Customer Reviews

Dust

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I know of two criminally overlooked albums in the 90s-and then again a busload which were "simply" overlooked.
Those two are the eponymous album by Mad Season and "Dust" by the Screaming Trees.
The thing about the 'Trees is that for years it was anticipated they'd deliver a brilliant album and for years it wasn't happening. A true riddle really, since all the necessary elements were there: an incredible singer, and a truly great band to back him up. Yet, if you listen to their earlier albums the mystery gets solved. Internal band strifes, bad producing, or simply the chemistry not really coming together were the factors responsible for those rather "so and so" early efforts.

Once all the components were just right, the result, in "Dust", was exactly what many people were hoping for:
absolutely stunning.

The thing is that by then, noone was expecting anything much from the Trees and thus this masterpiece went largely unnoticed, when in fact, well, in fact it was one of the very best albums of the whole decade!

But it gets more interesting actually. "Dust", despite what many people think (in their desire to categorise everything) was not just "another grunge album". It probably had as little to do with grunge as Soundgarden did. What it was, was a gorgeous bluesy but unmistakably rock album with a capital "R".
But that alone isn't what makes it so great.
What makes it stand out is that it's one of those albums where the intensity of the music and the singing is so capturing that it's irresistible. "Dust" isnt one of those albums to listen to a few times and put it away for good. It's without a doubt an LP that you will come back to many times for years to come because it leaves a mark on
the listener like few albums do.

Mark Lanegan gives here the performance of his life. The moody and often very melancholic songs are
delivered by Lanegan in such a way, you feel you have a good friend over telling you his sorrows... The band go one better, and dress the whole thing up with some seriously heartwarming rock melodies, of the grandiose kind, songs that qualify easily as rock classics.

Basically, it's futile to try and describe how good "Dust" is. Or maybe there's not enough superlatives i could think of.
If you're looking for truly timeless music, this album will serve you more than well.

I saw some reviews for this cd on amazon.com, they were mostly in praise, so I just decided to buy it used from Wherehouse. How could anyone not shower this with praise. This cd has some of the best songs I have ever heard. PERIOD. "Dying Days" and "Witness" are just incredible. Of course these guys were one of Seattle's originals. And were considered grunge with the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Although none of those bands sound remotely similar....they seem to have been jumbled into an undefinable genre. The Screaming Trees do not share any similarities with these bands either. The best way to describe them would be "phsychadelic folk rock". It sounds kind of strange. But it makes sense when you hear them. The guitar's sing, the drums pound, and lanegan's voice is infectiously melodic and smooth. All of the elements flow together to create some of the most artistic and pleasing tunes ever made. Of course this album didn't sell that much. Why? I don't know. It is definitely intended for mature audiences. Those who can appreciate old sixties and seventies music like Buffalo Sprinfield and others. There are not any bad songs here, there aren't even any mediocre tunes. Everything is above par, and very good. If you don't have this cd...then your cd collection is worthless. GO BUY IT RIGHT NOW.

I've liked "grunge music" for quite a while, and when I eventually heard of the Screaming Trees, I downloaded the song Nearly Lost You. I liked it, but didn't think of it as anything special. After reading so much praise for Dust however, I decided to take a chance when I saw it second hand in a local record shop. I was blown away on the first listen.

Psychedelia and folk are genres I've never been drawn to, but the Screaming Trees have created such a unique, touching, folk/metal/psychedelia/grunge/genres-I-can't-quite-pinpoint hybrid it's impossible to resist.
Mark Lanegan shines: a husky, gorgeous voice that perfectly compliments the music, with moving and beautiful lyrics that match the quality of those of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
From the first frantic burst of Halo of Ashes to the final fading melancholy of Gospel Plow, every song is a winner.

I wouldn't class this as a grunge album, but I think it will appeal to open-minded fans of the genre. Criminally ignored and among my top five favourites, I consider Dust to be the most versatile (and perhaps one of the best) rock albums ever.

Back in the "grunge" days I was somewhat of a screaming trees fan. I bought DUST in '96 when it came out and loved it. Then my car got broken into and the CD vanished. 4 Years later, I remembered DUST and snagged myself another copy. Upon playing it for the first time in years I was ablsolutely taken all over again. This album is such a mastierpiece of music it's almost unreal. It's like a dream. It makes me want to start a rock n' roll band. Halo of Ashes is the perfect starter. All I know feels like an old friend to me. Sworn and Broken is likely my favorite song and every time I hear that incredible harpsicord solo it sends shivers up my spine. The Screaming Trees were a band torn apart by constant inter-band turmoil. The making of this album was perhaps the pinacle of that turmoil. However, dispite all the problems the band had and whether they knew it or not, they produced what I consider one of the best rock albums ever made. YOU MUST OWN THIS ALBUM!

I love grunge (AIC, Soundgarden, Nirvana, etc), but had never owned a Screaming Trees CD. They have a unique version of grunge. The vocals are not as raw as the other Seattle bands; they come off more calmly expressive. The music is great and Lanigan's voc's give them an origional groove. Check out the song samples.

