Screamer (album)

Screamer
Screamer
Studio album by Third Eye Blind
Released	October 18, 2019
Recorded	2019
Length	38:43
Label	Mega Collider; Megaforce;
Producer	Stephan Jenkins; Colin CreeV; Ryan Olson; Chad Copelin; Jackson Morgan (co.); Fraser McCulloch (co.); Brian Fennell; (co.); P. Cruz (co.);
Third Eye Blind chronology
Singles from Screamer
	"Screamer"; Released: July 25, 2019; "Walk Like Kings"; Released: September 13, 2019; "The Kids Are Coming (To Take You Down)"; Released: October 4, 2019;

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	49/100^[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Exclaim!	8/10^[3]
Pitchfork	6.9/10^[4]
Vinyl Chapters	^[5]

Screamer is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. It was released on October 18, 2019 by Mega Collider Records.

Background

Frontman Stephan Jenkins had made many different comments about the prospect of the band recording a sixth studio album prior to the release of Screamer. As far back as 2012, Jenkins stated that the band would not ever make a sixth studio album, stating that after the release of their fifth studio album, 2015's Dopamine, they would cease recording full albums in favor of touring and recording smaller EP releases.^[6] In the coming years, the band would focus on EP releases, including We Are Drugs in 2016, a cancelled EP entitled Summer Gods that was supposed to explore trap music in 2017, and an EP of cover songs, Thanks for Everything, in 2018.^[7]^[8] Jenkins' stance on recording an album wavered at times in this era, sometimes referring to Summer Gods as an album^[9]^[10] and explaining that the recording of Thanks for Everything was to find inspiration for recording a future studio album.^[11]

As late as November 2018, Jenkins was still referring to the release as an EP,^[12] though by May 2019, Jenkins announced it had grown from an EP to a full 10-song studio album.^[13] In July 2019, Jenkins announced that it had expanded into an 11-song album titled Screamer, scheduled for release on October 18, 2019.^[14]

Writing and recording

Jenkins noted that the album features far more outside collaborations than prior Third Eye Blind albums, with the band adopting an "open door policy" for various artists to contribute ideas to songs.^[15] Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins was described as the album's "musical consigliere" (advisor).^[16] Jenkins began communicating with Corgan in 2017 after hearing him say on MTV that Third Eye Blind was one of his favorite bands. Jenkins played some song ideas to Corgan, who helped shape some songs. Corgan co-wrote the track "Light It Up" and helped Jenkins with the track "Who Am I".^[17]

The album's title track features Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells, "Who Am I" contains a contribution from Ryan Olson of Marijuana Deathsquads, and "Got So High" features a contribution from Poliça.^[18] Jenkins stated the album's sound deviated from the sound of prior albums as well, aiming for a rougher, less polished sound and emphasizing a mantra of "Keep the edge, keep it weird".^[19] Thematically, the album explores the idea of personal revelation and passion in the face of an oncoming dystopia, being inspired by social and political activism of recent years.^[19]

Release and promotion

The album was initially planned to be released prior to the band's North American tour with Jimmy Eat World in June 2019, but the album was stuck at only 90% complete at the time and was held back.^[19] While the band was unable to promote the album itself on the tour, they still teased the album's upcoming release at live shows and debuted new songs live at various shows, including "Screamer", "The Kids Are Coming", and "Ways".^[20] The studio recording of "Screamer" was released on July 25, 2019, the same day as the album's name and release date announcement.^[21] The album was one of ten grouped together in the "Ten Albums, One Cause" breast cancer awareness campaign, which involved it receiving a special pink vinyl release.^[22]

