| Screamer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 18, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Length | 38:43 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Third Eye Blind chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Screamer | ||||
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| 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.
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]
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]
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.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Screamer" (featuring Alexis Krauss) |
|
| 2:58 |
| 2. | "The Kids Are Coming (To Take You Down)" |
|
| 2:45 |
| 3. | "Ways" |
|
| 2:53 |
| 4. | "Tropic Scorpio" |
|
| 3:12 |
| 5. | "Walk Like Kings" |
|
| 3:26 |
| 6. | "Turn Me On" |
|
| 4:05 |
| 7. | "Got So High" |
|
| 3:29 |
| 8. | "Who Am I" | Jenkins |
| 2:32 |
| 9. | "Light It Up" |
|
| 3:48 |
| 10. | "2X Tigers" |
|
| 3:49 |
| 11. | "Take a Side" |
|
| 2:53 |
| 12. | "Who Am I" (acoustic) | Jenkins | Jenkins | 2:53 |
| Total length: | 38:43 | |||
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Screamer. [24]
Third Eye Blind
Other musicians
Technical
Design
Third Eye Blind is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1993. After years of lineup changes in the early and mid-1990s, the songwriting duo of Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan signed the band's first major-label recording contract with Elektra Records in 1996. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1997, with the band largely consisting of Jenkins, Cadogan, Arion Salazar, and Brad Hargreaves (drums). Shortly after the release of the band's second album in 1999, Blue, with the same line-up, Cadogan was released from the band under controversial circumstances.
Stephan Douglas Jenkins is an American singer, guitarist, and the frontman of the alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. He began his musical career in 1992 as part of the short-lived rap duo Puck and Natty, alongside Detroit rapper Herman Anthony Chunn. Following the breakup of the duo, Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan formed Third Eye Blind in 1993. The band released their eponymous debut studio album in 1997, which went multi-platinum in the United States. Since then, they have released nine more albums: Blue (1999), Out of the Vein (2003), Ursa Major (2009), Dopamine (2015), We Are Drugs (2016), Thanks for Everything (2018), Screamer (2019), Our Bande Apart (2021), and Unplugged (2022). As part of Third Eye Blind, Jenkins has received one Billboard Music Award and eight California Music Awards.
Third Eye Blind is the debut studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on April 8, 1997, by Elektra Records. The album was collectively written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan, while production was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. Recorded in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S., the album incorporates elements of alternative rock, post-grunge, and power pop. Thematically, the album focuses on topics such as relationships, drug addiction, suicide prevention, and the band's experience of being signed to a major record label. Third Eye Blind was promoted with five singles: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Graduate", "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Jumper".
Blue is the second studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on November 23, 1999. The album's creation was difficult, mainly due to power struggles and arguments between frontman Stephan Jenkins and lead guitarist Kevin Cadogan, leading to a quick but isolated recording experience between members. The album was generally well received by critics, and was certified platinum by the RIAA, but performed below the band's prior album, the multi-platinum Third Eye Blind. While managing to stay together for the creation of the album, shortly after its release, the band fired Cadogan, touring in support of the album with replacement guitarist Tony Fredianelli.
Out of the Vein is the third studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind. Released on May 13, 2003, Out of the Vein is the band's first album with guitarist Tony Fredianelli, who replaced longtime guitarist Kevin Cadogan in 2000. It would also be Third Eye Blind's final album with Elektra Records as well as their final album with bassist Arion Salazar.
Kevin Rene Cadogan is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. A founding member of the band Third Eye Blind, he performed with the band from 1993 to 2000. He co-wrote some of Third Eye Blind's most notable hits, including "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Graduate", ten of the fourteen songs on their debut album Third Eye Blind as well as six of the thirteen tracks on his final collaboration with the band in their second album Blue.
"Semi-Charmed Life" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their 1997 eponymous debut studio album. It was released to modern rock radio as the lead single from the album on February 18, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins is credited as the sole writer of the song, although guitarist Kevin Cadogan has disputed the song's authorship through litigation. The song was produced by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. An alternative rock and power pop song with a rap-influenced singing style, the lyrics of "Semi-Charmed Life" concern a crystal meth addiction and transition periods in one's life.
"Jumper" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). The song was written and produced by frontman Stephan Jenkins, with additional production by Eric Valentine. Elektra Records released it as the fifth and final single from the album on August 4, 1998. An alternative rock and acoustic power pop song, "Jumper"'s lyrics concern an act of suicide, as Jenkins urges for a greater amount of human compassion.
"How's It Going to Be" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the third single from the album on October 20, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as writers of the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Cadogan. According to Jenkins, the song is about the end of a relationship and the transition to acquaintanceship.
"Graduate" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the second single from the album in July 1997 by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as co-writers on the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. According to Jenkins, the song is about the band's experience after being signed to a major record label.
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1993. The group's discography consists of seven studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, three extended plays, 25 singles, three promotional singles, and 31 music videos. The current line-up consists of Stephan Jenkins, Brad Hargreaves, Kryz Reid, Colin CreeV, and Alex LeCavalier. They have amassed worldwide album sales of over 12 million units.
Ursa Major is the fourth studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind. Released on August 18, 2009, on the group's own Mega Collider label, Ursa Major was the group's first studio album in over six years. The first single from the album was "Don't Believe a Word", which debuted on the radio June 5, 2009.
Poliça is an American pop band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 2011. The band consists of Channy Leaneagh, Chris Bierden (bass), Drew Christopherson (drums) and Ben Ivascu (drums), with Ryan Olson joining the band in a studio context as its producer.
Dopamine is the fifth studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on June 16, 2015. It is the band's first studio album since 2009's Ursa Major. Third Eye Blind worked on Dopamine from 2010 to 2015. The album's first single, "Everything Is Easy", was released on May 8, 2015, along with a cover version of the Beyoncé song "Mine". The album debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, selling over 21,000 copies in its first week.
Symphony of Decay is an EP by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. The EP started off under the working title Black as a companion to their platinum selling 1999 album Blue. Its creation was a result of a compromise over the release method of the track "Slow Motion"; the band had wanted it on Blue, while their record label, Elektra Records, opposed its inclusion on such a high-profile full-length album release due to its controversial lyrics. The EP would go through years of delays for a multitude of reasons, including extensive touring, prioritizing the completion of their third studio album Out of the Vein, and complications arising from parting ways with Elektra in 2004. The EP itself was never collectively released, though many of the tracks were eventually released elsewhere.
Ursa Minor is an unreleased studio album by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. Initially conceived as the second part of a double album to their 2009 release Ursa Major, the album was delayed, and eventually shelved, due to legal issues between frontman Stephan Jenkins and then-guitarist of the band Tony Fredianelli. The subsequent re-staffing the band with mostly new members in 2011 and 2012 led Jenkins to shy away from releasing the material, stating that it no longer represented the current band lineup - though comments from as recent as 2015 have alluded to releasing some of the music online eventually as well.
We Are Drugs is a studio EP by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. Preceded by the singles "Cop vs. Phone Girl" and "Company of Strangers", We Are Drugs was released on October 7, 2016.
"Cop vs. Phone Girl" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their second extended play, We Are Drugs (2016). It was released as the lead single from the extended play on July 25, 2016, by MegaForce Records. The song addresses the issues of racism and police brutality, specifically focusing on a 2015 incident at South Carolina's Spring Valley High School.
Thanks for Everything is an EP by Third Eye Blind. It consists of seven cover songs and was released on August 24, 2018.
Our Bande Apart is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. It was released on September 24, 2021.
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