemaal te lang, er staan een paar langzame nummers tussen waarbij het een beetje richting retesaai huismerk Fatboy Slim gaat en daarna willen ze ook nog laten horen dat ze toch ook wel instrumenten spelen ofzo. De echte acid house track aan het begin vind ik nog wel leuk, maar verder neemt het album dus veel te veel ruimte in. Ik kom niet hoger dan 2 sterren.
this thing is all over the place
Better than I thought. Never heard of it before, but it deserves a solid 3.5. But it isn't a 4.
Way better than I expected
Listened to this on an exceptionally strong pill one night, whilst sitting in a half built bar and it was a revelation. Been a firm favourite ever since
Just a beautiful album, think this will get even better with more listens. Wicked psychedelic house vibes. Wish I had more to say, but honestly I just know I loved this. EDIT: It did get better with relistens. 8.5 / 10 Best tracks: Loaded, Come Together, Higher Than the Sun, Don't Fight it, Feel It.
I didn't even know these were by the same artist, let alone the same album. I'm not even sure what genre this is; trip hop? Love it. 1991 was a bit of a year!
It started off with a bang, and then transitioned into instrumental lullabies, and nonsensical lyrics. It has its moments, but this inappropriately named album isn't blowing me away. Favorite Track : "Movin' On Up"
This is #day79 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... we're gonna have a good time, we're gonna have a party! I literally can't sit still whenever this record plays. Screamadelica is undoubtedly one of the most essential albums of its time. It's a head-spinning time capsule with an explosive blend of styles: acid house, Madchester, dub-reggae, neo-psychedelia, and so much more. No substances required, the music does the trick. I also love to blast it on vinyl. If you like to drop the needle now and then, the 2015 EU reissue is bound to knock your socks off. With tracks like "Slip Inside This House," "Don't Fight It, Feel It," "Higher Than The Sun," and "Loaded," it's all about the v-i-i-i-be... Yes, this is the one to listen to before you die. But, I'm hell-bent on revisiting this album more in the future. This is a definite 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day80.
I’m not really a big fan of this, but it’s good at what it is.
It was okay.
Good alternative band. Good music. Enjoyed listening.
offbeat album with varied soundscape. Not a single boring moment. Favorite track: loaded other picks: moving on up, i am coming down, higher than the sun, don’t fight it feel it. almost the entire album calls for re-listens.
J'avais déjà entendu un des premiers albums de PS, mais j'avais été déçu. Dans mon souvenir c'était un album de rock très mou, rien de 'Primal' et aucun 'Scream'. Screamadelica est encore pire. Les morceaux sont monotones, parfois très longs. Profondément ennuyeux. A partir de "Come Together" (10 mn interminables) j'ai sauté d'un morceau à l'autre pour finir plus vite. Même le chorus de sax plutôt réussi de I'm Comin' Down ne parvient pas à me faire remonter la note. =>1/5
Easily in my top 10 all time. Up until a couple of years ago I had only ever heard the original version of Come Together, but apparently the one with lyrics is the one that’s on all the North American versions of this album. I don’t necessarily prefer it as part of this album, but I will listen to it much more on its own.
I don't like this.
3+
A lot of this album sounds the same. Not bad but nothing ground breaking
I knew very little from this band, it's not really my thing. But I have to say it's well made and well mastered - the album sounds great. It has dance aspects (and the repetitiveness that goes with it which is good on a dance floor but less so in a living room), but it's more/ better than daft dance music. Some groovy lines in there. A 3* because it's not really my thing and it doesn't sound that novel to me. Still a fine album.
Don't know what genre it is but I like it
I think we’ve had a few of primal scream in the 1001 and the SAY lists, this is the best one. Some familiar ones, some forgettable but overall a fine album.
7/10. The first half of the album is great, but the album wears off over time. :)
I didn't know anything about this band, which is interesting because the top track Movin' On Up has over 100M plays on spotify. The album was OK. Nothing stood out, but it was fine as background music while working or at the gym.
Feels like more of a curio piece. A time capsule from that window right before grunge broke, where pop music was filled with electronica, rain forest sounds and the occasional choir or gregorian chant.
