Albums by this artist

Sweet Oblivion (Recommended) (1992)

Screaming Trees

Sweet Oblivion

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» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

NATN Recommended Screaming Trees Sweet Oblivion Epic, 1992 RiYL: Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Neil Young

The Screaming Trees are underappreciated soldiers of '90s rock. They were crucial in supporting the generally accepted theory -- circa 1992 -- that anybody who played music in Seattle created amazing work. This was the band who America's grunge youth didn't hear of until "Nearly Lost You" appeared on the "Singles" soundtrack, but whosoever took the plunge to buy its accompanying record (300,000 people so far) was not to be disappointed.

The Trees actually formed in 1983, and had five full-length albums already under their belt, but finally reached their apex with Sweet Oblivion, as drummer extraordinaire Barrett Martin joined the already potent lineup of Conner brothers Van and Gary Lee (bass and guitar respectively) and rugged, raspy vocalist Mark Lanegan. The resulting album packs a punch, with 11 solidly-crafted anthems of powerful rock.

Yes, "Nearly Lost You" is awesome. But what about the rolling-thunder crunch of opener "Shadow Of The Season"? The road-weary gospel of "Dollar Bill"? The pounding urgency of "Troubled Times"? This album is solid to the core, bolstered by the garage-rock machismo of the Conner brothers' guitars.

Mix in influences from '60s psychedelia and folk, and the melodies rise to the surface. Lanegan's whispery rasp gives the songs a sense of exhausted urgency, as if the singer were forever wandering the Northwest, searching for some promised fate. Martin's precise but organic drumming adds the final piece to the puzzle, his ability to lead a tune through various stages of restraint and excitement propelling the album and inciting the Conner brothers to new heights.

Lanegan's lyrics are a mixture of rustic North Country imagery, simple storytelling, and impassioned poeticisms. He touches on religious themes here and there, but in more of a Johnny Cash, wanderer-searching-for-redemption way than a Christian rock way.

The songs on this album speak for themselves. You can lose yourself in the rush of guitars and try for days to emulate Lanegan's stately cigarette-burnt vocals. The swirl of sound can pull you into oblivion, but the essence of the music is soulfully sweet.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.