Bubblegum

Mark Lanegan, Mark Lanegan Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 10, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Beggars UK - Ada
• ASIN: B00026YO36
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,051 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #50 in Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bubblegum is Mark Lanegan's sixth solo album, but still he's relatively unknown to all but a few. Since going solo, the former Screaming Trees frontman has attracted a cult following, but if a man can be judged by the stature of his friends, then surely Bubblegum marks the beginning of Lanegan's turn in the spotlight. Featuring such high-profile guests as PJ Harvey ("Hit the City" and "Come to Me"), Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver's Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan ("Strange Religion"), Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers' frontman Greg Dulli ("Methamphetamine Blues"), and Masters of Reality's Chris Goss (who shares production credits, as well as appearing on a number of tracks), the songs on Bubblegum display a breadth of style that matches Lanegan's trademark depth of substance. And though he kept his profile comparatively low as a longterm collaborator with Queens of the Stone Age, his two bandmates Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri feature heavily throughout (Homme, in particular, plays guitar or drums on five of the tracks here). But this is by no means a QOTSA album. Bubblegum has a sound all its own, and Lanegan is firmly at the helm, with his gravelly voice and somber observations making him sound more and more like Tom Waits. Its pleasures may not be immediate to all listeners, but once found, they're difficult to shake. --Robert Burrow

Product Description

This is the first new album in three years from ex Screaming Trees front man and Queens Of The Stone Age vocalist. "Bubblegum" features members of Queens Of The Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Greg Dulli from Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers, Izzy and Duff from Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver, and members of Earthling, Eleven, and Enemy. "A dark hearted rock triumph"--Maxim. "Thrilling menace"--NY Daily News.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dark and Dense Brand of Bubblegum, September 4, 2004

By 

Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bubblegum (Audio CD)

Lanegan is a man of many "phases." As a matter of fact, you may be reading this review either because of his work with Screaming Tress, his haunting and stripped down Americana solo output, or his recent singing contributions to Queens Of The Stone Age, have interested you enough to see what our boy is up to here.
The good news here is that Lanegan, rather than "returning" or "departing" from what you may be used to, has brought all of it together into a an intense boil, and come out of it with a powerful collection of songs that will offer immediate, if different, favorites for everyone.
In addition to this, the list of musicians called on to help his efforts is quite impressive and likely to make you salivate, even before the album starts playing. Whether it is PJ Harvey, Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers' mastermind Greg Dulli, or Josh Homme -from QOFTA- to name only the ones I was most excited about and intrigued by for what they may add to this album, their contributions are a major plus to "Bubblegum'"s sound.
Speaking of "bubblegum" -a reference from a line in the song "Bombed"-Lanegan could not sound farther from what that word may make you expect. Actually, he sounds closer to Tom Waits than ever before, a similar tone yet not ever trying to imitate Tom, and he phrases his words in ways that remind me -at least me- of the dark sensuality of Jim Morrison.
The reference to Morrison may be more apparent on "When Your Number Isn't Up," and ominous and prophetic slow tune about mortality, or "Wedding Dress," as dark a "love song" as you can expect.
As far as Lanegan ability to bring into a single album everything he's explored musically in the past, I'd like to name some of the remaining tunes. "Methamphetamine Blues" is probably densest piece of the bunch, in part thanks to Homme's raging guitar and the machine-like pipe-banging that drives the song from the beginning ... Let's just say its title could not be more accurate
PJ Harvey's duet on the quieter "Come To Me" -one of two songs she sings on- makes it another high moment from this album, giving it a sensuous and menacing mood, think of it as a hymn to dark love.
Other songs I particularly recommend are "Morning Glory Wine," as tender a ballad as Lanegan gets; the bluesy "Like Little Willie John;" and the dense beauty of "Strange Religion" and "One Hundred Ways."
Last but not least, I must mention Chris Goss' co-production, which gives Lanegan a partner who seems to read his mind and soul, and pushes him to further greatness, and Wendy Rae Fowler whom I didn't know but whose voice adds incredible depth to the above-mentioned "Wedding Dress, and the very brief, although sad and gorgeous, "Bombed."
All in all, this is a remarkable album, a dark and fierce set of songs that has stretched Mark Lanegan in more directions than any of his prior recordings, and, to my taste, one of the best albums of 2004.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe I should have been paying more attention to Lanagan, October 6, 2004

By 

Matthew Comegys (Ueda, Nagano, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bubblegum (Audio CD)

I haven't really given Mark Lanegan much of a thought since the Screaming Trees "Dust." It seems that I should have. Bubblegum is a fine album evoking both 60's acid rock (as the Screaming Trees often did) and more out there artists like Tom Waits. The fact that Lanegan measures favorably with Waits instead of as a second rate copy speaks is very impressive. This is a very diverse album with some great rock songs in Hit the City and Driving Death Valley Blues, lots of late night atmospherics, and a wonderful duet with PJ Harvey on Come To Me.
Bubblegum is worth your attention.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lanegan IS the blues..., May 15, 2005

By 

M. Nyblom (Sweden) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bubblegum (Audio CD)

I just, finally, discovered Mark Lanegan -his solo work- after so much time. I regret that I didn't do it earlier. I just can't see how I survived without his music. And it's hard to understand why he's not well known outside the fanbase of QOTSA and The 'Trees. I've been listening to Queens of The Stone Age for some time. And then some Screaming Trees. I finally decided to check out Lanegans' solo efforts and I'm just taken aback at the huge amount of great music and incredibly great lyrics he's produced. I really loved The Screaming Trees 'Dust' album, but his solo efforts are better. Not to be compared really, but it is apparent that he really is in his right element with his bluesier material. Lanegan is, most certainly, one of the few great songwriters. And his collaborations with P.J. Harvey are so beautiful and perfect!