Now come on, those who like, show your love for this group

I love the song "Rocks". Aside from that, I don't know much about them.

I love them.

Screamadelica is one of my all-time favorite records. It truly broke ground on the fusion of rock/techno/dance. Not to mention that was a HELL of a record to trip to!

I'm always bummed that the following they built in the US quickly abandoned them after "Give Out But Don't Give Up." Mainly cos it means I never get the chance to see them live. Good thing I've gotten my ass to Glasto twice when they were there. AWESOME shows.

"Vanishing Point" is prolly my second fave from them. The sounds they put together on that record rocked my world and laid the groundwork with where they were heading musically.

The last 2 releases weren't as strong, IMO. But, each has a handful of tracks which stand-up with the best of their material.

I also have to say, it's fun to hear their progression from near hippies in their earlier works to the high-energy paranoia in their later releases. Drugs do funny things to people!

'nuff said!

Xterminator.Title track.End of story!

13inchshoe said:

that's a good one! That's my favorite song to drive fast to

endorphin74 said:

Yep.Major groove to that song.

They remind me of Funkadelic's early stuff.

endorphin74 said:

Forgot you liked them Endorphin74

Its funny you ay the last two are below par. While I'm no big fan of Evil Heat, I think that Xtrmntr is unbelievable- especially live


Vanishing Point is probably my favourite. Its amazing. I think Mani coming in on bass moved it to another level.


I love Screamadelica too, but Vanishing Point is a bit more personal shall we say

13inchshoe said:

Accelerator is better, can't believe that song hasn't put me in hospital

sermwanderer said:

OF COURSE I like them!



I definately prefer Xtrmntr to Evil Heat. But for me, it doesn't stand up to Vanishing Point or Screamadelica.

For a long period, I ranked Vanishing Point as my fave, but last year I reconnected with Screamadelica. I think all the memories from that CD push it up over the top for me. So, it's my fave purely based on nostalgia.

BUT, it's Vanishing Point artwork that I have framed all fancy and hanging in my living room....

Ah heck, I can't choose. They both are the best.

I love Primal Scream, although I think their politicised recent efforts are rather crude and misconceived. I mean can you really trust a band on a rampage against the hippie turned yuppie and against the man in general after 'Sonic Flower Groove' and 'Screamadelica'? Well whatever, they still rock like a mutha fucka.

I admire them for trying out new ideas and making artistic leaps,leaving the only thing to pin them down by aesthetically the nature of their collaborators. My favourite album is (and in general) Screamadelica which is of course, a masterpiece. Essential in that its the soundtrack to what was happening in British music at the turn 80s and 90s. It is in equal part feel good ('Loaded') as it is heartbreaking (the beautiful 'Damaged'). Whatever mood you may be in, sticking on 'Screamedelica' can only make you feel better. Credit where credit's due though to Andrew Wetherall's production.

I think 'Give Out But Don’t Give Up' was to some extent underrated with its drug enduced Southern-fried-funk-raunch. 'Cry Myself Blind' is gorgeous and 'Jailbird' and 'Rocks' are great songs to drink and dance to. Suspicious that it was the result of plenty of time spent with George Clinton and George Drakoulias?

I think 'Give Out But Don't Give Up' could of killed them off. However, the follow up, 'Vanishing Point' emphasises my point about them always coming back with something fresh and innovative. I love the feel of 'Vanishing Point'. Dark, trippy, filled with mind-bending rhythms and cinematic flourishes. The kind of music I love. I think the addition of Mani to the Scream gave their music an organically funky foundation that had been lacking. Above anything else, Vanishing Point is about sound and groove. Although perhaps, lyrically weak, 'Burning Wheel' and 'Star' are cracking. Primal Scream are at their best when working the rhythms. Songs like 'Kowaliski"'and, in particular, the extended instrumentals of 'Get Duffy' and 'Trainspotting' illustrate that the group are always more than capable of creating exotic, thoroughly entrancing sounds.

I really like 'XTRMNTR' and 'Evil Heat' but find these latter albums a more awkward listen. It appears that Bobby Gillespie is becoming more paranoid in his old age! They're violent albums, but violent with a purpose reminiscent of their musical heroes MC5. I do not believe XTRMNTR and 'Evil Heat' to be exactly sincere, nor exactly ironic. I don’t know what you call the space in between the two. It’s just the sound of rock music in the new millennium and proof that Primal Scream are a great band who will always aim to challenge their listeners.

GREAT insights, JD!

endorphin74 said:

I've been seeing this album in best of lists for quite a while now. I'm probably gonna pick it up the next time I see it. What should I expect from it? I checked with some reviews on Amazon, and even though most reviews were stellar, there were a few saying the same thing: the album is "all over the place" and "isn't relevant now". Thoughts?

Axchi696 said:

Well, I personally think it's a classic album. While it may no longer sound "grounbreaking" I believe it remains relevant as it laid the groundwork for a lot of the rock/electronic fusion music that was coming up in the late 80s and exploded in the 90s.

JD summed it up well. Between the ecstatic anthems, touching ballads and acid-infused remixes, this album hits all the right notes.

If you do pick it up, let us know what you think!

I'm always curious how it would sound today had I never heard it before...

Screamadelica for me is a great album, but a weight around the scream teams neck

People focus too much on it sometimes. It is an amazing record, but its definitely not the be all and end all of Primal Scream.


I think the recent stuff is great too. I'm glad the Give Out, But Don't You Give Up stiffed, because it freed the band up to do their own thing

sermwanderer said:

without the failure of Give Out, we may have never gotten to the brilliance of Vanishing Point. Yummmers.


I just wish their American following could've found them again at this point. Then maybe I could see them live without having to travel to the coasts or to the UK...