Screaming Trees Album: “Buzz Factory”

"Buzz Factory" was the Screaming Trees' final recording for SST, but not their last stand as independent recording artists. They would follow up by spending a little quality time with Sub Pop prior to the release of their major label debut, "Uncle Anesthesia," two years later. Produced by the Trees and Jack Endino, "Buzz Factory" lives up to its title with buzz aplenty thanks to Gary Lee Conner's muscular guitar playing. The album is a solid send-off, which should come as little surprise--history will remember the Trees as one of the Northwest's most consistent bands. If they never had a hit on par with "Nevermind," nor did they ever release any lackluster (or uncharacteristic) recordings in a career spanning over 15 years.

"Where the Twain Shall Meet" and "Black Sun Morning" are two of the strongest selections. The latter doesn't just have a Soundgarden-style title--a lá "Black Hole Sun"--but even sounds a little like that hard rockin' Seattle quartet (who were also aligned with SST at the time), which is to say: more anthemic than usual. A sample from an interview briefing is slipped between "Yard Trip #7" and "Flower Web" ("The question will be what kind of trees you are; the reply will be 'Screaming Trees'").

With Invisible Lantern and Uncle Anesthesia, Buzz Factory makes up the trilogy of masterpieces in which the Screaming Trees create the perfect combination between garage punk, hard rock and psychedelia. And mark the word create, because this is music of undeniable originality, despite its well known roots. Never in history has a band channeled sounds of such intoxicating and ragged beauty; mesmerizing melodies and stories from other dimensions are buried under layers of fuzzed guitars, intricate fills and, of course, Mark Lanegan's glorious, post-apocalyptic drawl. Don't worry about the sometimes inadequate production. These songs will throw themselves at your throat and never let go, while releasing a subtle, reality altering poison into your unsuspecting mind.

Mark Lanegan is the Lion King of rock. Gary Lee Conner is the lost link between Ed Kuepper and Jimmy Page. Mark Pickerel is the reincarnation of the thunder god. Van Conner has the bottle of superglue. A!nd Buzz Factory is a distorted marvel.

Their later major-label stuff is great, but I like the SST era stuff alot more. It's quite psychedelic, and catchy, and Mark Lanegan's voice is youthfull and beautifull. There are only 2 things that I find lacking on this album. The first, though it's a long way from horrible, I wish the production was a little better, but that's not a big problem at all. The second thing, which is even less important, is that Gary Lee was not terrific at guitar soloing yet at this point in his career, and some of the solos go nowhere. Still, this is one of my favorite albums by the Trees, right after "Even If and Especially When". "Flower Web" is my personal favorite on this album.