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Screamers

In A Better World
2000
Xeroid

Screamers - In A Better World (Cover Artwork)

Review by: BSD
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www.synthpunk.org (link)

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Published on May 21st 2004

The Screamers were one of the most popular and visionary of LA bands, but were inevitably forgotten due to a total lack of recorded output while they were together. That doesn't mean they weren't as important as the Germs or the Weirdos, though.

Whereas most punk bands rallied against rock standards and conventions using standard, conventional rock instrumental setup, the Screamers actually did something that had never been done before. They made noise with 2 synthesizers, a drummer and a howling crazyman for frontman in Tomata du Plenty. Another element that set them apart from the other groups was the rain cloud/sunshine mix of songwriting on behalf of the two leaders, Tomata and Tommy Gear. Tomata wrote the more fun, playful songs in their sets ("Magazine Love", "Vertigo", "I'll Go Steady With Twiggy"), while Tommy created the dark, almost proto-gothic songs ("Eva Braun", "122 Hours of Fear", "Violent World").

That's not to say that these guys were all-gimmick, no rock. Their music created surreal, unsettling landscapes for frontman Tomata to perform on. Think Kraftwerk meets Devo meets the Sex Pistols and you have the closest thing to an easy explination of their sound.

This 2 CD package collects a 4 live sets and a few demos from their first 3 years, making for the closest thing to a complete Screamers collection you're likely find. The liner notes are a collection of arcticles and photos, and mention a follow up to this.

The biggest downset is the live repetes. If you're one for high-quality live sound, you'll be dissapointed, also. I don't mind that, though. They do a really great cover of "Sex Boy", but two versions? A little much. Some songs are even repeated 4 times.

I can see the point in trying to get a complete set in, but it gets a bit grating. To see the better side of things, though, Tomata's crowd interaction is rather entertaining. They don't just shoot into song after song like Black Flag, which is alright.

Overall, for educated people into old punk, this is pretty essential, seeing as how popular these guys were around the time the LA scene was forming.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 1:27 PM (EDT)
My Score:

The Screamers "In A Better World" double cd is still available through www.xeroidrecords.com or by contacting me. Also, if you want to order the Screamers disc or any other Xeroid releases for record stores they are distributed by Revolver USA (http://www.midheaven.com/) & Subterranean records (http://www.subterranean.org/). Thanks.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 24, 2004 at 3:08 PM (EDT)
My Score:

1. Synthpunk.org is worth checking out if you're interested in early DIY electronic punk/dance music. It provides band chronologies, discographies, videographies, photos, interviews, and advertising for not just the Screamers, but also The Units, Nervous Gender, and several other mostly forgotten groups.

2. This 2CD set is a bootleg, authorized by several surviving members of the group. My understanding is that Tommy Gear (the principle songwriter) did NOT give permission for this material to be released. Too bad.

3. The majority of the Screamers studio demos (not including those contained in this set) are still widely available on a 12" vinyl bootleg. The sound quality is only marginally better than the live recordings however. If you're interested in hearing this band (and you should be) you're going to have to deal with the noise.

Posted by unconcerned on 2004-05-24 09:11:07
My Score:

Great album, BUT i believe it is out of print now?

I have my hand screened copy still... then it came out in the standard jewel casing... then i am pretty sure there was some sort of legal problems and it got pulled after making like 2,000-3,000 copies (not 100% sure though)

if anyone knows... post it

Posted by CallingLondon on 2004-05-23 15:07:57
My Score:

i'd like to hear this. never heard of them.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 1:45 AM (EDT)
My Score:

where can i get this?

Posted by BSD on 2004-05-22 19:43:42
My Score:

tape trading time!

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-05-22 01:43:54
My Score:

I've seriously been searching for this for about 2 years. I need it.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 at 9:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

this band should be adoredn not ignored. Legendary band and a great record. go get it

Posted by BSD on 2004-05-21 19:22:37
My Score:

I really don't know how to work mp3s at all.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-21 19:10:48
My Score:

mp3s?

Posted by BSD on 2004-05-21 18:13:59
My Score:

"They made noise with 2 synthesizers, a drummer and a howling crazyman for frontman in Tomata du Plenty."

Or something of the sort, I believe...

And an extra "the"

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 21, 2004 at 6:13 PM (EDT)
My Score:

any band whose link is synthpunk.org needs to be heavily ignored.

Posted by BSD on 2004-05-21 18:09:17
My Score:

My worst review yet. I wrote this piece of crap in 10 minutes, so if there's any errors, point them out.

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