A throwback that wasn't entirely welcome. Couldn't tell if I actually like the opening song -- or if it's just familiar. & much of the rest of the album felt very similar (soaring gospel choirs backing a whiny British vocalist intermixed with trance-y 90s beats) or a little monotonous. Sure, it was maybe ahead of it's time but unlike Massive Attack, is definitely a bit one note.
dogshit
a fairly interesting album. it was an unexpected combination of 90s psychedelic rock revival and 90s house music. i thought it was a pretty novel combination of sounds that i hadn't really heard much of. that being said, the songs here were a bit hit or miss, some of which were neat and some of which were a bit dreadful. but nevertheless, an interesting listen.
Utterly shippable. Next!
Classic 90s alt/dance album. I pretty much enjoyed every song on this one. Very vibey and chill. Would go hard live 👍
It has its moments but drags on way too much
3-
The album was interesting. I'll have to listen to it again. 3/5
Iconic cover - looking back now now over 30 years ago the sound was part of the whole time. Still good to listen to now though.
OKAY OKAY I didn’t listen to the whole thing but I got the idea. Didn’t offend me or piss me off, just didn’t interest me much.
Gran producción de un grupo muy interesante y variado. Este es uno de sus mejores discos.
I really liked this album!
I can see how this type of album/music would make a huge splash in the early 90s - mashing up different elements of psychedelia and acid/house to create something (at the time) largely unheard of. I'd likely give four stars if listening when it first came out, but in 2024 it feels staunchly mid-tier.
Ok this is one that took a bit of time for me, but it started to grow on me a lot during a relisten. Here's what I wrote after the first listen: This is another album where I felt the highs were really high, and the lows were quite low. It is also pretty much entirely about drugs, so I'm sure the highs were high for them too. This starts incredibly hot, "Movin' on Up" is one of the catchier songs that I've heard in quite a while. It's also very much on the alt-rock side of the spectrum for this album (there's a guitar solo in the middle). The album is really more of an electronic-dance album more than an alt-rock album, but it's a pretty diverse sound throughout. Nothing quite reaches "Movin' on Up" again, which is a bit disappointing, but there's still plenty of other good songs on here. There's a really strong stretch in the middle of the album, in particular "Come Together", "Loaded", and "Damaged" back-to-back-to-back. "Come Together" gets an asterisk because the original album version isn't available on Spotify, so I listened to the Terry Farley remix (which seems to be the single that was released in the US, and also seems to be the more popular version). Anyway, it's great, a really great upbeat vibe. "Loaded" is solid too, and then "Damaged" totally slows it down with this totally sad little love song out of nowhere. A really solid stretch here. The end of the album was a little weak for me, but it leaned a bit more into the dance vibe which is less of my thing. I'm not quite sure what to make of this honestly. It didn't totally blow me away, but there was definitely some really interesting stuff on here and I definitely liked it a lot more than most of the electronic-heavy music that I've listened to. This album was the first Mercury Prize winner and seems to have pretty universal critical acclaim, but this is also a genre where I tend to struggle a bit. The genre isn't quite the same, but it reminds me a bit of the Super Furry Animals album that I got fairly recently. A few really standout songs, and then a big range of songs that were a bit hit-or-miss otherwise. Side note, but I really like the album cover, I would buy this just for the album art. Now back to the present. I basically still feel the same way, but I think the lows are not quite as bad as I first thought, and the highs are still really good. I'm into this a lot, it's super unique, has a really good mix of songs, and a few top tier tracks. I saw a pristine copy of this browsing at a record store last night for $60. Passed on it for Dire Straits debut album, but feel like maybe I missed out. Favorite song: Movin' on Up Other: Higher Than the Sun, Inner Flight, Come Together, Loaded, Damaged, I'm Coming Down, Shine Like Stars 10/1/24
This is all over the place, but not entirely in a bad way. A lot of really good stuff here, although in some cases it feels like it’s wandering around aimlessly. Will def listen again.
