Screamer (album)

2019 studio album by Third Eye Blind

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
| Thanks for Everything
(2018)  | Screamer
(2019)  | Our Bande Apart
(2021)

|
|

Singles from  Screamer

1. "Screamer"
Released: July 25, 2019
2. "Walk Like Kings"
Released: September 13, 2019
3. "The Kids Are Coming (To Take You Down)"
Released: October 4, 2019

Professional ratingsAggregate 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.
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 July 27, 2019.
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 (July 25, 2019). "Billy Corgan is the "musical consigliere" of Third Eye Blind's new album". News.
17. ^ "Interview with Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins". October 12, 2019.
18. ^ "Third Eye Blind announce new album Screamer, share title track feat. Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss: Stream". July 25, 2019.
19. ^ a b c "Third Eye Blind's new music won't have any 'smoothed-out edges' | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com. July 18, 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'".
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)

* 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

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[co.]: co-producer
*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template