When I listen to "Dust" nowadays it really makes me question why the Screaming Trees never received the recognition of their contemporaries. While Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam surged into the limelight with passionate grit and angst, The Trees forged their own loyal allegiance through low-key yet equally admirable releases. "Dust" was the last of these releases, and proved to be a glorious swansong and the band's best.

For those unaware of the band's style and sound, I would urge you to try and separate them from their grunge era tag. Do not expect raging distorted guitars and aggressive vocals. Instead Screaming Trees fuse soaring melodies and harmonies, infectious chorus hooks and 60s psychedelic rock into their sound. The result is intriguing and unique, and is given further prowess and individuality by front man Mark Lanegan. Lanegan's wonderful gravely and brooding tone is sumptuous throughout, elevating the band's music.

What makes "Dust" such a special album for me is its consistency. The band was always able to write excellent songs, but always seemed to struggle to recreate this consistently throughout an album. "Sweet Oblivion" touched on the consistency needed, but still contained the odd lacking track that I would always skip. With "Dust" I can simply press play, sit back and enjoy its entirety. There are still standout tracks however, such as the stunning "All I Know" which has the most glorious of chorus harmonies. "Make My Mind" is one of the band's classic songs; showcases great pop sensibility in the main hook. "Dying Days" is perhaps the band's most well crafted song, shifting between subtle slow-burning verses and uplifting choruses. More psychedelic tinges are introduced with the swirling ballad "Traveler" and the intense closer "Gospel Plow".

For fans of the band's earlier releases "Dust" is a must have. It contains their best and most consistent writing, and remains one of my favorite albums from the Seattle era.

Firstly, when i bought this record and listened to it for the first time it was not what i expected. The only song i had heard from the album was the kindof "happy" sounding "All I Know" this track is great, it love it and i kindof expected the rest of the album to be like it too. However it wasn't. There is a feeling of loneliness that comes across in the Trees' music, perhaps reflecting the places they grew up or their "misfit" image in society that only kids like the Trees can show.

However, although it was nothing like anything I had ever heard before, i was attracted to it. It's not depressing, it's not happy, its something in between that i can't exactly put my finger on, it just gives you a good feeling in some way and i think thats what makes it so good. I dont think it "classable" its not any genre, its all by itself, and it definately appeals. This was my first trees' record that i wanted so bad i bought in HMV of all places (ripoffshop)!

I have no idea what most of the songs are about, theyre good though. My favourite has to be "All I Know" theres something friendly about it in a way. "halo of ashes" is a great beginning song, again its hard to describe, its very Trees'. I like all of this album, but i couldn't tell you why, theyre one of those bands that just have that something that appeals, its very special and they certainly didnt lose it for Sweet Oblivion. and it was there before Dust aswell.

If you are/have been into alice in chains, pearl jam or beat happening, nirvana and grunge stuff, i reckon youll like it, its a great record to have. Mark Lanegan really did shine on this one.

I bought this CD used for $3 knowing what a great song "Nearly Lost You" was and figuring their later stuff might be as good. Little did I know that I had stumbled onto one of the best CDs I have heard in years! How were these guys not huge? Buy it and love it!

Virtually everyone who's written a review has said the same thing, so no point going off on one about how good this album is.
Its probably my favourite record ever, one that I have listened to regularly since I bought it all those years ago, it just doesn't date or become dull.
Basically, if you haven't figured it out yet, this is an absolute masterpiece of epic proportions, melodic, heavy, beautiful, the sound of rock and roll in heaven.

No words are appropriate enough, when you want to describe "Dust", the final masterpiece by the Seattle-based band, Screaming Trees. It's a real highlight of all-time psychedeia, a collection of wonderful songs like The Beatles' "Revolver", or like Led Zeppelin's fourth album. The Trees were always a totally "old-fashioned" (I use this phrase now as one of the greatest compliments)band who played spaced-out garage-psychedelia from the early years on, which had really nothing in common with the disillusioned whining of the ragged Grunge anti-heroes. The record starts with the "thunderful" "Halo Of Ashes", a powerful sitar-rocker which makes you feel like the lover of the sexiest tantrika. Then comes "All I Know", a pure rock-anthem-Do I have to say anything else? "Look At You" flies you to the secret forest of love,while "Dying Days" brings you colourful dreams about the "ghost town" of your soul. "Make My Mind" is a fantastic dance-rock song like Shocking Blue's "Venus", spiced with enough eroticism to make you jump onto your girlfriend immediatelly. "Sworn And Broken" is the song of harmonic union (despite its melancholic title), but as soon as it ends you take the motley hippi-train of rock 'n' roll with "Witness". "Traveler" is the highlight of highlights: a psychedelic ballad with the most beautiful mellotron-playing I've ever heared, spiced with one of Lanegan's strongest vocal performances. It's a sheer orgy of melodies, undoubtedly the "Stairway To Heaven" of the Trees. "Dime Western" is the march of space-cowboys, which kicks off with an amazing version of Jesus Christ Superstar's starting-riff. The journey ends with "Gospel Plow" and you're finally one with the universe. I know that I wrote almost nothing about the music itself, but I believe that if you love the afore-mentioned moods, there's nothing better than "Dust" in the whole Galaxy. Have a nice trip!