Wednesday, July 13, 2005
News of Lanegan
Admit it: you’ve been wondering about Mark Lanegan lately. You’ve been asking yourself when he’ll be putting out another CD of often surprising, sometimes beautiful, occasionally frightening music. Even more importantly, you’ve been pondering one of life’s big questions: why has Zombyboy gone so long without indulging his semi-secret obsession?
Yeah. Good question.
It sounds as if Lanegan has been a busy boy. Aside from the rumors that still work to explain his departure from the Queens of the Stone Age tour--and the rumors are ugly in the way that rumors about musicians are always ugly--there have been a number of recent Lanegan sightings and the great potential for a whole lot of music coming our way. Of course, with anything Lanegan-related, release dates should be taken with a block of salt.
When Isobel Campbell couldn’t find anyone in her native Scotland to sing the low part on a song for her upcoming Ballad of the Broken Seas, the ethereal-voiced singer reached across the Atlantic and connected with one of rock’s deepest, growliest voices: former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan.
“Why Does My Head Hurt So?"--the first song that they did together--was gorgeous. The sound is lush and the song is sweet; it’s one of his finest vocal performances. I’m holding onto a lot of hope for this one. Theoretically, it should be out in September.
At the Hullabaloo show in Silver Lake, former Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli gave up the goods on his upcoming collaboration with former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan. The Gutter Twins, as the Nineties rock stalwarts are calling themselves, have almost wrapped the tentatively titled Saturnalia. “My favorite track is ‘All Misery,’” said Dulli. “I think it’s some of the best vocals Mark’s ever done. He’s one of my favorite singers of all time, so that’s going pretty deep.”
The Gutter Twins have been discussed for quite some time now, but the finished product just never seems to surface. Maybe with the time spent away from Queens of the Stone Age, Lanegan really has had the time to put some of these products to bed.
To be honest, though, this one worries me a bit. Dulli is a creative force, but he’s also prone to missteps and overreaching. If he dominates the project, then it could end up sounding less like a collaboration and more like a Dulli side-project with Lanegan singing. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s far from ideal.
Ben Hater just got done recording 16 new songs with Mark Lanegan! Ben says its “gun-fighting music”
Ben Hater? Is that a reference to Ben Shepherd? Shepherd has worked with Lanegan on his last few albums, so that wouldn’t be a stretch, and Shepherd is the driving force behind the band Hater.
Or is it someone that I’ve just never heard of before? I feel so lost.
But 16 new songs of “gun-fighting music.” Yeah, you know I’m intrigued.
Now, about those release dates…
Comments & Trackbacks
Why did you mention your semi-secret obsession? What does putting 2 scoops of jello into your latex underwear have to do with Mark Lanegan?
Hey, you said it wasn’t totally secret.
There’s always room for jello.
Semi-secret? Aren’t you listed as, “a big Mark Lanegan fan,” in Who’s Who in America. You’re as delusional as Valerie Plame if you think it’s a secret.
I love Greg Dulli, btw. The Afghan Whigs album Gentlemen is one of my faves. But you’re right, he is prone to bombast that gets boring quickly.
Matt, did you get Twilight Singers Blackberry Belle? One of the best things that Dulli has ever done.
Nope, I never heard of ‘em. Sigh… I’m getting old. Or I’m already old.
Further evidence of my age: I’ve had many opportunities to see The White Stripes at a variety of small clubs over the years since White Blood Cells came out. Where do I go to see them for the very first time? Red Rocks.
How fucking old is that? Like, 73, I think.
You’re not old until not knowing the band becomes a point of pride.
I hit that point about 5 years ago.
I wondered whether the blog title was referring to that song (not being a regular visitor you know). Mystery solved.
“Now that the engine driver
Has grown to be a deep sea diver”
the way Lanegan sings these lines might be the spookiest gdamn part of any song I know.
Guy is a genius - Screaming Trees possibly the best band of the 90s, definitely the most underrated, (preferable to Nirvana’s narrow range) That music has not aged at all.
Question, Zombyboy, Whiskey for the Holy Ghost better than Field Songs?
The song had an immediate impact on me and those lines really stood out to me as well especially backed by the warning that follows: “better keep your heart strong, little friend.” Spooky, indeed.
As for the Trees, I was saying something very much like that to the g-phrase this weekend. I think there was a little eye-rolling on her part, if you want to know the truth.
The saddest part is that the songs that they were shopping back in 2000 were great rock songs that would probably sound as good fifteen years from now as they did five years ago as they do right now.
In honor of that thought, I’m listening to “Revelator” right now. Damned good song.
Now, Whiskey or Field Songs? Man, don’t force me to make a decision. Forced to choose, I would probably take Whiskey. It’s better by a whisker.
A very small whisker.
I’d agree. Whiskey, (bought for $ 2 at a used cd store back in tha day) made me go back and buy the Trees CDs it was so good. Kind of like getting Who’s Next and Quadrophenia after listening to Townshend Empty Glass. Sweet Oblivion vs Dust? I guess its like choosing among top flight microbrews in a world of Bud. You just can’t go wrong.
The Nirvana (and other 90s bands) comparison might be worth a post. I like Nirvana, but never - literally - listen to their stuff voluntarily anymore.
Thanks for the link.
Hmmm. Thursday is “Song of the Week Day” over at soapgun. This gives me an idea…
I’ll be sure to drop by and check out the song of the day.
Song of the Week is up.
http://soapgun.blogspot.com/2005/07/song-of-week-20_14.html
Picking the right one was tough - dug back deep into the Trees catalogue. Brought back memories of cassettes and a Toyota Corolla.