A band called Primal Scream sounding like this is wild; I assumed they were going to be hardcore. This is a really strange album to think of giving a rating to. I haven't heard it before and it went all over the place. It's not the most skillful thing I've ever heard but it does what it's trying to well. The age of it is a bit surprising and is likely a big part of why it's on the list. Shine like Stars had a really nice feeling, I don't think it was the best song but I enjoyed it. Great way to close the album.
The first track was alright, but I'm struggling to get anything from the following tracks. Maybe this was ahead of it's time? Is that why it's here? It's well constructed, just doesn't inspire repeat listening.
Some strong tracks, but some kinda boring ones too. Very very 90s. Who is the saxophone player on "I'm Comin' Down?" I liked that solo.
Name is misleading, there is no screaming involved. 90s dance music. Not bad, but I wanted screams. Stand-out: Movin' on Up
Liked the indie sleeze Kinda felt all over the place with some of these Nothing stood out
no
This is a very unique album, blending early 90s indie rock with Neo Psychedelia and late 80s/early 90s UK-style acid house. With my background in electronic and dance music, I really appreciate how they tapped into the culture of the house movement, using production techniques, samples, basslines, and sounds that capture the essence of that era. It’s something that people like me can easily recognize and connect with. At the same time, they strike a great balance by giving alternative rock and Neo Psychedelia their fair share of the spotlight. However, the downfall of the album is that while they found a good balance between all the different styles, it lacks the smoothness and cohesiveness that could’ve made it even better. At times, it feels like the layers don’t blend and match as seamlessly as they should have. Still, with Andrew Weatherall on the album production, the album remains culturally and historically significant.
Meh most of the songs exhausted me. I can see how some would love it, I usually like acid house stuff so I’m surprised I didn’t enjoy it more. I’m sure this one would require a few listens for it to really hit Rating: 3.2
How do you even explain this one to a first time listener. It definitely sounds and feels like some euphoric drug trance.
Screamadelica is the third studio album by Primal Scream, originally released in 1991. I have always seen this album on lists of the best psychedelic records. I was excited to listen to this, thinking it would be more along the lines of Brian Jonestown Massacre, but this ended up being way different. This album is way more electronic-based than what I was expecting. I really dig it tho! Their cover of Slip Inside This House is super cool and the whole album just has this swampy psychedelic vibe to it. The record leans heavily into Acid House which isn't a genre I'm particularly familiar with but it just works on here. Will listen again.
I had to laugh at what my brain conjured up when I heard 'Primal Scream' vs the bright piano of the opening Rolling Stones-meets-George Michael opening track. It's an absolute delight. What a unique and interesting album. 'Cohesive' might be a stretch but it's certainly fun and varied. Probably more of a 3.5, but it's almost bizarre stylistic shifts put me in a good mood and I'm rounding up accordingly.
another meh
trippy happy shit, best priem
Not much to hear of a indie rock band. This is more a mixture of house, electronica, and psychedelic rock while using tons of substances. But, in a way, entertaining.
Thoughts before listening: This album gets a ton of praise by modern music sites even though I don't really remember it being all that big of a deal when I was growing up. At least not in the US...this might have had a bigger impact in the UK. Anyway, I feel like these guys are Britpop mixed with dance music. Review: I like this and can see why these guys get cited so much by modern music writers. The dance elements here really do distinguish these guys from the rest of the pack when it comes to 90s British alt rock bands, and I can hear where this could have been a big influence on a group like LCD Soundsystem. That being said, the album does drag a little with some of the songs being repetitive and overly long. I'll give this 3-stars although if I had a nostalgic connection with this album I'd probably go higher.
A little long, but overall pretty good.
Tää on kyllä hyvä pläjäys! Sopivasti vähän kaiken rajalla! 4/5
Kiinnostava yhdistelmä rockia ja elektronista musiikkia, 4/5
91年的专，有种新世纪的感觉
second half is chill vibes i like it
...
It was fine. Not much to write home about and not screamo music
Sweet vibe
good but not my thing
Pari passelia biisiä, ei muuta. Ehkä voisi kuunnella uudelleen.
