Screaming Trees - Clairvoyance
Published January 28, 2005
It's a treat for Screaming Trees fans who have been wishing they could buy the Trees debut LP without resorting to high priced used vinyl from eBay. Back in 1986 they released Clairvoyance and started down a very different path from the rest of their grunge (lord, how I hate that word) peers. It starts with a psychedelic-fueled bang as "Orange Airplane." From there it's the highs and lows that you might expect from a bunch of guys in their early twenties who are putting out their first full-length album.
It has a distinctly 60's vibe, both in the style of music and in the production values. It's all guitars, drums, and bass with the occasional organ to break things up. The late-eighties early-nineties sound, for most people, is Soundgarden and Alice in Chains style muddy, hard rock. For the Trees, it was less Sabbath and more like the Doors meet garage rock--keep the weird vibe, but lose the lounge singer on acid antics and the demented lyrics, then make it faster and a little messier.
One of the great things about the album is that Lanegan's voice--although it hadn't yet mellowed into the gruff, low, and rocky wonder that it is now--is still distinct and strong. Amidst some songs that just aren't that good are some real gems, and Gary Lee Connor's guitar is better than you'd expect.
Low points are the "You Tell Me These Things" and the forgettable "Forever." It's not so much that the songs are that bad, but just that they slip right past you without making an impression.
But what makes this trip to the 80's worth the trip is the rock drive of "Orange Airplane," the spacey fun of "I See Stars," and the truly Doors moment (even to the cheesy story-telling, spoken word lyrics) of "Strange Out Here." Members of the Trees faithful will also notice the presence of "The Turning," a song from their '85 EP, Other Worlds.
This early slice of the Trees isn't what anyone would call a great release, but it has surprisingly good moments. Even though it feels dated now, it would probably have felt dated and strange back in the 80's: this was a post-punk statement rendered in psychedelic colors. The best of the Trees' psychedelic beginnings was Buzz Factory, but Clairvoyance is a fun trip for people who might be missing that overblown, media-driven moment that made grunge a household word.
- Screaming Trees - Clairvoyance
- Published: January 28, 2005
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Rock, Music: Hard Rock
- Writer: Zombyboy
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I never thought I'd see something on them... amazing! I've never heard them, but a friend said they were a highly recommended grunge band. They were from the same area as Screaming Trees... I forget where that is, though. Agh. Seattle? I think?
for a time, they ruled; but once a tree-hugger, always a tree-hugger - thanks Z-boy!
Z-boy, right on!
Being a grunge local (Seattle) I really didn't discover Screaming Trees depth until listening to Mark Lanegan's solo works. Then it hit me.
I agree. Solid music and art and statement.
peaceloveguidance
I am hearing this album for the first time and love it! Including the songs you dissed in your review! I have all the Trees albums now, and I think this is up there with the best of them, and coming from me that says a lot. Good review, but I personally have a much more consistently positive view on this album.
Dan, for what it's worth, I keep quite a few of the songs from this album regularly on my iPod. Great stuff--although not my favorite from them.
Hope you've managed to grab all the solo Lanegan material, too. As Mr. Mays would probably agree, they're all worth owning.
Here's to the tree-huggers!
I can't wait to hear "Ballad of the Broken Seas" with Lanegan and Isobelle Campbell.
I also read an interview from around the release of "Bubblegum" where Mark said he had a double-album and then some worth of material in the works. I wish since he barely tours he'd get in the studio and get more of these songs released.
I managed to hear the pre-release version of most of the Ballad of the Broken Seas songs. Some of them are great, some of them not so much, and some of them I still haven't heard. Honestly, although Lanegan dominates vocally, it still feels more like something that Isobell Campbell would do instead of a Lanegan album.
That isn't bad, but there were a few songs that really didn't work for me. Of course, to be fair it has to be noted that I really don't dig her solo stuff all that much.
What had me even more excited was seeing the footage from the Gutter Twins concert (Lanegan and Greg Dulli). Man, I wish they would finish that album off and go on tour. The first song from the concert--"Front Street"--sounded beautiful. I want to hear the rest of their songs.
I have nearly given up on Lanegan and Dulli ever finishing ANYTHING but I would love to hear a full Gutter Twins album, too.
Interesting heads up on the "Ballad" CD. I haven't heard much of her solo material so I don't know what to anticipate. I know I love just about anything he does so I will definitely check it out but I will try to have reasonable expectations since it is not really 'his' album.
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My favorite will always be the first record I heard by them - Invisible Lantern.