Mark Lanegan Band - Bubblegum

Genre rock Publisher Beggars Banquet External Links Beggars Banquet

When I found out that Mark Lanegan's new album was to be called Bubblegum, I thought it was a great bit of irony, kind of like nicknaming a huge man "Tiny." Of course, I, or anybody else who has paid attention to Lanegan's work with the Screaming Trees or his previous solo efforts, should have known that he was coming up with a metaphor much deeper than that.

On the song "Bombed," Lanegan talks about being stretched out like a piece of "bubblegum". All those cigarettes he's smoked - it's in the voice - have frayed his nerves somewhat. And that's classic Lanegan.

If most artists put out an album like this, critics would reach out to call this a Dark Night of the Soul record. For Lanegan, though, all his nights are dark. What makes this album different, though, is that Lanegan is starting to have a more expansive vision about what his dark nights are like.

Lanegan, perhaps rejuvenated by working with Queens of the Stone Age in recent years, has decided to split the difference between the conventional Screaming Trees - an underrated Seattle combo that had classic rock at its core, and his darker in tone solo records such as Whiskey and the Holy Ghost.

What results is a hodgepodge recording that is compelling, but ultimately falls short of greatness. "Methamphetamine Blues," the centerpiece track, has sonic textures that wouldn't sound out of place on a Nine Inch Nails record. But there are also some more straight-ahead rockers like "Hit the City" and "Head." He also has his usual array of ballads conveying a vague sort of spirituality.

Trees fans shouldn't get too excited by this being called "The Mark Lanegan Band." There's no discernible set band here, just an all-star cast of guest musicians including Josh Homme, PJ Harvey and Greg Dulli.

But Lanegan's gifts, his compelling voice and his wonderful sense of melody, are still in tact. It's enough to enjoy Bubblegum while his talent is still being stretched out.