Nearly a Masterpiece
Magnus Erlingsen | Tonsberg, Norway | 02/16/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this album today, after nagging the sales assistant into ordering it daily for several weeks. At first listen, when I simply skipped each track after the first one or two minutes, the album didn`t seem too impressive, but I felt obliged to buy it.
I have listened to this album several times over now, and even though this album doesn`t have the maturity and quality of Sweet Oblivion and Dust, it has several other pros that make it worth a listen. For one thing, Mark Lanegan is more lively here than on the last two albums. He seems a lot more "into" it, more spontaneous. The songs also take lots of interesting turns along the way, so that, for instance, the 3rd track, Standing On the Edge, begins in a pretty laidback, bluesy manner, but ends in grunge reminiscent of songs off Mudhoney`s Superfuzz Bigmuff album. Another song that is definitely worth your listen, is the last track, called Clairvoyance, where Mark sounds a lot like John Lennon at his best. In other tracks, like the opening track, you can hear a clear Doors` influence, something like the Doors updated to the style of a Seattle garage band. As a whole, the album sounds like the late 60`s meet punk meets garage rock.
All in all, this album is worth a listen for any fan of Screaming Trees and Mudhoney. But I think the casual listener should buy one of the Trees` later albums first. For one thing, Lanegan`s voice hasn`t yet reached its prime on this one, neither is Mark Pickerel quite as capable of carrying the groove as his later replacement Barret Martin was."
A Doorsy first outing!
master10 | 04/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is only one other person who reviewed this album. If you are a Trees fan get this album NOW! You can hear the most obvious infuence on their debut. Doorsy guitar playing rages all over and splashes of keyboards crash through a few tracks. It is nearly perfect the whole way through. Here's the tracks in respect to their rating.
1. Orange Airplane - Nice opening! raw psychedelic punk rocker. 7/10
2. You Tell Me All These Things - Ultracatchy doorsy rocker with fast paced keyboards. This songs won't stick right away. After a few listens you're hooked! 8/10
3. Standing on the Edge - A bluesy rocker with Mark Lanegan's soulful vocals. The Drumming by Mark Pickerel is awesome here proving that he was not slouch before Barrett Martin. Probably the best track! 10/10
4. Forever - A prelude of what the Trees would start doing on their later releases. 7/10
5. Seeing is Believing - Unbelievable guitar playing and has an Doorsy feel yet 80's also. 10/10
6. I See Stars - A very nice blend of jangly guitars and harmony. This is another prelude to their later releases! 9/10
7. Lonely Girl - If the Animals and Doors were a punk outfit. Songs like this would have resulted. Excellent! 10/10
8. Strange Out There - A hypnotic early doorsy tune, not the most exciting song, but well done. Otherwise skippable! 6/10
9. The Turning - Probably my least favorite track on this album. Nice keyboards and has an almost retro feel. The song still works pretty well even though it really never takes off. 6/10
10. Clairvoyance - Almost a grunge song. Slow sludgy guitar into a raw unrelentless chorus. Solid song, great way to close the record. 8/10
Great record to start out with and gives a taste of what they would do in the future.
"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1