This band if far from being a Rock band. Rather, this album is an amalgam of indie rock, dance, prog, instrumental and more. As such, it's mixed bag. There are a couple of generic dance tracks, which are utterly forgettable. Higher Than the Sund and Come Together, the longest track, are particularly annoying. Inner Flight, on the other hand, is an utterly beautiful instrumental that I liked instantly. But sadly, the annoying moments prevail. 2/5
A band named primal scream that isn’t punk? This is just generic 90s garbage techno.
01) Movin' On Up - 9,5 02) Slip Inside This House - 7,0 03) Don't Fight It, Feel It - 7,0 04) Higher than the Sun - 8,0 05) Inner Flight - 7,0 06) Come Together - 6,0 07) Loaded - 7,5 08) Damaged - 7,5 09) I'm Comin' Down - 7,0 10) Higher than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts) - 6,5 11) Shine Like Stars - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,23 (72/100) Current ranking: 172/290 This is a very strange one. Just when you think you know what genre they are playing, the next song starts. And I really lived under the delusion that Primal Scream were a rock band. I guess "Rocks" misled me. Do I like this? Well, I'm not sure, it's different in any case. I had the feeling that I was listening to a remixed version of a real album. "Come Together" became extremely irritating after a while. "Higher Than The Sun" is ok, but second mix is totally unnecessary. "Moving on up" is the only real, unremixed song on the album. In my opinion.
rock/indie my ass this is electronic lmao anyway, i generally dislike electronic music with rare exceptions, this wasnt one of them but also wasnt insufferable
Weird album with a lot too much drum. machine and synthetic house beats for my liking. Occasionally it slipped into something interesting, but mostly seems washed up and unpleasant and regrettable.
The title of this needs to be reworked. "Primal Scream...?" C'mon. I fell asleep to this album. But it was a nice rest. So extra star for allowing me to take a Saturday afternoon snoozer.
Lacks screaming.
10% exciting, 90% boring
Awesome album with some great beats, very danceable
Probably among the biggest disappointments I've had on here. This has been on my radar for years but don't think I've ever given it the time it deserves. Turns out that isn't a lot of time at all. Aged pretty poorly, felt like another Happy Mondays-esque taking as much ecstacy as possible to see if something sticks. Like if Stone Roses went off the rails. Might have been something in this if it was half the length, but by the last 2-4 minutes of each track I was midnumbingly bored. Huge let down.
A few interesting tracks, but this one didn't really grab me. I don't think this would even crack the list of the top 30 best albums of 1991.
This one has me confused. As a child of britpop im intimately familiar with primal scream and the hits on this stand out like absolute beacons. The opening track musy be one of the best album openers ever and loaded is a classic. But a listen through the album reveals such inconsistency in sound, genre and quality that i struggled. Maybe i need 5 listens through to appreciate the subtlety but for now im just a bit confused. 3.5 stars rounded down
Love it!
In my best Austin Powers voice: "Screamadelic baby"
It was ok. Not my usual type of music but I listened to it all the way through. Enjoyable but didn’t add it to my list.
Some cracking stuff on here. 3.5 stars.
A nice sounding album with a pleasant surprise in “Damaged”. I’d listen again.
Very gentle!!
it's the 90s!
The first masterpiece is here. Went in with no expectations and was blown away. This took me on a trip and there's not a song I would skip here.
Meh. Started strong and then dropped off. Kinda irritating near the end with too long songs.
Not really my thing. "Loaded" was used for a song that I like as a sample.
Fun album. I thought some songs were very nice to listen and jam out to, but the overall project lacked direction and purpose from my perspective. It feels more alternative-experimental than straight alternative. I still liked it a lot, though!
a genuinely cool and interesting album mixing electronic and acoustic elements
I fucking hated this album. WTF? Psychedelic, dance, ambient, happy bullshit. Movin on up! Couldn’t be further down my list!
Well this was a surprise! I think I was expecting some-kind of death metal - this music couldn’t be further from it! I could hear the influence of Rolling stone's in Loaded and Kraftwerk in Higher than the Sun. Probably could have been a bit shorter and cut out some of the fluff - but it was ok and I enjoyed a bit of happy clappy to bring home the end of a long week. One ongoing gripe is I wish the original track list was linked in Spotify - rather than the extended versions of albums!
