PRIMAL SCREAM by PRIMAL SCREAM (1989, Creation Records)

Primal Scream’s first album ‘Sonic Flower Groove’ received pretty negative reviews and caused tensions within the band that led to a reshuffle and new band members joined. For their second album they ditched the C86 jangly guitars for a harder rock n roll edge. Their early fans didn’t respond well to the rock re-birth and the critics were similarly negative. The NME called it ‘confused and lacking in cohesion’.

Whilst the Scream have certainly made better records, PRIMAL SCREAM is far from their worst and has some great tracks on it. It makes a lot more sense when viewed with hindsight. They’ve had a tendency to intersperse their braver, more experimental releases with more traditional rock albums – I’m thinking ‘Give Out But Don’t Give Up’ after ‘Screamadelica’ or ‘Riot City Blues’ after ‘Beautiful Future’. PRIMAL SCREAM could be viewed as part this tradition.

‘Ivy, Ivy, Ivy’ and ‘Gimme, Gimme Teenage Head’ are rock ‘n’ roll will a Stooges garage feel. ‘You’re Just Dead Skin to Me’ is slow ballad in the ‘Damaged’ mold but with some brilliantly vicious lyrics set to a gorgeous string section and harmonica. The real standout though is ‘I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have’ which was remixed by Andrew Wetherall as the Scream classic ‘Loaded’ from Screamadelica.

I’M LOSING MORE THAN I EVER HAVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tke9QD1si1w

GIMME, GIMME TEENAGE HEAD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6X2f67kClY

IVY, IVY, IVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTUU1H-0F34