Music Monday with PLC is a weekly feature written by my husband, Pat.
Find out the back story + check out the full archives HERE .
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Mark Lanegan
[photo by jennifer; review by pat]
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So I went to get a coffee and muffin the other morning at the local donut shop. As I walked in, I found myself face to face with a smiling Justin Bieber. You see, this shop also does a lot of birthday cakes and they were advertising that their customers should catch the “Bieber Fever” and get a Bieber themed birthday cake. I am not really a morning person, so I imagined that instead they were advertising for kids to become a “Lanegan Fan” and get a grimacing Mark Lanegan themed birthday cake. I can see it now, ”Mommy, this cake is really bitter and it kind of scares me. But it is really cool.”
Mark Lanegan has just released a great new album called Blues Funeral (4AD Records 2012). It is released under the Mark Lanegan Band name (the first since 2004) and is expertly produced by Alain Johannes. A superb production job is done by Johannes of working in various electronic rhythmic and keyboard elements as well as great Edge-like guitar effects which only seems to add a cold desolation to the chilling rumble of a voice that is Mark Lanegan. Hey kids, break out your Joy Division t-shirts and turn out the lights: here is a great song with an awesome title “Ode to Sad Disco” (and somewhere Barry Gibb sheds a tear) -
I know, Mr. Lanegan is not much of a song and dance man; but with a voice like that, you can hit the stage however you like. You probably know Lanegan from being the lead singer of The Screaming Trees, but he has released many solo albums as well and has a laundry list of bands and projects he has sung with since the Trees broke up. Many performers (Jack Irons, Greg Dulli, Josh Homme) are returning the favor and make a guest appearance on Blues Funeral, but as always it is Lanegan’s voice that steals the show. One can almost imagine walking a scary Blade Runner looking futuristic world while listening to this album. But just to prove that rock is not dead, check out this Mark Lanegan Band meets the Cars gem called “Quiver Syndrome” -
So turn that smile upside-down and pick up Mark Lanegan’s awesome Blues Funeral today. Even if it is only to scare that “Call Me Maybe” song out of your head.
- PLC
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MORE:
- last week - Jack White
- last month - John Mulaney
- full archive of Music Monday with PLC - HERE