Interesting mix of styles
30 odd years and still as fresh as when it came out. Classic
Not as good as I thought
Not a big fan of this album. The dance/house music inspiration and vibes in this result in a lot of songs being repetitive and droning. I did like Movin' On Up and Damaged though. 2/5
Some seriously groovy cuts on this
Not sure that I was in a clubbing mood to listen to this. It was fine and I remember parts of it from in the 90s but nothing crazy.
I don't know what I expected, but it certainly wasn't this. I can't think of the last time I heard a sitar in Western music. There's a lot more range than I expected because \"Don't Fight it, Feel it\" is totally different from \"Slip Inside This House.\" That being said, I still see the similarities and it's a pretty natural transition in genre. It was good, but I can't say that I'll choose to listen to it again. I'll probably accidentally find this in a few years and maybe I'll LOVE it then.
I tried listening to this album three different times, because I wanted to give it a fair shake and thought maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it. Three days, three tries, zero listens. Whatever it is that is in this album, I can’t say, all I can say is it bounces off me entirely and this is the first album I didn’t complete
nun ja, hat von vielem eniges - ein bunter blumenstrauss von riffs, beats und melodiefragmenten treibt auf dem weiten bassteppich mal hier, mal dorthin.
Ich weiss nicht was genau anfangen mit diesem breiten Spektrum, aber mir geht es zuviel in den House Stil.
Way fun. A few songs really didnt get up to par though.
Gets better on a relisten, but not sure it’s all that cohesive. What it is though, is dreamy and interesting, sprawling and bloated, sometimes euphoric, with a big, cavernous dubby sound. ‘Screamedlica’ is a quintessential fusion of early 90s UK rock, pop, dance and rave. 3.5/5, but rounding up to a 4.
Alternative dance, neo-psychedelia. Muy agradable.
A lighter album than the name would give credit to. Not relaxing, though.
I was in between a 2 and a 3 throughout the whole listen, I felt like some songs were 3s and others 2s. But because I had never heard of this band before and I was glad I listened to this one, I'll give it a 3.
This was a mixed bag for me. Some recommend me of the Manchester scene like Inspired Carpets, then it moved into trip hop and bounced around between those worlds. What I didn't find was a cohesive album, just a string of different ideas each produced well as what they were.
Weird little album - er 90s. Fluctuated between Rolling Stone to more funky electronic. I really enjoyed it.
Classic
Very melodic, moving in up sounds like "freedom"
5/10 songs added to playlist (not counting acoustic) Best song: Come Together (Farley Mix) The beats in this album are really just music to the ears & the album, going in with a 3.2 rating really exceeded expectations.
Absolute classic! Best tracks are Movin On Up, Don’t Fight It, Feel It, Higher Than The Sun, Come Together and Loaded 4/5
Eclectic, inspiring, and tantalizing. It was hard to predict what any track on this would sound like, there's a large range of influences present in this album that are mixed together very well for most songs. Some of the songs I found to be slightly too long or repetitive, but for the most part, it was easy to tune in and get lost in the music.
Schysst platta.
I thought I liked Screamadelica from a previous listen but I now realise my opinion was strongly influenced by Moving on Up. The long, repetitive psychedelic rave type tracks (example: Don't Fight It, Feel It) are pretty tedious. Come Together and Loaded are pretty fun, but most of the others bored me. I guess you had to be there at the time
This is a really fun album, especially now that it's my second listen. I definitely have much more of an appreciation for it. However, Movin' On Up still sounds exactly like Love The One You're With to me
this album has different themes. very 90s.
More 90s electronic (ish?). This was a good mix of a bunch of different styles. Some tracks were like the Deee-Lite album that was also on this list but more fleshed out. Others were more in the Fatboy Slim/Chemical Brothers mold with hypnotizing beats and chopped up samples. Still others sounded almost like an Oasis ballad. Only some tracks really stood out on their own as good songs, so I’ll give it a light 4
kept getting worse and worse.
