Whiskey for the Holy Ghost

Mark Lanegan

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 18, 1994)
• Original Release Date: January 14, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B0000035F5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,360 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
For his second solo album, Lanegan, the singer for the Screaming Trees, decided to go wider and deeper. The arrangements are mostly acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums, but the subtle addition of violin and saxophone on select cuts makes for greater variance and gives the album a rich, epic scope. As always, Lanegan sees the glass as neither half-empty or half-full, just dirty. "Borracho" reaches a cathartic wall of shrieking feedback, but mostly Lanegan tunes down for the ambulatory emissions and Seattle blues of "Shooting Gallery," "Judas Touch," and "Kingdoms of Rain." --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most underrated albums of the nineties, December 3, 2006

By	Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

American musical tastes have always baffled me. Mediocrities extraordinaire like Britney Spears, Linkin Park, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, and Dave Matthews sell millions of records, while genuinely talented souls like Mark Lanegan remain unknown except to music connoisseurs. A few know him as the front man and resident genius of Screaming Trees, others as a solo artist, a few more as sometimes member of Queens of the New Age, and a few Isobel Campbell fans as the guy who helped make her latest album so stunningly special. But Mark Lanegan should someone anyone who is obsessed with great music should know well. I honestly believe that if you love great music, there are at least three albums featuring Mark Lanegan that fall into the category of "Must Own": his incredible solo album WHISKEY FOR THE HOLY GHOST, the superfine Screaming Trees anthology OCEAN OF CONFUSION, and his recent effort in support of Isobel Campbell on her amazing BALLAD OF THE BROKEN SEAS (most of the songs are by Campbell, but he contributes some great supporting vocals, especially a killer version of Hank Williams's "Ramblin' Man" and on the album's great closing song "The Circus is Leaving Town").

This was Lanegan's second solo album. The first one, THE WINDING SHEET, was one downer of an album. Bleak, deeply atmospheric, introspective, and seriously unfocused, it represented a significant break from his work with the Screaming Trees. Whatever fans of that band were looking for in a Mark Lanegan solo project, that was definitely not it. WHISKEY FOR THE HOLY GHOST is not completely dissimilar from THE WINDING SHEET, but it is better conceived, the songwriting is infinitely sharper, and the melancholy is redeemed by one exquisitely melodic song after another. To this day, Lanegan has not been involved on an album--not with Screaming Trees or anyone else--that was so superb from first cut to the last.

One thing that really comes out on this album is what a low, deep voice Lanegan has. In the Screaming Trees, it is clear he pushes his voice up to its highest possible range, but here he allows it to fall into its natural, low range. Most rock bands force the singers to be high tenors, even a natural baritone like Lanegan. But as a tenor myself, I have to admit that baritones can project a world weariness and ennui that no tenor can intimate. His voice here is perfect for the regret, sadness, and angst he wants to project.

What is most amazing about this album is how great the songs are from first to last. Lanegan's songwriting with the Screaming Trees was never this consistent (one reason why the best way to get to know their music is from the generous anthology OCEAN OF CONFUSION). He would pen several gems that would sandwich some astonishingly bland cuts. No filler here, however. The contrast here is between some astonishingly great songs and songs that are at worst at least interesting (e.g., "Ride the Nightingale"). My favorite cut is probably "El Sol," filled with wonderful musical moments and a casually wonderful vocal. "Carnival" (which I keep thinking should be entitled "Freak Show") is very nearly as good, while "The River Rise," which kicks the album off, is on their par. But there are 3 or 4 other cuts very nearly as strong as these.

So, please do your part to fight the flood of mediocrity that the music industry tries to drown us with. We don't have to accept all the garbage that they tell us we ought to like! We can support great music like this instead! Do your part. If you don't already have this great album, get it. Tell your friends about it. Give it as a gift to friends. Heck, give it to enemies to placate them! Let's just not let this album remain as unknown as it currently is.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't knock someone down for expanding their horizons, September 28, 2004

By	J. Chadwick - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mark Lanegan- The man has NO LIMITS. He doesn't limit himself to one sound, or emotion. He was good with the Screaming Trees and he is just fine on his own. Many find it hard to accept his outward approach with his musical talent but his music is mostly about the words, the instruments only help to communicate that. His voice and lyrics are the whole reason the man makes his money. Believe me I love the Screaming Trees, I always hope that they will surprise us all and get back together and show everyone that they were overlooked in their time by everyone who listened only to what the charts deemed popular.
Anyways, Whiskey For The Holy Ghost is by far one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. By Anyone. This album engulfs everything and anyone that hears it. I have turned many people into Lanegan fans, thanks to this wonderful and spiritually driving album. This man knows what he is doing. I strongly recommend this album. This is a Fall into Winter sort of album. It will send chills through your body and change your heart with its power. *****

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Album Will Move You the More You Listen, January 20, 1999

By A Customer

Mark Lanegan has one of those too much whiskey and a million packs of cigarettes voices that you can feel -- it starts in your toes and works its way up. Also the lead singer of the hard-driving Screaming Trees, Lanegan seems to use his dark and moody solo albums to ease his soul. Lanegan admittedly battled his personal demons while making Whiskey for the Holy Ghost and it shows.

I first listened to this album with the love of my life and we both loved it. As that relationship crumbled, I thought it would be too painful to listen again, but have since found solace in Mark's haunting lyrics. You'll find pleasure and pain here -- no matter how you feel this is a great album; easily one of my top ten.