XTRMNTR

{{Infobox album

| name = XTRMNTR

| type = studio

| artist = Primal Scream

| cover = XTRMNTR_album_cover.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2000|01|31|df=yes}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length = 60:24

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| prev_title = Echo Dek

| prev_year = 1997

| next_title = Evil Heat

| next_year = 2002

| misc = {{Singles

| name = XTRMNTR

| type = studio

| single1 = Swastika Eyes

| single1date = 15 November 1999

| single2 = Kill All Hippies

| single2date = 20 March 2000

| single3 = Accelerator

| single3date = 11 September 2000

}}

XTRMNTR (pronounced "Exterminator") is the sixth studio album by Scottish rock band Primal Scream. It was first released on 31 January 2000 in the United Kingdom by Creation Records and on 2 May 2000 in the United States by Astralwerks.{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/xtrmntr-mw0000260651/releases | title=XTRMNTR - Primal Scream | Releases | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }} It peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

In a departure from their earlier, more hedonistic recordings, the band took a more political stance on the album, attacking government, police, and multinational corporations. Its sound is more aggressive and forceful than Primal Scream's previous output, with noisy, harsh, electronic sounds reminiscent of industrial music forming the basis for many of its songs. Although Gary Mounfield (aka Mani) joined the band in 1997 and recorded a selection of tracks on their previous album Vanishing Point (1997), it marked the first time he shared songwriting credits with them, as well as his first full album since his time with The Stone Roses.

Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine was seen as a "semi-permanent member" of the band around the release of the album by performing live, helping producing the album and playing on songs. The album also features contributions from The Chemical Brothers and Bernard Sumner of New Order.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-02 |title=Revisiting Kevin Shields' stint in Primal Scream |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/kevin-shields-member-of-primal-scream/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}}

The album is notable for being the final full-length release on Creation Records, with the track "Accelerator" later lifted to become the final single released on the label.

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| MC = 90/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/xtrmntr/primal-scream |title=Reviews for XTRMNTR by Primal Scream |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=7 March 2016}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/xtrmntr-mw0000260651 |title=XTRMNTR – Primal Scream |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=7 March 2016 |last=Carlson |first=Dean}}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2Score = 4/5{{cite journal |title=Primal Scream: XTRMNTR |journal=Alternative Press |issue=142 |date=May 2000 |page=75}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = B+{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/05/19/xtrmntr |title=XTRMNTR |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=19 May 2000 |access-date=7 March 2016 |last=Weingarten |first=Marc}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |title=The sound and the fury |work=The Guardian |date=21 January 2000 |last=Cox |first=Tom}}

| rev5 = The List

| rev5Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal |url=https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/2000-01-20/44/ |title=Primal Scream: Exterminator (Creation) |journal=The List |issue=378 |date=20 January 2000 |access-date=1 March 2017 |last=Robertson |first=Mark |page=42}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 9/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com:80/reviews/reviews/20000125155944.html |title=Primal Scream – Exterminator |journal=NME |date=25 January 2000 |access-date=7 March 2016 |last=Cameron |first=Keith |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000229143549/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000125155944.html |archive-date=29 February 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.1/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6474-xtrmntr/ |title=Primal Scream: XTRMNTR |work=Pitchfork |date=30 April 2000 |access-date=7 March 2016 |last=DiCrescenzo |first=Brent}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk:80/reviews/server.asp?id=18719 |title=Primal Scream: XTRMNTR |journal=Q |issue=162 |date=March 2000 |access-date=30 August 2018 |last=Maconie |first=Stuart |author-link=Stuart Maconie |page=110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001120181100/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=18719 |archive-date=20 November 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=621 |title=Primal Scream: Xtrmntr |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=840 |date=11 May 2000 |access-date=7 March 2016 |last=Hendrickson |first=Matt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020502160949/http://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=62148&cf=1123 |archive-date=2 May 2002 |url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Primal Scream |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |year=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/654 654] }}

}}

At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 90, based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

NME magazine rated XTRMNTR #2 in its "Top 50 Albums of the Year 2000",NME (30 December 2000, page 77) and later at the NME Carling Awards 2001, it won "Best Album" of the year. Uncut, like NME, named it at #2 on their list of the best albums of 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/uncut.htm#2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209230455/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/uncut.htm#2000|url-status=usurped|archive-date=9 February 2006|title=Rocklist.net ... Uncut Recordings of the Year Lists. ... |publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=28 July 2016}}

Over the years, it has gathered more praise, including appearances on lists of the top albums of the 2000s: NME placed it at #3 of their top 50 albums of decade list{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/the-strokes/48412/|work=NME|author=NME magazine staff|title=The Strokes' 'Is This It' tops NME albums of the decade list|date=17 November 2009 |access-date=22 November 2009}} and Pitchfork placed it at #142 in its Top 200 Albums of the 2000s list.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/|work=Pitchfork|author=Stuart Berman|title=STAFF LISTS: The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 150–101|date=29 September 2009|access-date=30 October 2012|archive-date=2 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002221423/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101|url-status=dead}} Metacritic placed it at #20 of the 40 best reviewed albums released 2000–9.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-music-of-the-decade?page=1|publisher=Metacritic|author=Jason Dietz|title=Ten Years of Metacritic: The Best Music of the Decade|date=15 December 2009|access-date=16 October 2011}} In 2001, Q magazine named it as one of the "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time".{{cite web|url= http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20060115062759/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 15 January 2006|work=Q magazine|author=Q magazine staff|title=Q 50 Heaviest Albums of All Time|date=July 2001|access-date=22 November 2009}} Praising the production, Stylus Magazine included the album on their 2006 list of the "Top Ten Best Sounding Records, 1997–Present",{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-best-sounding-records-1997-present.htm|title=Top Ten Best Sounding Records, 1997–Present – Staff Top 10 – Stylus Magazine|publisher=stylusmagazine.com|access-date=28 July 2016}} and later ranked the album at number 10 on their "Stylus Decade" list of the "Top 100 Albums of the 2000s".{{CN|date=December 2023}}

