Uncle Anesthesia

1991 studio album by Screaming Trees
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)

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]

"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

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

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

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

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

Singles - Billboard (North America)

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

References

  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.
  • v
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Studio albums
Extended playsCompilation albums
  • Anthology: SST Years 1985–1989
  • Nearly Lost You
  • Ocean of Confusion: Songs of Screaming Trees 1990–1996
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