Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels instead of the internet.
Well, it was only a handful of months ago that I was regretting my tardiness in getting around to the Screaming Trees, so in the interest of catching up, I may as well bring you another release by these fine Washingtonians. The Something about Today EP was the band's major label debut, and something of a teaser for their forthcoming LP, Uncle Anesthesia, but in a refreshing turnabout, the KCMU gang seemed completely disinterested in trash-talking the band for jumping to the majors, and merely excited about their new music. It's nice to see that even in 1990 at a college radio station, it wasn't all jaded indie purists. Sometimes it's just cool to see and hear a band you love doing good work for a larger audience. Ahhh, but how did our KCMU friends feel about the LP that arrived a mere four months later? You'll just have to stay tuned.
"Check out the guitar freakout at the end of 'Uncle Anesthesia' - shades of Sonic Youth!"
"God ths is unreal but I luv the trees. Propellant guitars, killer drumming (still buried in the mix). Fuck it rocks. Especially #3. #4 has a brief mouth harp solo. And clear a space in H for the elpee."
"How come nobody's playing this? Check it out!"
"I love 'Something about Today' (4)."
"#4 is one of the most interesting as well as fun songs the Trees have done. Bravo! The other 3 tunes are wonderful. True to form truly. I'll miss M. Pickeral (sp?)." [Yep, that should read "Pickerel."]
"This is very cool stuff - the Trees dynamic and creative edge put them head and shoulders above most Seattle noisemeisters. Track #4 is a good example. I'm pretty partial to track #1 as well. P.S. What trupet [sic] on #2?"
This week's Review Revue spotlights the album Sourpuss by Swallow. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights the album Toothless by The Hellcows. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights the album Crawl by Coffin Break. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
