Customer Reviews

Whiskey for the Holy Ghost

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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. *****

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.

I thought smoking would hurt my singing voice. After listening to Mark Lanegan I smoke unfiltered.

This is the greatest drinking album ever. For all of you who like to get drunk and feel sorry for yourself you need this soundtrack. A bottle of Jack, a self-pity trip, and this album is all you need on a friday night when you don't feel like mingling with society because you're too misunderstood to feel the way the rest of them feel. Simply perfect. I'm listening to it right now. If you have a turntable order the vinyl version, it's much warmer. Much love.

In my pantheon of Mark Lanegan records, Whiskey is second only to the recently released Field Songs. This album is worlds away from the Screaming Trees, and ambitious as hell. The atmospheric mix of bass and acoustic guitar on "The River Rise" will have you sold from the very beginning of the album. There's some really fantastic "light" stuff on this record; acoustic-heavy tracks "Carnival", "House A Home" and "Sunrise" whose guitars balance out Lanegan's black-as-midnight voice. As the record draws to a close, Lanegan is doing what he does best: from-the-gut songs about loneliness and despair. The closing three tracks are Mark Lanegan at his very best, lighting a cigarette for your soul with his minimalist arrangements and intelligent, powerful lyrics. The only misstep on the whole album is "Borracho", whose Seattle grunge roots are starting to show their age, but don't be fooled. This album is accessible, timeless Mark Lanegan, and a great introduction to his particular style of rock.

Most of the songs on this album are quite introspective and moody. I enjoy that kinda music. If you like the way that sounds.those words..then you may be inclined to appreciate the sounds lanegan makes with others. very soulful yet stinging in the sweetest most cruel sense of the word.

Man...has lanegan put his yearning for answers to life's never ending question marks to music so well and so expressively....enchanting.....dark, brooding and when I listen to his music I envision walking down a spiraling staircase as I pass many little black hells lit with the faded orange torch lights of his slow scorching voice...he just cuts my soul slowly and dangerously with that ol pleading voice of his. Enjoy this one...its "very real"..his genuiness..a rarity in todays music industry.

Mark Lanegan's voice is magic. It could give me chills on a 90-degree day. It took a couple listens for me to warm up to a few of the songs on this album, but it was worth it. This is the kind of music best listened to alone, through headphones, and preferrably in the dark - it almost feels like Mark is laying bare his soul to you personally. Laden with lonliness as it is, I wouldn't necessarily call it depressing. Being depressed is never this enjoyable.

mark lanegan second solo album after the fantastic "the winding sheet" and it sort of in the same vein as that nice acoustic/blues/country songs with his remarkable voice singing with delight of subjects that i won;t go into.. but this is a beautiful well thought out finely recorded album an album which draws you in..to the man "mark lanegan" it traps you in a world
which lanegan was living at the time of writing this album as i heard some other reviewer say you can smell the smoke and whiskey when you're playing this album and i truly agree with that reviewer
if you like screaming trees you may find the departure too much.but i loved the screaming trees and i love this along with "the winding sheet" "bubblegum" his recent classic album
this is the third classic lanegan album i don't think you'll ever find a dud in his work a truly one off artist

Mark Lanegan had hoped to make WHISKEY FOR THE HOLY GHOST in three days. It ended up taking three years, with the frustrated singer nearly chucking the master tapes into a pond near the studio before producer Jack Endino stopped him. It may have been a long, meandering process in the studio but you would never know it, for this album is a seamless masterpiece. Demolishing the notion that Lanegan is Nick Cave's understudy, his soulful, deep, brooding voice glides over these tunes. The instrumentation is not as spare here as it is on his debut, THE WINDING SHEET, and the results are excellent. This album includes some of the darkest songs I've ever heard, such as the haunting "Judas Touch," the plaintive "Beggar's Blues," and "Riding The Nightengale," which could be the single greatest song Mark has ever recorded. It isn't all doom and gloom, however, as Lanegan shows his soulful side on "El Sol" and "Carnival." Quite simply, this album is fantastic from start to finish. Probably his best, and that is saying a lot.