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Screamer
by
Screamer Image
Metascore
49

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth full-length release for the alternative rock band features contributions from Billy Corgan (as "musical consigliere"), Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells, Ryan Olson of Marijuana Deathsquad, and Poliça.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. Exclaim
    Oct 16, 2019
    80
    By opening up their sonic palette, Third Eye Blind has highlighted their sheer strength as a songwriting unit and demonstrated that any path they take, they'll throw themselves into fully and unreservedly. Sounding both fresh and classic, Screamer is a great place for new fans to jump on, or for previously jaded listeners to give one of rock's most underrated groups a fresh shot.
  2. Pitchfork
    Oct 18, 2019
    69
    The album’s open-door policy helps keep things fresh, and the band sounds more comfortable in their skin than they have since the ’90s. ... Jenkins’ swaggering vocals remain an acquired taste.
  3. AllMusic
    Oct 16, 2019
    50
    The music sometimes coheres on an individual track level, but Screamer pushes buttons too hard. All of its strident hooks and big beat confrontation wind up being exhausting: it sounds like a band screaming at you to pay attention for the better part of a half hour.
  4. Classic Rock Magazine
    Oct 16, 2019
    40
    The Kids Are coming (To Take You Down) is the one highlight of the album, a thundering radio anthem redolent of Cheap Trick. Its carefree joy is notably absent pretty much everywhere else. [Nov 2019, p.81]
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  5. Kerrang!
    Oct 16, 2019
    20
    Woeful radio-rock mess. ... On-point production work prevents Screamer from being an unmitigated disaster, but songwise it's as deep as a puddle. [19 Oct 2019, p.55]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. JuanCarlos_
    Oct 22, 2019
    6
    I've been a huge fan of 3EB since 97. Was listening to them non stop as a kid in high school. First album is within my all-time Top 10. LikedI've been a huge fan of 3EB since 97. Was listening to them non stop as a kid in high school. First album is within my all-time Top 10. Liked Blue. OOTV was not great, but then Ursa Major started to get me excited again; and Dopamine literally blew my mind again. Sorry but being very candid Screamers should have been released as a 5-song EP (they have many good of those). While I understand their "being more relaxed-plan less-bring in more people" experiment/ approach, the album lacks depth, textures and real emotions; and lyrically is just not good. Songs as The Kids Are Coming, Walk Like Kings and even Tropic Scorpio or Screamer are not bad, but the rest are not good enough for an album. I miss what they achieved with Dopamine, 18 years after one of the best debut albums ever.… Expand