A music video for "Ways" was released on April 22, 2020,^[23] featuring skater and transgender icon Cher Strauberry.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Screamer" (featuring Alexis Krauss)	Stephan Jenkins Colin CreeV	Jenkins CreeV	2:58
2.	"The Kids Are Coming (To Take You Down)"	Jenkins Alex Kopp Kryz Reid	Jenkins CreeV	2:45
3.	"Ways"	Jenkins Jackson Morgan	Jenkins Morgan (co.) CreeV (co.) Fraser McCulloch (co.)	2:53
4.	"Tropic Scorpio"	Jenkins Kopp CreeV	Jenkins CreeV	3:12
5.	"Walk Like Kings"	Jenkins CreeV	Jenkins CreeV	3:26
6.	"Turn Me On"	Jenkins CreeV	Jenkins CreeV	4:05
7.	"Got So High"	Ari Ingber Jenkins	Jenkins Ryan Olson	3:29
8.	"Who Am I"	Jenkins	Jenkins Chad Copelin Olson (co.)	2:32
9.	"Light It Up"	Jenkins CreeV Billy Corgan	Jenkins CreeV	3:48
10.	"2X Tigers"	Jenkins Brian Fennell	Jenkins Fennel (co.) P. Cruz (co.)	3:49
11.	"Take a Side"	Jenkins CreeV	Jenkins CreeV	2:53
12.	"Who Am I" (acoustic)	Jenkins	Jenkins	2:53
Total length:				38:43

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Screamer.^[24]

Third Eye Blind

Stephan Jenkins – vocals
Brad Hargreaves – drums
Kryz Reid – guitar, backing vocals
Alex LeCavalier – bass, backing vocals
Colin CreeV – keys, guitar, backing vocals

Other musicians

Charith Premawardhana – viola
Kris Donegan – guitars
Alex Kopp – keys
Chad Copelin – keys guitar
Ryan Olson – keys, beats

Technical

Mitch Allan – vocal production, mixing (12)
Charles Godfrey – engineering
Chris Gehringer – mastering
Chad Copelin – additional engineering
Bryce Goggin – additional engineering
Ari Rios – additional engineering
Sean Beresford – additional engineering
Ryan Olson – arrangement
Curtis Peoples – vocal arrangement
Billy Corgan – song arrangement
Eric Valentine – mixing (1)
Neal Avron – mixing (2, 3)
Tom Lord-Alge – mixing (4-6, 9, 11)
Jeff Juliano – mixing (7, 8)
Hector "The Wrks" Merejo – mixing (10)
Kryz Reid – arrangement (12)

Design

Daniel Nolan – front and back cover photo/design, additional photos
Douglas Heusser – album layout
Ryan Olson – Screamer concept
Stephan Jenkins – Screamer concept
Stephen Albanese – additional photos
Michael Wilson – additional photos

References

^ "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^ Gray, Scott (October 16, 2019). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^ Rytlewski, Evan (October 18, 2019). "Third Eye Blind: Screamer Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
^ Parmenter, Jamie (October 24, 2019). "Third Eye Blind: Screamer - review". Vinyl Chapters. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
^ Stewart, Allison. "Third Eye Blind sees end of the album road". chicagotribune.com.
^ "Third Eye Blind Details Upcoming 'Summer Gods' Project, With Tracks That 'Sound Like Atlanta Trap Music'". Billboard.
^ "Know Your Edge Artist: Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, and Ra Ra Riot". WEDG-FM. June 19, 2019.
^ Blanco, Xiomara. "Third Eye Blind celebrates eponymous debut album 20 years later". CNET.
^ "Two Semi-Charmed Hours With Stephan Jenkins - March 29, 2017". SF Weekly. March 29, 2017.
^ "Third Eye Blind Covers Bon Iver, Santigold & More on 'Thanks for Everything' EP: Stream It Now". Billboard.
^ Baltin, Steve. "Third Eye Blind Frontman Stephan Jenkins On His Dream Supergroup, New Album And More". Forbes.
^ "Interview". californiarocker.com. May 2, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
^ "Third Eye Blind Announce New Album 'Screamer,' Release Title Track". July 25, 2019.
^ "Third Eye Blind announces new album, "Screamer"; listen to title track now - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com.
^ Colburn, Randall (25 July 2019). "Billy Corgan is the "musical consigliere" of Third Eye Blind's new album". News.
^ "Interview with Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins". 12 October 2019.
^ "Third Eye Blind announce new album Screamer, share title track feat. Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss: Stream". July 25, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Third Eye Blind's new music won't have any 'smoothed-out edges' | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. 18 July 2019.
^ Sculley, Alan. "New album by Third Eye Blind featured in summer tour". The Bakersfield Californian.
^ "Third Eye Blind Enlist Billy Corgan, Sleigh Bells, Poliça for New Album 'Screamer'". exclaim.ca.
^ Shaffer, Claire (July 25, 2019). "John Prine, Third Eye Blind, Spiritualized Join 'Ten Bands One Cause' Vinyl Campaign". Rolling Stone.
^ Cerio, Michael (April 22, 2020). "Watch Third Eye Blind Answer Fan Questions and Debut the Video for 'Ways'".
^ Screamer (liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Mega Collider Records. 2019. MC08.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[1] "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved July 11, 2020.

