Much-missed blues maestro Mark Lanegan has rarely sounded more soulful, more poignant than on his sixth solo album, 2004’s Bubblegum, an album stunning in its simplicity and candour. Desolate beauty and drug-induced despair yes, but somehow shrouded in a redeeming light that highlights Lanegan’s status as arguably the greatest singer of his generation (and yes that includes Cornell and Cobain).
Recorded at various locations in 2003-04 and featuring collaborators Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri (QOTSA), Duff McKagan and Izzy Stradlin and PJ Harvey (who contributes stunning vocals to the bruising single Hit The City), there is not a weak track here, from the maudlin yet compelling Lee Hazlewood-referencing Wedding Dress to the full-on deadpan freak-out of Methamphetamine Blues.
