Clairvoyance is the 1986 debut studio album by the alternative rock band Screaming Trees, produced by Steve Fisk. Released on Velvetone Records, the album helped the band earn a contract with SST Records. While it is very much a combination of psychedelic and garage rock, it bears many similarities to early grunge. It was original limited to a pressing of 2,500 copies, which included full size, double sided inserts. In January 2005, it was re-issued on CD by Hall of Records.

Clairvoyance
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 13, 1986
RecordedWinter 1985
StudioVelvetone Studio, Ellensburg, WA
Genre
Length37:42
LabelVelvetone, Hall of Records
ProducerSteve Fisk, Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees chronology
Other Worlds
(1986)
Clairvoyance
(1986)
Even If and Especially When
(1987)

Steve Fisk stated that after completing the record he attempted to book a tour for the band and sent their album to local radio stations with little to no traction, stating that "no one wanted to hear about a band from Eastern Washington".[3]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide5/10[4]

Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil listed Clairvoyance as one of his favourite grunge albums, stating: "I like Clairvoyance for the song “Clairvoyance,” but my favorite song on there is probably “I See Stars” followed by “Orange Airplane.” After this album, they kind of fattened up their sound."[5]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Screaming Trees

No.TitleLength
1."Orange Airplane"3:02
2."You Tell Me All These Things"2:12
3."Standing on the Edge"5:39
4."Forever"4:22
5."Seeing and Believing"3:35
6."I See Stars"4:32
7."Lonely Girl"3:06
8."Strange Out Here"4:27
9."The Turning"2:44
10."Clairvoyance"4:03

Personnel

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Screaming Trees
Additional musicians
  • Joey Conner – backing vocals on "Orange Airplane"
  • Joanne Conner – backing vocals on "Clairvoyance"
  • Steve Fisk – producer, piano on "Lonely Girl" and "Clairvoyance," organ on "The Turning"
  • Michael Peterson – backing vocals on "Lonely Girl"
Additional personnel
  • Sam Albright – cover design
  • John Golden – mastering

References

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  1. ^ a b Beaumont, Mark (February 23, 2022). "Mark Lanegan, 1964 – 2022: a foundation stone in modern alternative rock". NME. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Fennessy, Kathleen C. "Clairvoyance - Screaming Trees | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Yarm, Mark (March 2012). Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge. ISBN 978-0-30746-444-6.
  4. ^ Azzerad, Michael (1995). "Screaming Trees". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 343–344. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  5. ^ Grow, Kory (April 2, 2019). "Soundgarden's Kim Thayil: My Favorite Grunge Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 25, 2019.