[2] Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2020.

[3] Gray, Scott (October 16, 2019). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 11, 2020.

[4] Rytlewski, Evan (October 18, 2019). "Third Eye Blind: Screamer Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

[Vinyl_Chapters-5] Parmenter, Jamie (October 24, 2019). "Third Eye Blind: Screamer - review". Vinyl Chapters. Retrieved October 24, 2019.

[6] Stewart, Allison. "Third Eye Blind sees end of the album road". chicagotribune.com.

[7] "Third Eye Blind Details Upcoming 'Summer Gods' Project, With Tracks That 'Sound Like Atlanta Trap Music'". Billboard.

[8] "Know Your Edge Artist: Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, and Ra Ra Riot". WEDG-FM. June 19, 2019.

[9] Blanco, Xiomara. "Third Eye Blind celebrates eponymous debut album 20 years later". CNET.

[10] "Two Semi-Charmed Hours With Stephan Jenkins - March 29, 2017". SF Weekly. March 29, 2017.

[11] "Third Eye Blind Covers Bon Iver, Santigold & More on 'Thanks for Everything' EP: Stream It Now". Billboard.

[12] Baltin, Steve. "Third Eye Blind Frontman Stephan Jenkins On His Dream Supergroup, New Album And More". Forbes.

[13] "Interview". californiarocker.com. May 2, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-27.

[14] "Third Eye Blind Announce New Album 'Screamer,' Release Title Track". July 25, 2019.

[15] "Third Eye Blind announces new album, "Screamer"; listen to title track now - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com.

[16] Colburn, Randall (25 July 2019). "Billy Corgan is the "musical consigliere" of Third Eye Blind's new album". News.

[17] "Interview with Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins". 12 October 2019.

[18] "Third Eye Blind announce new album Screamer, share title track feat. Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss: Stream". July 25, 2019.

[triblive-19] "Third Eye Blind's new music won't have any 'smoothed-out edges' | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. 18 July 2019.

[20] Sculley, Alan. "New album by Third Eye Blind featured in summer tour". The Bakersfield Californian.

[21] "Third Eye Blind Enlist Billy Corgan, Sleigh Bells, Poliça for New Album 'Screamer'". exclaim.ca.

[22] Shaffer, Claire (July 25, 2019). "John Prine, Third Eye Blind, Spiritualized Join 'Ten Bands One Cause' Vinyl Campaign". Rolling Stone.

[23] Cerio, Michael (April 22, 2020). "Watch Third Eye Blind Answer Fan Questions and Debut the Video for 'Ways'".

[liner-24] Screamer (liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Mega Collider Records. 2019. MC08.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

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v t e Third Eye Blind
Stephan Jenkins Brad Hargreaves Kryz Reid Alex Kopp Alex LeCavalier Kevin Cadogan
Studio albums	Third Eye Blind Blue Out of the Vein Ursa Major Dopamine Screamer Our Bande Apart
Extended plays	Red Star We Are Drugs Thanks for Everything
Compilation albums	A Collection
Singles	"Semi-Charmed Life" "Graduate" "How's It Going to Be" "Losing a Whole Year" "Jumper" "Anything" "Never Let You Go" "10 Days Late" "Deep Inside of You" "Blinded" "Cop vs. Phone Girl"
Related	Discography Symphony of Decay Ursa Minor