Screaming Trees: Mark Lanegan (vocals); Gary Lee Conner (guitar); Van Conner (bass); Mark Pickerel (drums).
Additional personnel: Steve Fisk (keyboards).
Personnel: Mark Lanegan (vocals); Gary Lee Conner (guitar); Steve Fisk (organ); Mark Pickerel (drums).
Recording information: Velvetone, Ellensberg, WA (1985).
Screaming Trees' first release was originally a 1985 cassette-only offering from the nascent K Records. Released on CD in 1989 by SST Records (the Trees' self-released second album, 1986's CLAIRVOYANCE, remains out of print), OTHER WORLDS can't help but sound odd to listeners more familiar with their later work.
These six songs are mid-'80s Paisley Underground-style psych-pop not far removed from the early albums by the Dream Syndicate or Green On Red, or even the first couple of R.E.M. albums. Less heavy than later albums like UNCLE ANESTHESIA and more drone-oriented (especially on the hypnotic closer "Now Your Mind Is Next to Mine"), the material is that of a young band with more ideas and energy than direction, but its endearing try-anything spirit is a pleasant surprise.
