Mark Lanegan: Blues Funeral

Been listening to Mark Lanegan's new album "Blues Funeral" non-stop all weekend. I think it may be his best. Of course stunning vocals, but also a cool combination of dirty guitar and Eruo-synth beats. Favorite cut is "Harborview Hospital," absolutely gorgeous and sad and still uplifting.

This is the only new song I can find on YouTube. Album's out next week, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVCNSZPPr9M

Anyone else had a listen yet?

Didn't know a new album was coming out! It's already been 8 years since the last one...
Listened once so it's early days but I'm not too sure about the production which sounds a bit too muddy/hermetic imo.

I replayed "Ode to Sad Disco" (!) three times though, strangely fascinating. Lanegan singing to what sounds like a Goldfrapp/Roísin Murphy backdrop and desolate dessert guitar.

I just know that one badass song posted here.. didn't get to hear the rest yet.

Can't wait to spend time with he new one.

desolate dessert guitar.

Must be some tasty licks.

I heard this today and I'm pretty disappointed. I love Lanegan lots, but I guess I'm just not in the mood to hear him sing over half-assed programmed drums which is likt 70% of this record.

Ode to Sad Disco is wonderful.

its my fave on the album. I like the album though

Yeah that ones not bad, and I like "The Gravedigger's Song" and "Leviathan", but I think the Pitchfork review was pretty otm wrt the dated production.

why read pitchfork?

Because they still have some thoughtful people on the staff who write worthwhile reviews. Theres a difference between reading it and letting it define your taste for you.

Okay, I've been listening to this for over a couple weeks, and it's the first album I bought on CD for this year. I have all of Lanegan's solo albums, and I think this compares well. I might even like it better than Bubblegum and Field Songs. He's supposedly been listening to a lot of Cluster, and I think the influence is a nice addition to his sound. If you've heard the stuff he did with Soulsavers and Isobell Campbell, the variety doesn't seem so jarring.

I don't think it sounds dated. The problem with Pitchfork is when they're off, they're WAY off. Here's some better reviews:

http://thequietus.com/articles/07920-mark-lanegan-blues-funeral-review
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/154046-mark-lanegan-band-blues-funeral/
http://www.musicomh.com/albums/mark-lanegan-3_0112.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-mark-lanegan-band-blues-funeral-4ad-6299690.html

I'll give it more time, but I think the problem may be more with me, in that I want to hear Lanegan singing over dusty acoustic guitars or something down and dirty. I don't feel like his voice fits the precision and tightness of programmed beats.

That Pitchfork review is nonsense from the moment it knocks him for being an old white man: "Me, I don't necessarily give growling old white men the presumption of wisdom." You're a real tough guy, kid.

I'll give it more time, but I think the problem may be more with me, in that I want to hear Lanegan singing over dusty acoustic guitars or something down and dirty. I don't feel like his voice fits the precision and tightness of programmed beats.

I totally agree, that's what I meant upthread with muddy/hermetic production. It's my main nuisance with most of his 'recent' recorded output (Gutter Twins album suffers from this, Bubblegum to some extent) - there's not enough room/space in the recordings. Also, the drummers are too stiff, their patterns sound dull, no swing/looseness. He should record an album with Crazy Horse! Or get Jack Nitzsche or David Briggs resurrected to produce him... What current producer would be most appropriate for the job..?

Ethan Johns.

Tchad Blake or Mitchell Froom

I fear he'll stick to Alain Johannes, as he said in an interview with a dutch website that he's the best producer a musician can wish for and that including him (and other friends) on recordings is a "no-brainer".

He also provided some insight on "Ode to Sad Disco" (loosely translated/interpreted), saying that it's his favorite song of the album. It's an ode to the Pusher trilogy of films by Nicolas Winding Refn, especially "Pusher II" with its soundtrack full of "vague eurotrash tracks", one of which is called "Sad Disco". He lifted elements from it and wrote the song as an ode to the movie.

Maybe obvious but Albini

Don't know anything about him, but I've got him in a radio station doing "Cinnamon Girl," and it's one of my favourite Neil Young covers ever. (Nothing on YouTube, unfortunately.)

Pretty good album, but even better session, imho:

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb120209mark_lanegan

Tried three times. This album's a drag.

This is interesing. He'd like to work with John Cale, who he first asked to produced 'Bubblegum.'

http://thequietus.com/articles/08020-mark-lanegan-interview

What records would you save from a burning house?

ML: Son House’s records are important. He’s still the best singer I’ve ever seen. I have a video tape of him sitting on a chair and singing, from some TV show, which is incredible in its power. And I’d save all of my Gun Club records and definitely my John Cale collection. He’s probably my favourite singer. I just love the way his voice sounds, it’s so expressive and full of melancholy. He does an amazing version of Nico’s 'Frozen Warnings' that’ll give you the chills. And of course his own solo stuff is all the shit. I actually attempted to get John Cale to produce Bubblegum, but it didn’t work out. Now there’s another collaboration I’d still like to happen.

Whether the album is a drag or not (I don't think so), if you get the change to see him live this tour, don't miss.

Just check out how much lower his voice sounds here during this showcase for Belgium's Studio Brussel radio station: http://www.stubru.be/programmas/club69/herbeleefmarklaneganinclub69
(Crawlspace is a Screaming Trees track from the "Last Words" rarities album that was released last year btw)

Can't help it, I just prefer almost every song live over the studio version, like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCPznLrLyiY