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Oct 13, 2011 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish

Screaming Trees broke up in 2000, after achieving modest success in the Seattle alternative rock scene, mostly on the heels of 1992’s “Nearly Lost You,” which was also featured on the massive scene-showcasing Singles soundtrack of the same year. The band’s 1996’s album, Dust, was ultimately its last official album to be released before Screaming Trees broke up in 2000. But the band actually took to the studio to record one last batch of songs in the winter of 1998 and summer of 1999, and those songs are finally available here, courtesy of drummer Barrett Martin and producer Jack Endino, who found and revitalized the long forgotten tapes.

Last Words starts fantastically with “Ash Gray Sunday,” a song that stands up to any of Screaming Trees’ best. Mark Lanegan’s signature vocals effortlessly coax emotion from a stellar melody overtop brothers’ Gary Lee and Van Conner’s guitar and bass, and Martin’s driving drums. Lanegan’s vocals sound hazy and altered on the darkly psychedelic “Crawlspace,” which also features rhythm guitar by Josh Homme, who was the band’s touring guitarist at the time. “Reflections” is all laid back cool, with R.E.M.‘s Peter Buck on acoustic guitar. And “Tomorrow Changes” is simply a pop tune dressed up in “grunge” clothing.

Supposedly, the release of Last Words in no way foreshadows a reunion of any sort. Regardless, at least for one album, it’s good to have Screaming Trees back again. (www.barrettmartin.com)

Author rating: 7/10