Pretty cool album! Some nice tunes in here, a bit funky at times, very British on other songs, reminded me of a hybrid of Oasis and Talking Head for some reason. And I think that's good enough to give it a pretty strong 4.
The band name, and perhaps even the title of the album, would have you thinking you’re about to listen to a sludge/doom metal band (or something adjacent), but this could not be risibly further from the truth. This album is full of bright, sunny tracks that mix forms of dance/soul/blues/funk/jazz/psychedelic! These songs have one feeling as if they’re floating through the summer air. Something rather striking about this record is how “modern” much of it sounds. A few tracks would have one thinking this was released within the 2000s as opposed to the 1990s. Perhaps this quality can be explained by the album’s solid production, and elements of the songs’ composition. This album merits a 5/5.
God, Screamadelica was genuinely one of the craziest albums i have ever listened to. It would generally tend to flip flop between a 60s psychedelic rock album or it would be a drug induced electronica album. And i absolutely love it for that. The electronic bits managed to find that balance between weird and cool and the choir parts were also a really cool addition. Due to it's nature, it was also an album that really kept me on my toes with every song managing to provide some new element. This album is just super weird and that's why i love it. Best Song: Come Together Worst Song: Inner Flight
Really good actually. Very good electronic bits and very good psych bits. Just an amazing project. Very cool!
It still sounds good and I remember when this was released!
Wasn't sure what to expect (screaming?) but it was fairly well done with some interesting sounds.
i remember the first time i heard this a couple years ago, the names "Primal Scream" and "Screamadelica" led to me to believe i was about to experience some cool as fuck weirdo psychedelic punk music, and instead i just got some fairly psychedelic rock with a big heaping helping of grating house music. at least Loaded is a fucking banger
Very goofy The last song was awful
Kinda mid psychadeilia. Its a vibe but nothing to go crazy over
I fucking loce glasgow
There was a time when I really appreciated and enjoyed all this Britpop stuff, but now that piano sound grates on me. EVERYONE was banging away on it like a drunken cowboy in an old west saloon, and now, woof, not as fun as it used to be. Take some of that out, though, and this is a wonderful electronic stoner album that really helped shape some cool electronica in the coming decade. For that, I can forgive the piano parts.
This was so not what I thought Primal Scream was. Soup Dragons, trip hoppy, but nothing too snazzy. Though a 3 rating for me, it will get me to give the band a listen on Pandora.
One or two tracks were interesting
Hodgepodge of influences and styles. The leas vocals the better the music is.
I always struggled with Primal Scream back in the day. Saw them at Reading Festival and was not too keen then but I was only interested in seeing heavier bands. On relistening its a good album but not one I would reach for often, still Movin' on up is a classic hit. Stand out tracks: - Movin' on up - Loaded - Damaged - I'm coming down - Higher than the sun (a dub symphony in two parts) - Stone my soul
Melange
Better than expected
2.5
### **In-Depth Review of "Screamadelica" by Primal Scream** "Screamadelica," the third studio album by Primal Scream, released in 1991, stands as a seminal work in the history of British music. This review delves into its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and assesses its strengths and weaknesses. #### **Lyrics** The lyrics of "Screamadelica" are a mixture of hedonism, spirituality, and introspection. The album opens with "Movin' on Up," which features optimistic and almost gospel-like lyrics: "I was blind, now I can see / You made a believer out of me." This sets the tone for a transformative journey. Tracks like "Higher Than the Sun" reflect the escapism and drug culture of the era: "My brightest star's my inner light, let it guide me." The use of celestial imagery conveys a sense of transcendence, indicative of the era's rave culture. "Loaded," built around a sample of Peter Fonda's speech from "The Wild Angels," is more straightforward in its hedonistic message: "We wanna be free to do what we wanna do." The lyrics on "Screamadelica" aren't always profound but serve their purpose in capturing the spirit of the time. They resonate with themes of freedom, release, and the search for deeper meaning, even if that meaning is often found through altered states of consciousness. #### **Music** Musically, "Screamadelica" is a melting pot of genres, blending rock, house, dub, gospel, and psychedelia into a cohesive whole. The album's production was heavily influenced by DJ culture and the burgeoning rave scene. 1. **"Movin' on Up"**: This track combines rock and gospel, with jangly guitars and soulful backing vocals creating an anthemic sound. 2. **"Slip Inside This House"**: A cover of the 13th Floor Elevators song, it merges psychedelic rock with a driving, danceable beat, showcasing the album's genre-blending prowess. 3. **"Don't Fight It, Feel It"**: Here, house music takes center stage with a pulsating beat and repetitive lyrics that encourage surrender to the rhythm. 