Album: Screaming Trees - Ocean Of Confusion Songs 1990-1996

There are always bands that are over shadowed by contemporaries and bands that are lumped into a happening scene that they have little in common with, bands usually destined to be forgotten but for small entries in music guides and geek recommendations. Making a list of names you may come up with the Wipers, Psychedelic Furs, Blue Cheer, Meat Puppets and somewhere on it you may mistakenly put Screaming Trees.

Please put away your copies of the latest and worthless pop punk release for here is a collection of music that actually matters.

Ocean Of Confusion: Songs 1990-1996 is a 19 track release that covers the post-SST career of the Screaming Trees across a lone Sub Pop E.P. and three major label albums, namely; Uncle Anaesthesia, Sweet Oblivion and Dust, capped off with 2 unreleased tracks from sessions in 1994.

A blend of SST garage punk and earthy classic radio rock the Screaming Trees were by the ’90s the guitar-wielding Conner brothers, drummer Barrett Martin and whiskey guzzling vocalist Mark Lanegan, who stupidly seems to be more famous these days for singing on a few Queens of the Stone Age tracks.

The music is soulful, swaggering rock music at its best, the kind of tunes that could only be matched by prime Afghan Whigs. The lunkheads in Pearl Jam could never come up with the Ennio Morricone psychedelic pop of Disappearing or the aching lament of Dollar Bill and even if they did Eddie Vedder would ruin it. Speaking of Pearl Jam, Mike McCready adds guitar to Dying Days, one of the Screaming Trees’ finest tracks and a punchy epitaph for the Seattle scene.

The highs are many, from their Singles soundtrack rocker and most famous song Nearly Lost You to probably their greatest moment in the soaring swagger of More Or Less. The lows are few, only opener Who Lies In Darkness does not hit the mark.

When this collection is retailing at under nine pounds you have no excuse for not tracking it down. No excuses at all!

Ocean of Confusion is out now on Sony.

**Ghostsuit** · 26th May 2005, 4:31pm

oh sounds good.

Posh · 26th May 2005, 6:01pm

Seven quid in Fopp for anyone who fancies an introduction to one of the most underrated bands of the nineties

Nice review.

**Ghostsuit** · 26th May 2005, 6:06pm

I think I'll check it out since Napster only have two albums after 1997

Kenny · 26th May 2005, 6:12pm

To this day I have no idea why I gave away Dust. This could be a good substitute. Go team Lanegan.

Rowsbette · 26th May 2005, 6:26pm

*Nothing* can take the place of Dust, Kenny!

Narc · 26th May 2005, 6:29pm

I might get this - was close to getting a few of their albums but only really wanted an overview anyway - Lanegan is a fucking ace singer with QOTSA anyway.

Nice to see the Meat Puppets mentioned - Meat Puppets II is seminal brilliance.

Kenny · 26th May 2005, 6:30pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowsbette

*Nothing* can take the place of Dust, Kenny!

I don't know what I was thinking. I can't even remember who I gave it too, or if I got anything in exchange for it.

Rowsbette · 26th May 2005, 6:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny

I don't know what I was thinking. I can't even remember who I gave it too, or if I got anything in exchange for it.

I know the feeling.

I sold Welcome to Sky Valley and Warehouse Songs and Stories for buttons a mere few weeks after buying them, because "I have too many new CDs to be listening to at the moment"

I corrected my first mistake, but still haven't got round to buying back the Husker Du album. That was years ago, as well.

Kenny · 26th May 2005, 6:37pm

Insert your outrage from up there re: the 'Trees just about here, re: Bob Mould and co.

Rowsbette · 26th May 2005, 6:39pm

Excellent.

Now we're both sufficiently ashamed, and hopefully more likely to re-purchase.

savage pink · 27th May 2005, 12:08am

Mark Lanegan is a god among men. Anyone diggin Bubblegum?

top secret: we have the 'last' screaming trees album up for release sometime next year, when mark has time to polish the mix. recorded post dust but never released. a. maze. ing. you didn't hear it from me.

poprock · 27th May 2005, 6:58am

Bubblegum didn't really hit me in the guts like I expect Lanegan's work to... but the couple of tracks he played from it live on the last tour threw a whole new perspective on it. Stunning moments, right there.

... and no, definitely didn't hear that from you. Must resist temptation to post on the front page as 'news'.

*Charlie Parker* · 27th May 2005, 7:17am

I have the last album coming through the post as a bootleg

psydoll · 28th May 2005, 12:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilRawkPosh

Seven quid in Fopp for anyone who fancies an introduction to one of the most underrated bands of the nineties

Nice review.

I noticed that wallet-friendly price when in shopping the other day.

Sorely tempted...