Few bands cause such a divide in opinion as Primal Scream, the fact that they have transcended so many different genres means that there is usually at least one appealing album for everyone. This also means that a lot of people only like that one album and don't care much for the rest of their work.
Like most, the album that got me hooked was the awesome Screamadelica, which remains one of my favourites of all time. Of course, the career of the band includes members of other legends such as the Stone Roses, and appearances in other bands, most notably the Jesus and Mary Chain.
In some ways it seems strange that their most highly regarded and critically acclaimed work was completely ignored when time came to vote for the festive fifties, while the earlier, more conventional stuff made regular appearances in the mid-eighties lists. I guess it helps to show the changing nature of John Peel’s listeners over that period.
The BBC broadcast a great documentary charting the twenty-odd-year history of the band this time last year, which I only recently discovered. It’s worth a listen for anyone like me, who has been briefly in love with this band’s work and remains an admirer of their ethic.
Like most, the album that got me hooked was the awesome Screamadelica, which remains one of my favourites of all time. Of course, the career of the band includes members of other legends such as the Stone Roses, and appearances in other bands, most notably the Jesus and Mary Chain.
In some ways it seems strange that their most highly regarded and critically acclaimed work was completely ignored when time came to vote for the festive fifties, while the earlier, more conventional stuff made regular appearances in the mid-eighties lists. I guess it helps to show the changing nature of John Peel’s listeners over that period.
The BBC broadcast a great documentary charting the twenty-odd-year history of the band this time last year, which I only recently discovered. It’s worth a listen for anyone like me, who has been briefly in love with this band’s work and remains an admirer of their ethic.
Learn more about the documentary here.
Here's a Screamadelica era clip from Rapido:
2 comments:
top blog, like you say PS stuff is so diverse that it's never going to please all of the people all of the time. For me ... it has its moments.
I loved Screamadelica, but don't care too much for the sub-Stones posturing they've been peddling since then. And Bobbie "I'm So Rock 'n Roll" Gillespie has to be the biggest faker in rock. Bless 'im, he tries far too hard to be cool and controversial to be the slightest bit convincing.
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