4. **"Higher Than the Sun"**: A standout track with its lush, ambient soundscapes and dub influences. The remix by The Orb emphasizes the track's otherworldly qualities. 5. **"Loaded"**: Built on a sample from The Rolling Stones' "I'm Free," it transforms into a dance-floor anthem with its infectious groove and celebratory horns. The album's diversity in musical styles is one of its greatest strengths, showcasing Primal Scream's ability to synthesize different influences into a new, innovative sound. #### **Production** The production of "Screamadelica" was groundbreaking, with Andrew Weatherall playing a crucial role. The production techniques employed were innovative for the time, incorporating elements of dub, ambient, and house music into the rock framework. 1. **Sampling and Remixing**: Weatherall's use of sampling, particularly on "Loaded," transformed the track from its rock roots into a dance anthem. The use of samples was not just decorative but integral to the album's structure. 2. **Layering and Soundscapes**: Tracks like "Higher Than the Sun" and "Inner Flight" use dense layering of sounds, creating rich, immersive soundscapes. The use of reverb, delay, and other effects gives these tracks a dreamy, expansive quality. 3. **Live and Electronic Fusion**: The album seamlessly blends live instrumentation with electronic elements. The drumming on "Movin' on Up" contrasts with the programmed beats of "Don't Fight It, Feel It," yet the transition between these styles feels natural. The production on "Screamadelica" was a significant factor in its critical success, setting new standards for how rock and electronic music could intersect. #### **Themes** "Screamadelica" explores themes of freedom, ecstasy, spirituality, and transformation. The album captures the essence of the early '90s rave culture, with its focus on communal experiences and altered states of consciousness. 1. **Freedom and Liberation**: Songs like "Loaded" and "Movin' on Up" celebrate personal freedom and liberation, both from societal constraints and personal limitations. 2. **Ecstasy and Transcendence**: Many tracks focus on the pursuit of ecstasy, not just in the sense of drug use but in the broader quest for transcendental experiences. "Higher Than the Sun" is emblematic of this theme, suggesting a spiritual awakening. 3. **Introspection and Transformation**: Despite the hedonistic overtones, there's a reflective quality to tracks like "Damaged," which deals with themes of loss and healing. The album's closing track, "Shine Like Stars," offers a sense of redemption and hope. These themes resonate throughout the album, providing a narrative that mirrors the highs and lows of the rave experience. #### **Influence** "Screamadelica" had a profound influence on the music industry, particularly in the UK. It bridged the gap between rock and electronic music, paving the way for other bands to explore similar fusions. Its success demonstrated that dance music could achieve critical and commercial acclaim. 1. **Cultural Impact**: The album became synonymous with the early '90s rave culture, capturing the zeitgeist of a generation seeking new forms of expression and community. 2. **Musical Influence**: Bands like The Chemical Brothers, Oasis, and Underworld have cited "Screamadelica" as an influence. Its blending of genres helped to break down barriers between different musical styles. 3. **Production Techniques**: The innovative production techniques used on the album influenced countless producers and artists. The use of sampling, remixing, and genre blending became more widespread in the years following its release. #### **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Genre Blending**: The seamless integration of rock, house, dub, and gospel creates a unique and innovative sound. 2. **Production Quality**: Andrew Weatherall's production is masterful, employing cutting-edge techniques that were ahead of their time. 3. **Cohesive Themes**: The album's exploration of freedom, ecstasy, and transformation gives it a thematic depth that resonates on multiple levels. 4. **Cultural Significance**: Captures the essence of early '90s rave culture, making it a historical artifact as well as a musical achievement. 5. **Diverse Soundscapes**: Each track offers something different, from the anthemic "Movin' on Up" to the ambient "Higher Than the Sun." **Cons:** 1. **Inconsistent Lyrics**: While the lyrics often serve the music well, they can be simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth in places. 2. **Cohesion**: The wide range of styles, while a strength, can also make the album feel disjointed at times. 3. **Dated Elements**: Some production choices, particularly those heavily tied to the rave culture of the early '90s, may sound dated to modern listeners. 4. **Experimental Tracks**: Some tracks, such as "Inner Flight," may not appeal to all listeners due to their experimental nature. ### **Conclusion** "Screamadelica" by Primal Scream is a landmark album that successfully merges diverse musical styles into a cohesive and innovative whole. Its exploration of themes like freedom, ecstasy, and transformation, combined with Andrew Weatherall's groundbreaking production, makes it a seminal work in the history of British music. While it has some lyrical and cohesion weaknesses, its cultural and musical impact remains significant. "Screamadelica" is more than an album; it's a journey through the highs and lows of the early '90s rave culture, capturing the spirit of an era and influencing generations to come.
