XTRMNTR (Primal Scream)

Listened Primal Scream’s ‘XTRMNTR’ Turns 20 from Stereogum

Sure, the universally celebrated Screamadelica was a generation-defining milestone, but as such, it feels inseparable from its date of origin. While it’s still an undeniably immersive and blissful experience, it sounds very much the product of an idyllic bygone era that can never truly be captured again. (Also, the game-changing impact of its rock/tronica fusion is harder to appreciate now that indie/dance crossovers are par for the course.) XTRMNTR, on the other hand, still feels as bold and bracing as it did 20 years ago because its defining quality isn’t a merger of once-fashionable sounds, but a crude and cathartic expression of discontent that’s perfectly in tune with today’s climate of Twitter-amplified anxiety and antagonism.

There was something strange and raw listening to this album when it came out. I like how Stuart Berman puts it:

XTRMNTR is the sound of Primal Scream realizing that achieving the utopia they envisioned on Screamadelica would require more aggressive tactics than peace signs, love beads, and bongos.

On a side note, the lack of vowels in the title was one of the inspirations for my username.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply