Dirty Hits - Primal Scream > Reviews > DIRTY GENIUS

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	collects their classic singles on one record
Disadvantages:	weak tracks from the latest album

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Firstly this isn't technically a greatist hits set if you are a completist because it ignores the two earliest Primal Scream albums 'Sonic Flower Groove' and 'Primal Scream'. Instead it focuses on tracks from 'Screamdelica', 'Give out but don't give in'. 'Vanishing Point' . 'XTRMNTR' and 'Evil Heat'

Primal Scream are fronted by Bobby Gillespie who was previously the drummer for Jesus and the the Mary Chain. Other members have included Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine fame, Mani from the Stone Roses and Stephen Duffy, ex-Felt. Across their career they have embraced dance music and married that to their classic rock sound.

The principle problem with this album is that anyone who owns 'Screamadelica' and 'XTRMNTR' has no real need for this. The latest album 'Evil Heat' was hopelessly bad and lends nothing of interest to the collection, whilst 'Vanishing Point' and 'Give out but don't give in' lend a few great songs but a couple of mediocre ones too.

The four songs from 'Screamadelica' are the best on the album. On that record Primal Scream took their interest in acid house and drug fuelled dance music and created a groundbreaking piece of work, resembling the Rolling Stones being remixed by a House Dj. 'Loaded' is a party classic, groovy and impossibly uplifting. 'Movin on up' is a gospel choir fuelled anthem, full of hope and optimism. 'Come together' is a lengthy yet brilliant track that captures the euphoria of dance music and the anthemic nature of rock music. 'Higher than the sun' is more chilled, a come down record if ever there was one. It's psychedlic rock that could've been made by a 1960's hippie band.

Primal Scream's other great album is 'XTRMNTR'. If 'Screamadelica' was their uplifting ecstacy and acid album then this was their heroin and crack record. Dark and moody as well as viciously political, it seethes hatred and resentment with grinding guitars and skull crushing electronica. 'Kill all hippies' is a mariage of techno and heavy metal that is truly brutal. 'Accelerator' is full of bleeps and electronic samples, but has a solid rock core. 'Shoot speed kill light' is a thumping beast of a dance track, whilst 'Swastika eyes' has Gillespie shouting along to some acerbic electronic noise.

The worst tracks on the album come from 'Evil Heat', the band's latest album. The album was influenced by the growing electro-clash movement and tries to capture the raw anger of 'XTRMNTR'. However, it failed and instead felt lightweight and shallow by comparrison. 'Autobahn 66' is passable dance/rock, but 'Miss Lucifer' sounds half produced, with cliched lyrics.'Some Velvet Morning' is a cover of the Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood song, but this time with Kate Moss on female vocals.It's not bad but it feels kind of pointless alongside songs like 'loaded' or 'kill all hippies'. 'Deep hit of the morning sun' is just really boring, lacking in any sort of innovation.

The songs from the 'Vanishing Point' and 'Give out but don't give in' albums are a more mixed bag. 'Kowalski' is mean and moody with a great repetitive groove. 'Rocks' is dumb but enjoyable shout along rock with an awsome chorus. '(i'm gonna) cry myself blind' is a rare introspective moment from Primal Scream as Bobby Gillespie comes across as a romantic crooner. It shouldn't work but it does. The other three tracks are less successful. 'Jalibird' isn't that bad, but it's forgettable amongst the better tracks from other albums. The same can be said about 'Burning wheel' and 'long life'.

The collection also comes with a remix disc which, although worth a listen, oddly doesn't include many of the best Primal Scream remixed recordings. I have a limited edition copy so the regular edition probably doesn't come with this which is really no great loss

This is a pretty hard one to call really. I'd recommend the album, but then again you can probably pick up 'Screamadelica' and 'XTRMNTR' for about £4 or £5 each and avoid some of the weaker moments on here and instead get two great albums.