Artist – Album: Mark Lanegan – Whiskey for the Holy Ghost
Released: 18th January 1994
Sounds Like: Spirit soaked night-time songs
Mark Lanegan is an artist I’ve been meaning to investigate
for years. From his earlier, rocky works with his band Screaming Trees to his
bit part role with Queens of the Stone Age at the peak of their powers, to his
more recent, apparently exceptional collaborations with Belle & Sebastian
singer Isobel Campbell, his is a name that often crops up and is always
followed by acclaim.
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost is his second solo offering, and
it’s amongst his most highly rated work. It’s not hard to see why. Although
released when the scene was at it’s most popular (soon to end with the death of
Lanegan’s close friend Kurt Cobain), it is not your straightforward grunge album.
Rather, it’s a late night collection of acoustic tales of heartbreak and
drinking, admittedly with some grungy tendencies.
His deep drawl evokes Tom Waits and the style of the album reminds
me of American Music Club or Grant Lee Buffalo, similarly early 90’s bands that
both fit in the era and managed to retain their uniqueness. The opener ‘The River Rise’ begins with a creepy solo whistle, which eventually gives way to arpeggio guitars and a
majestic croon which sets the tone for the remainder of the album. Other go-check-them-on-Youtube
tunes include ‘El Sol’, ‘Shooting Gallery’
and ‘Pendulum’.
It’s taken a while but I’ve finally got round to listening
to Mark Lanegan. And, to be perfectly honest, it took a few listens to realise
that this was an album I really liked. But it was worth the wait.
Albumaday... rating:
7/10
1. The
River Rise – 4:29
2. Borracho
– 5:40
3. House
a Home – 3:07
4. Kingdoms
of Rain -3:24
5. Carnival
– 3:40
6. Riding
the Nightingale – 6:17
7. El
Sol – 3:42
8. Dead
on You – 3:11
9. Shooting
Gallery – 3:32
10. Sunrise
– 2:55
11. Pendulum
– 2:12
12. Judas
Touch – 1:37
13. Beggar’s
Blues – 5:36
Listen to ‘The River
Rise ’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lmLMf-l9Kg
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