Primal Scream – Sonic Flower Groove (1987)

I went through a right old Primal Scream phase at the start of the 2000s, and I've no idea why. Possibly having hit 40 and wanting to still convince myself I was cool. When I saw them in 2013 I was a bit more halfhearted, but strong drink had been taken, and I was ejected from Liverpool's Echo Arena (in the politest possible way) after climbing over a barrier to get to the main floor rather than going the long way round.

This is their debut album from 1987, and my first thought is that they're setting the template for the Stone Roses to follow a couple of years later. Bobby Gillespie had by now left his side job as Jesus and Mary Chain's drummer to front his own band, showing his 60s influences to be far more Byrdsian than JAMC's combination of Sector like big sound and feedback.

It's the Byrds influence which loses me. I wasn't a fan of the Byrds, I haven't heard anything to make me want to explore further, and I can only tolerate Stone Roses because so many of the songs were strong enough in their own right.

I don't feel the same about this debut collection from Primal Scream. Too many songs sound like generic jangly dirges, and it's only when the band get a bit more upbeat that I take any notice.

Gentle Tuesday is a bright opening, and Treasure Trip is a happy little song. But even the lively Silent Spring sounds like we've already heard it. By Leaves everything feels so predictable. Quite simply, there's a formula and the succession of songs aren't strong enough to keep it interesting.

As a debut, it undoubtedly shows some promise, but there's only so much interest in a Byrds soundalike outfit.

Link to full album

2* - A sound without the strength of songs to back it up