WOO!!! I've always had my problems with Bobby Gillespie. His voice. Surely the weakest lead instrument ever to front a major rock band. His general air of innate superiority to all that surrounds him. The way his group often come on like a pub rock Rolling Stones. Still, many of their records stand up, mainly due to his and his bandmates' innate great taste and ability to pick and mix. He's introduced me to more great songs than any other pop star. And Screamadelica of course is their great statement. The last song is a great closer. Pure Suicide. For me they're always more interesting when they move away from the Stones and the MC5 as their main templates. Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Dion, Dub Reggae and Suicide are more original touchstones whichever way you look at it. Bobby's reeds threaten to derail this but somehow it prevails. Takes me back to 1991 and seeing them do this album at UEA with my com padre Andy. Listening to the record now and some of those refried Keef licks still make me cringe. But there you are. I'll stand by the album closer and much else on the record.
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