In October 2011, NME placed "Swastika Eyes" at #45 and "Accelerator" at #114 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/11|title=150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | NME.COM|work=NME|access-date=28 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/4|title=150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | NME.COM|work=NME|access-date=28 July 2016}} In 2014, they ranked "Shoot Speed/Kill Light" at #190 and "Accelerator" at #497 and in their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_songs_2014.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140325220723/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_songs_2014.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=25 March 2014|title=Rocklist.net ... NME The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.. 2014|publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=28 July 2016}}

Referring to the 2013 update, the album ranks at number 160 in NME's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_albums_2013.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131124170335/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_albums_2013.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 November 2013|title=Rocklist.net ... NME: The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time : October 2013|publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=28 July 2016}}

In 2019, the album was ranked 65th on The Guardian{{'}}s 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century list.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century |title=The 100 best albums of the 21st century |work=The Guardian |date=13 September 2019 |access-date=18 September 2019 }}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Primal Scream, except "Kill All Hippies", written with M. Nelson and Discovery Productions Inc.

| title1 = Kill All Hippies

| length1 = 4:57

| title2 = Accelerator

| length2 = 3:41

| title3 = Exterminator

| length3 = 5:49

| title4 = Swastika Eyes

| length4 = 7:05

| note4 = Jagz Kooner mix

| title5 = Pills

| length5 = 4:17

| title6 = Blood Money

| length6 = 7:03

| title7 = Keep Your Dreams

| length7 = 5:24

| title8 = Insect Royalty

| length8 = 3:35

| title9 = MBV Arkestra (If They Move Kill 'Em)

| length9 = 6:41

| title10 = Swastika Eyes

| length10 = 6:33

| note10 = Chemical Brothers mix

| title11 = Shoot Speed/Kill Light

| length11 = 5:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2009 Japanese reissue (Expanded Edition): disc 1 additional track listing

| title12 = 5 Years Ahead of My Time

| note12 = The Third Bardo cover

| length12 = 4:08

| title13 = Swastika Eyes

| note13= Spectre mix

| length13 = 8:10

| title14 = Swastika Eyes

| note14=David Holmes mix

| length14 = 6:01

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2009 Japanese reissue edition: Disc 2

| title1 = Kill All Hippies

| note1=Two Lone Swordsmen #2

| length1 = 5:49

| title2 = Exterminator

| note2=Massive Attack remix

| length2 = 5:10

| title3 = Exterminator

| note3=Jagz Kooner remix

| length3 = 5:38

| title4 = When The Kingdom Comes

| length4 = 4:22

| title5 = Hammond Connection

| length5 = 3:40

}}

Note

Digital versions follow the reissue track listing, cutting off at "5 Years Ahead of My Time". Spotify only includes the Expanded Edition.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Primal Scream

Bobby Gillespie – vocals, guitar, samples
Andrew Innes – guitar
Robert Young – guitar, programming
Martin Duffy – keyboards, programming
Gary 'Mani' Mounfield – bass
Darrin Mooney – drums
Jim Hunt – saxophone
Duncan Mackay – trumpet

Additional musicians

Marco Nelson
Kevin Shields
Bernard Sumner
Phil Mossman
Darren Morris
Zac Danziger
Brendan Lynch
Greg Knowles
Gay-Yee Westerhoff
Keith Tenniswood

Production

Primal Scream – production (1, 2, 3), recording
Brendan Lynch – production (1, 2, 3, 11), co-production (1, 3), recording (2, 3, 11)
Kevin Shields – production (11), mixing (2, 9)
Adrian Maxwell Sherwood – recording (6, 7)
Jagz Kooner – production (4), mixing (4), programming (7)
David Holmes – production (6, 7), co-production (6)
Hugo Nicolson – production (8), co-production (8), mixing (8)
The Chemical Brothers – production (10), mixing (10)
Tim Holmes – production (11)
Dan the Automator – production (5), mixing (5)
Andy Wilkinson – engineering (2, 9)
Jon Weiner – engineering (6)
Alan Branch – recording (6, 7)

Charts

scope="col"\| Chart !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{album chart\|Australia\|17\|artist=Primal Scream\|album=Xtrmntr\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 March 2020}}
{{album chart\|Finland\|27\|artist=Primal Scream\|album=Xtrmntr\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 March 2020}}
{{album chart\|New Zealand\|17\|artist=Primal Scream\|album=Xtrmntr\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 March 2020}}
{{album chart\|Norway\|15\|artist=Primal Scream\|album=Xtrmntr\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 March 2020}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|7\|artist=Primal Scream\|album=Xtrmntr\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 March 2020}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|3\|date=20000206\|rowheader=true\|refname=UKchart\|access-date=4 March 2020}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|title=XTRMNTR|artist=Primal Scream|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|certmonth=11}}

References

External links

{{Discogs master|28150|XTRMNTR}}

Category:2000 albums

Category:Primal Scream albums

Category:Creation Records albums

Category:Industrial rock albums

Category:Albums produced by Dan the Automator

Category:Albums produced by Kevin Shields