Wikipedia

Uncle Anesthesia

Uncle Anesthesia is the fifth studio album by the American band Screaming Trees.[1][2] It was released in 1991 via Epic Records.[3] It includes three of the four tracks from the band's previous Epic release, Something About Today.[4]

Uncle Anesthesia
Original album artwork by Mark Ryden
Studio album by
Screaming Trees
Released1991
RecordedJune 1990
StudioLondon Bridge Studio, Seattle, Washington
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length47:05
LabelEpic
ProducerTerry Date, Chris Cornell
Screaming Trees chronology
Something About Today
(1990) 		Uncle Anesthesia
(1991) 		Anthology: SST Years 1985-1989
(1991)

"Bed of Roses" was released as a single and peaked at No. 23 on the Modern Rock charts.[5] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Nirvana and Das Damen; Dan Peters played drums on much of the tour.[6][7][8]

Production edit

Recorded at London Bridge Studio, Uncle Anesthesia was produced primarily by Terry Date and Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.[9][10] Unlike in the past, the band rehearsed for a couple of weeks before recording.[11] The album took six and a half weeks to record.[12]

Uncle Anesthesia was the last to feature drumming by original member Mark Pickerel, who left on amicable terms in 1991.[10] He was replaced by Barrett Martin.[13]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [14]
Calgary HeraldB−[15]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide     [16]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[17]

The Calgary Herald noted the "strong rockin' guitars with psychedelic undercurrents and the occasional pause for the pensive cause."[15] The St. Petersburg Times wrote that "vocalist Mark Lanegan croons fairy tale lyrics that melt through a sonic wall of guitars and percussion."[18] The Dayton Daily News concluded that "if Jim Morrison had joined a garage band instead of the jazz-trained Doors, it might have sounding something like Screaming Trees."[19]

The Province opined that "Gary Lee Conner resurrects the guitar sound of Syd Barrett and takes the band toward Interstellar Overdrive."[20] The Washington Post determined that "Gary Lee Conner can tear off a screeching lead or stomp a wah-wah pedal like any halfway-initiated Black Sabbath disciple, but he's not merely a piledriver; his atmospheric playing on tracks like 'Bed of Roses' give them unexpected delicacy."[21] The San Diego Union-Tribune stated that "Lanegan's spooky, back-from-the-crypt vocals and Gary Lee Conner's luminous guitars give this album an otherworldly glow."[22]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Mark Lanegan and Gary Lee Conner, except where noted

Uncle Anesthesia track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Beyond This Horizon" 4:13
2."Bed of Roses"Lanegan, G. Conner, Van Conner3:02
3."Uncle Anesthesia"Lanegan, G. Conner, V. Conner3:52
4."Story of Her Fate" 1:41
5."Caught Between"Lanegan, G. Conner, V. Conner5:03
6."Lay Your Head Down" 3:32
7."Before We Arise" 2:26
8."Something About Today" 3:02
9."Alice Said" 4:11
10."Time for Light" 3:50
11."Disappearing" 3:12
12."Ocean of Confusion" 3:05
13."Closer" 5:48
Total length:47:05

Personnel edit

Screaming Trees
Additional musicians
  • Chris Cornell – producer, recorder ("Lay Your Head Down"), backing Vocals ("Alice Said," "Uncle Anesthesia," "Before We Arise")
  • Terry Date – backing vocals, producer, engineer
  • Scott Miller – backing vocals
  • Terry Pickerel – percussion
  • Jeff McGraph – trumpet
Additional personnel
  • David Coleman – art direction
  • Karen Mason – photography
  • Mark Ryden – artwork
  • Screaming Trees – producer

Charts edit

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1991 "Bed of Roses" Modern Rock Tracks 23

References edit

  1. ^ Righi, Len (3 May 1991). "A Taste of Mudhoney for Screaming Trees". The Morning Call. p. D1.
  2. ^ Myers, Caren (Jun 20, 1992). "Forest and Last and Always -- Uncle Anesthesia by Screaming Trees". Melody Maker. 68 (25): 31.
  3. ^ Abbott, Jim (1 Feb 1991). "In the Bin". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 25.
  4. ^ MacDonald, Patrick (October 12, 1990). "Screaming Trees". Tempo. The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research Inc. p. 222.
  6. ^ Mackie, John (7 Mar 1991). "Screaming Trees Growing Tall". Vancouver Sun. p. F21.
  7. ^ Eichenberger, Bill (April 25, 1991). "Psychedelia lives". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 8.
  8. ^ Robins, Wayne (10 May 1991). "Spin on the '70s". Part II. Newsday. p. 103.
  9. ^ Phalen, Tom (January 25, 1991). "Seattle's Screaming Trees...". Tempo. The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  10. ^ a b Penner, John (13 Mar 1991). "Screaming Trees' Perennial Woes Settle to a Low Hum". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Justin (April 12, 1991). "LP Propels Screaming Trees to New Heights". Weekend. Rocky Mountain News. p. 114.
  12. ^ Menconi, David (June 18, 1993). "A Seattle Alternative". The News & Observer. p. W8.
  13. ^ Azerrad, Michael (Feb 18, 1993). "The Lost Boys". Rolling Stone (650): 15, 25.
  14. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "allmusic ((( Uncle Anesthesia > Review )))". AllMusic. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Muretich, James (17 Feb 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
  16. ^ Brackett, Nathan. "Screaming Trees". (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 721, cited March 17, 2010
  17. ^ Azzerad, Michael (1995). "Screaming Trees". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 343–344. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  18. ^ Hall, Dave (22 Feb 1991). "The Screaming Trees Uncle Anesthesia". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
  19. ^ Larsen, Dave (April 19, 1991). "Screaming Trees Uncle Anesthesia". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 14.
  20. ^ Harrison, Tom (31 Mar 1991). "Screaming Trees: Uncle Anesthesia". The Province. Entertainment. p. 85.
  21. ^ Jenkins, Mark (17 May 1991). "Trees' Metal Roots". The Washington Post. p. N21.
  22. ^ Peterson, Karla (April 23, 1992). "Seattle slew of sounds has sprung forth". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 8.
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