Screamadelica

The most disarming, appealing aspect of Screamadelica is its unrestrained bliss. Funny I should say that, since I like Primal Scream's later album  XTRMNTR  for its unrestrained darkness. But hey, Primal Scream are a band that works best when painting in broad strokes. Either total rapture, or total chaos. Or maybe chaotic rapture. That's kind of like Screamadelica, actually.Getting into specifics, "Movin' On Up" is possibly the most joyous rock song that I've ever heard. It is overwhelmingly, explosively happy. Every sound in it is big and uplifting -- the gospel choir, the blues guitar, the acoustic rhythm, Bobby Gillespie's howling proclamations of faith. "Slip Inside This House" is an anthemic dance song with an inventive rhythm track laced with major-key synth patterns. It's great for summer driving, especially if you're not single at the time. Screamadelica can make you feel young.Even the sad songs are actually happy. "Damaged" is an ode to those "sweet summer days when I was feelin' so fine / just you and me, girl, was a beautiful time / ah yeah, never felt so happy, my, my, my." Sure, he acknowledges that he'll never feel this way again, but he's having so much fun just recalling those days -- you can feel him savouring the memories -- that it doesn't sound like a lament at all. "Shine Like Stars" is a beautiful, idyllic love song in which Gillespie waxes sentimental about how, "I watch you sleep / you look so peaceful." Possibly the darkest-sounding song on the album, "I'm Comin' Down," still sounds calm more than pained. A fairly gentle come-down, really.Then there's "Higher Than The Sun," the product of a brilliant, one-of-a-kind meeting of minds. It's produced by The Orb, the first techno band to have achieved mainstream success, and precisely at the time when they were the talk of the town with their ground-breaking first album  Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld . It was a fantastic way for Primal Scream to establish their dance credibility. Nowadays, it may seem cynical for a rock band to grab a hot-shot young producer, but back then, The Orb's sound felt new and revolutionary, and it was an inspired move. Anyway, The Orb turn in the best production of their entire career, with their trademark echoes, weird ambient effects and bass, but also with gorgeous, blissed-out horns. It's such a perfect combination, to go from the chaotic ambient breakdown to the horns. And Gillespie's hazy voice, drawing out the lyrics deliberately slowly, conveys total, unreal happiness.The last brilliant song here is "Loaded." It's not produced by The Orb, but it sounds inspired by them. Basically it's a long sound collage with anthemic horns, sampled dialogue from a Peter Fonda  movie , and jamming drums. Again, a stately, summery song, a perfect soundtrack for the glory days of one's youth.These songs are all amazing, timeless material, but unfortunately, the rest of the album is a bit plodding in comparison. The dub version of "Higher Than The Sun" is very much an acquired taste, focusing mostly on freaky sound effects and the over-rated bass playing of  Jah Wobble . It is a bit much for seven and a half minutes. "Inner Flight" is a pretty, but very simplistic instrumental. The melodies in "Loaded" are also simple, but at least "Loaded" has many more different layers, whereas "Inner Flight" sounds very slight. "Don't Fight It, Feel It" has a generic-sounding dance diva on vocals, and the chirpy synth lead starts sounding very repetitive after a short while. And lastly, "Come Together" has more great vocals from Gillespie, but most of the song's numbing eight-minute duration actually consists of a gospel choir repeating "come together, oh, come together." This also gets old fast.Because of the filler, Screamadelica may be a bit difficult to listen to from beginning to end. It is quite long, lasting over an hour, and reaches its absolute peak early with "Higher Than The Sun." However, for expressions of happiness, there is nothing like it. The best songs have a much more subtle production than they might seem to at first, so they have an ability to grow on the listener.

Although not from Manchester, you'll be transported back to the cusp of the '90s with this combination of '60s rock guitar riffs, soulful background vocals assisting an anti-lead singer, hip-hop-inspired drum patterns, and innocent white-boy sampling. Although Primal Scream are still putting out albums that bend and synthesize their favorite past/present genres, their first LP is their best.

arrived on time and in prime condition

My main problem with this purchase was difficulty downloading it. Amazon has a weird, obtuse system that makes it difficult to get the mp3s onto your computer once you have purchased them. As for the album itself, it's quite enjoyable. "Come Together" (one of the best songs on the album) has unfortunately been replaced with a vastly inferior remix of the same song, but other than that the album is quite enjoyable.

Andrew Weatherall produced masterpiece, great album, has that summer feeling.

Reminiscing the old days when I used to play San Andreas, the song Movin' on Up always made me smile. Then for some odd reason I was thinking about that song and wanted to own it. That's when I bought this CD. Oh man what a surprise did I receive. After listening to this CD for the past weeks I really, really love it. The rest of the songs on the album are not similar to Movin on Up. I thought they would be but I was wrong, and I'm glad they are different. All the songs set a perfect mood that you have to experience. I wish I could describe it. If you're reading this and you're skeptical, fear not, this album will lighten up your day. Believe me, It will make you happy.

Everything was perfect! I recomend.

Loved this album since the day it came out. The cd I got back in the day has seen better days, and i thought it was time to replace it on vinyl. bummer number 1: I unwrap it and notice this double l.p. is not in a gatefold sleeve. really? for $28 bucks i expect gatefold! bummer number 2: the top back edge of the record sleeve isn't fully adhered to the front of the sleeve (e.g. i have to glue it back together). shoddy. bummer number 3: the mastering for the l.p. leaves something to be desired. i hear distortion at points, and the track "shine like stars" distorts to the point that i can't listen to it. it pains me not to be able to hear this closing track.one caveat: the distortion may be due to the fact that i need a new needle. i haven't played other records to a/b screamadelica with. if it isn't the needle than i lower my grade to one star.

This is a great example of how a vinyl re-release should be done..... but first some history..... being of the age to remember the whole late 80's summer of love/rave/acid scene when this album came out I must admit I was a bit snobbish about it and saw it as simply cashing on the scene....... how wrong I was.... It was only about 10 years ago that I finally listened to it and ultimately brought the CD. It is a fantastic album (as you probably know if you are here reading this), and being true to the time it has managed to pass the years since and stay to my ears at least fresh and interesting..... so despite my initial disdain I'm happy this is an excellent album and that lead me to wanting the vinyl. The vinyl is 180gram and is an excellent quality pressing, absolutely crystal clear, not the slightest pop on the lead in, it's perfect. I did think the backing vocal parts on Movin on up sounded a bit muffled but that is probably just where I am used to the CD version. The sleeve is a lovely Gatefold and seems pretty strong. As a whole it's almost perfect, my only wish lists would be that the sleeve was glossy rather than matt as it looks nicer and is harder wearing. Also having the option for red vinyl to match the sleeve would have been great. This is a great addition to any collection, unless of course you can pick up a mint condition original :)

Bought this to replace my 90s CD which doesn’t come anywhere close to this vinyl. Spread over four sides, flat, quiet, no surface noise, heavyweight, it opens up this sonic masterpiece as I’ve never heard it before. There’s a depth and soundstage which is captivating. This won’t be pressed forever so get it while you can. On the Screamadelica Classic Albums documentary it was called an opera. This vinyl does justice to this description, cementing the album’s place in history, fusing rock and rave for posterity. Screamadelica will never be forgotten.

I have fond memories of seeing these guys in Edinburgh toward the end of last century and the first 20 - 30 minutes was LoadedAh the memories....Wonderful to have all the various things they did around that time to embelish one of the greatest albums of that era

Those who know KNOW!!!

had it on cd since it came out and highly rate it amongst the best albums of all time. This double vinyl gives the tracks tons of space that takes the sound to a whole new level