So I was catching up on what Greg Dulli's been up to, (his recent Twilight Singers effort "Powder Burns" is just great). Well Lanegan as many of you probably know appears quite a bit with Greg and in fact offers a nice contribution with his low gravelly voice providing a nice contrast to Dulli's vocals. As an old Screaming Trees loyalist, it was a natural jump to take a gander at Lanegan's solo projects.

I listened to Bubblegum plenty of times, and while the good contributions he makes to the work of others are present in Bubblegum, there are gaping holes as well, namely the songwriting. The lyrics are fine, the production is fine, but the music is boring, weak, and completely forgettable. Thankfully forgettable. I couldn't find a single track to move me. Unless you can't live without his voice, I'd recommend living without this album.

Music: 5/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 18 of 25: B-

Mark's vocals can be described as whiskey soaked with a healthy dose of cigarettes and low enough to rattle the floor. He has a truly amazing voice that really is totally unique. So it comes as no surprise that the vocals on Bubblegum are fantastic. Coupled with several duets, including two with PJ Harvey. In fact, those two are excellent songs.

Most of the album focuses on Mark's vocals and leaves the band in the background. One exception is the song "Strange Religion" which features Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan from Guns and Roses fame. But for the rest, the band is secondary which hurts the overall experience. Much of the music is fodder and pap. He even has some fuzzy guitar in a tunnel overtop a drum machine. Ug. Mark can certainly get a better canvas for his voice. The exceptions are the slow and somber duets which Lanegan croons over.

Give Mark a real band and he would be king of the world. Maybe in this new world where the labels aren't as important, perhaps the Screaming Trees can rise again to their former glory. But for now, if you're a Lanegan fan, pick up Bubblegum. There are certainly a handful of great songs. But if you've never heard of him, pass by this album. It's just not good enough.

Mark Lanegan's sixth solo album, Bubblegum is definitely the most varied work of his entire career.
The record starts off with the sparse, very Tom Waits-ish "When Your Number Isn't Up", and already you can tell this is a different kind of Lanegan record. Next up is "Hit the City", one of two songs on the album that feature the vocal contributions of the immensely talented PJ Harvey. The song is a relaxed, kind of droning rock duet. It's nice, and plays well off the first track.
"Wedding Dress" is a lovely track featuring Lanegan's ex-wife Wendy Rae Fowler. It features some odd instrumentation and some beautiful lyrics ("would you put on that long white dress, and burn like there's no more tomorrows?") It fades out to a short but rocking guitar solo courtesy of Josh Homme-- just one of many friends and colleagues Lanegan enlisted to play on the record. "Methamphetamine Blues" is an interesting rocker with an industrial groove. This is also reminiscent of Tom Waits material. If you really listen, almost every player on the record appears here--for sure an album highlight.
Things slow down for the next three songs. "100 Days" is an acoustic track with Mark backed by Chris Goss (Masters of Reality). "Bombed" is short little duet with Fowler that packs a lot of potent imagery into just over a minute. "Strange Religion" Keeps the mellow vibe going, and is one of the album's best ballads.
Suddenly we find ourselves back in rock territory with the retro tinged "Sideways in Reverse". This is just a really fun song complete with a guest vocal by Izzy Stradlin! It helps to get you back on your feet after three really downer songs. Next is the second PJ track, which is an acoustic and string number, with a really classic feel to it. PJ and Mark trade verses until the lovely choruses. A brilliant song with two of the best voices in the music world.
"Like Little Willie John" is one of the weirdest songs here, again, with a strong Tom Waits influence. The vocals and the mood and atmosphere on this song are just so good. "Can't Come Down" is perhaps the only somewhat forgettable track here. It almost sounds like a Tricky type song, and it does not have a Lanegan vocal. 'Morning Glory Wine" is another great, haunting ballad. Lanegan sounds really world weary and down here. "Head" is the next track, and it is possibly the album's catchiest song. It has a good keyboard and guitar beat that drives it along.
The overdriven guitar of Alan Johannes takes center stage on the next track,"Driving Death Valley Blues". This is perhaps the most out and out rock song on the album, with the exception of "Sideways". Electric drums combined with the alternating crunching, squealing guitar create quite the soundscape.
The final track is the understated acoustic number "Out of Nowhere". The vocals are excellent here, and this track serves to bring a good end to the album.
Overall, Lanegan has managed to create with Bubblegum a thrilling piece of music that is impossible to pigeonhole in one genre. It is always unexpected, and shows off the writing and vocal talents of one of the most underrated artists of the 90's.

My first exposure to Mark Lanegan was hearing "I Nearly Lost You" in the background of the embarassing 90s movie "singles" when I was say 12. I ignored the Screaming Trees as this was one of maybe 2 or 3 songs (out of hundreds) of his I don't enjoy. It took another decade to hear this and subsequently buy everything in his catalogue. If you're frequently broke as I am, go straightedge for a few days until you save $100 or so and buy everything of his. It's all gold. At least buy this, field songs and whiskey for the holy ghost. So worth it.

How do you define this record? It cannot be done. This is the mark of a
great artist... when you cannot catagorize his music, or say "it sounds
like..." Lanegan spins tales of sadness and despair without ever being
melodramatic. His voice rarely gets over a whisper on a lot of the tracks. Yes, there are some rocking tunes, but the introspective stuff
like "Strange Religion" and "Morning Glory Wine" are the real masterpieces here. If you are looking for a Screaming Trees style rock
record (and I was) you will be out of luck. But what I found was something much better and much deeper. At first listen it doesnt sound
like much, but it creeps under your skin and infects you. He really does
sound like a lounge act, and pulls great supporting performances out of a
number of high-profile guest musicians. This is truly great stuff and I
cannot wait to get some of his other discs. Who knew he had so many
records!!