The closest I got to Rave music was raiding warehouses and even moorlands in the Constabularies pursuit of illegal gatherings and all the associated naughtiness. I wasn’t therefore very popular amongst the Rave community. I therefore cannot condone anything to do with the Rave scene even if I found this album remotely good or entertaining - which I don’t. Well aware that I am a hypocrite as most of the music I like has drug connections but at least the music is good to my dope free ears. 1/5 15/6/24
Unique and fun
Not what I like...again. Please God, don't let the next one be Soup Dragons...
This is really quite good. Had no expectations going in -- and I just thought it was great from front to back. I'm not sure why the two dub odysseys "Come Together" and "Screamadelica" are greyed out on Spotify, but it's worth the 20 minutes to find them and play them back to back. Such a vibe.
I can't be the only one who noticed that Movin' On Up sounds exactly like Love the One You're With, right
I loved this album, very much.
The title and cover made me think this would be punk or metal. What it actually was works fine as background music, but I was disappointed nevertheless. Although it was better and more varied than some other similar albums (I can’t think of which specifically), the fact that I kept checking to see how close it was to ending makes it hard to give more than 2 stars.
OK. I liked the last primal scream album better.
The highs are high; Movin On Up and Loaded are two absolute anthems of the baggy era and helped spawn a genre and a whole range of subcultures. I owned this album but didn’t remember any of it outside those two tracks. On a few pills at an early 90s rave this album, I’m sure, was as good as it gets. I just find that on headphones in 2024, it’s hard to keep enjoying the formula for a full hour. Influential and brilliant in its time but happy to move on now.
Opening song was OK, then I was quickly moved into a bunch of stuff I didn't really enjoy. Had too much of the electronica dance vibe sound and the songs were way too long. Until....Damaged. Complete change of pace and with every song that expresses a man's love for his woman, I thought of my wife. I thought this was a beautiful song and immediately downloaded. For anyone who is felt the power of deep love, I have to believe this song hit home in a lot of ways. My wife is my addiction. I am stoned, strung out and crazy for my girl. She's got those eyes that makes a man go crazy. One look from her and that is all I need. Some times I feel like I'm climbing walls just get my fix and I come running every time she's calling me baby. She will tell me I'm crazy but really, I'm just stoned, stoned. stoned in love with her even after 29 years of marriage. Hell, with each passing day I get a little more stoned with my love for her. I am lucky to have her in my life. Just typing this, I can't wait to get home and wrap my arms around her. I know a bunch are thinking what a simp, but I hope some day every one finds that love that just makes your body and mind ache with love and desire. Pretty sure I am one of the very lucky ones. Anyway, just love the song Damaged and even I'm Coming down was OK, but for the most part, too long and just not my thing. I'm giving Damaged 5 stars. The rest of the album was about a 2 for me. Will round to 3 on the strength of Damaged. Happy Birthday June 11, Will!