*** Primal Scream

XTRMNTR

(Astralwerks)

For all its sonic fearlessness, Primal Scream's sixth album, XTRMNTR, is the UK band's most clear-headed effort yet. Rather than latching on to any one scene, XTRMNTR tries to make new sense of the idea that rock can be modern without being "modern rock." The Chemical Brothers mix of "Swastika Eyes" sets up a kaleidoscopic backdrop of techno sounds and monotone beats for Bobby Gillespie's low-in-the-mix, anti-fascist murmuring. Elsewhere, production by Prodigy's Liam Howlett, Death in Vegas's Tim Holmes, and My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields helps Primal Scream balance organic and electronic as Gillespie rails against apathy ("Kill All Hippies") and then sets off on a psychedelic Hawkwind-style journey with "Accelerator." Hip-hop infiltrates the mix to good effect on "Pills"; "MBV Arkestra" takes a distorted neo-funk route. It seems Primal Scream have finally pulled together a whiteboy-R&B/psychedelic-rock/dance-music package that doesn't leave them looking like pasty-faced rockers with no place of their own to go.

-- Linda Laban