"Bubblegum" by Mark Lanegan Band (2004)
Artist: |
Mark Lanegan Band |
Album: |
Bubblegum |
Released In: |
2004 |
Reviewed By: |
Kyle England |
Grade: |
4.5 |
It seems odd that former Screaming Trees vocalist/current resident of Queens Of The Stone Age Mark Lanegan would choose to call his new solo album the Mark Lanegan Band. Especially when you consider that Mike Johnson, the one person that has been helping him all these years on previous solo releases, is only here for one track. Mark Lanegan Cronies would have been a more accurate title, since the makeup of this so called 'band' seems to be a revolving door of everyone Lanegan has come into contact with since Queens and Desert Sessions respectively. The only worry I ever had about Bubblegum was actually back in November when Lanegan released the Here Comes That Weird Chill EP, which strangely enough were all the outtakes from the Bubblegum sessions. It was supposed to be a warm up to fans for the Bubblegum album, but for the most part, like most outtakes do, it left me feeling cold. But it gives me great pleasure to tell you that Bubblegum does not suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen. On the contrary, all these cooks along with Lanegan have created one the tastiest, most hauntingly beautiful releases of the year.
Bubblegum starts off with the creepy organ driven "When Your Number Isn't Up," and when Lanegan sings 'It's hard to swallow, like blood running warm" in his smokiest tone, you can't help but feel that weird chill all over your skin. The next track, "Hit The City," is probably the best song Lanegan has ever created, Screaming Trees or otherwise. The urgent pounding of bass, drums, PJ Harvey's backing vocals, and Lanegan's "dark dissent through the promised land" makes for an experience that will need to be repeated many a time, and impossible to get out of your brain. "Methamphetamine Blues" is the only track from Weird Chill to make an appearance here, and it makes sense as it was the best of the bunch there.
When a sultry female voice utters "Come and get it" Lanegan's retort of "Yes, baby!" makes it impossible for your upper lip not to curl into a half-eaten smile. Chris Goss from Masters of Reality helps Lanegan croon the beautiful line of "There is no morphine, I'm always sleepin'" on the ethereal "One Hundred Days." And Izzy and Duff formerly of Guns N' Roses assist Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo of Queens, and Nick Oliveri, now formerly of Queens, on the heavenly delivered "Strange Religion." But where would this album be if Josh Homme of Queens didn't show up on at least half of this record? Homme, along with Alain Johannes of Eleven show their prowess on over half of this album, lending their sludgy rock genius perfectly to Lanegan's werewolf blues.
The fact that Lanegan has it in himself to draw from what has made him successful in the past, and meld it with musicians of today that worship him, takes him to the next level in his ongoing solo career. Bubblegum in my mind has surpassed Whiskey For The Holy Ghost as the one true essential Mark Lanegan album.
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