Last Words: The Final Recordings

The ‘90s alternative wave didn’t help everyone who participated. Screaming Trees had been a modestly successful blues-punk-psychedelic group that gained a harder edge after signing to a major label. After a touch of success, Screaming Trees found themselves without a label, and Last Words sat in limbo for 12 years until drummer Barrett Martin finally released it himself. The recordings were made at Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard’s studio, circa ‘98-‘99, and they’re top-notch. Back to their raw beginnings, but with singer Mark Lanegan’s growl ever more authoritative, The Final Recordings stands among the group’s finest releases. “Crawlspace” cuts with precision as a bluesy-punk snarl filtered through effects increases the unease. “Reflections” has a backwoods folk feel as the backing vocals approach the sounds of a séance. “Tomorrow Changes” samples psychedelic pop, while “Anita Grey” has a lighter feel, closer in line with the group’s late-‘80s output. “Ash Gray Sunday,” “Revelator,” and “Last Words” make the case for Screaming Trees as one of the most underrated groups of the ‘90s.