 | Tracklist:
1. The Gravedigger’s Song
2. Bleeding Muddy Water
3. Gray Goes Black
4. St Louis Elegy
5. Riot In My House
6. Ode To Sad Disco
7. Phantasmagoria Blues
8. Quiver Syndrome
9. Harborview Hospital
10. Leviathan
11. Deep Black Vanishing Train
12. Tiny Grain Of Truth
Release Date: 02/06/2012 | |
| | other reviews | Ali (4)
Predictably amazing.... |
On 4 Lists
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4 of 4 thought this review was well written
Mark Lanegan's first solo album in 8 years, 'Blues Funeral', is one heavy dose of sheer hopelessness just like we have come to know and wait from the singer. His dark, coarse voice shapes the album's atmosphere whatever the songs may sound like. While his haunting vocals have also been a more or less of a endurance test for the outsiders, he has also penned unforgettable dark beauty into his music, worthy of notice.
As a whole, the album borders on blues with electronic experimenting, keeping all the way the sadness and the despair Lanegan has always aimed to go deeper and deeper into. First single, "The Gravedigger's Song" holds an overdriven bass and a pulsing echoing guitar while him singing about a love long gone ("To the stars my love/To the sea/To the wheels my love/Till they roll all over me"). The music gives an urgent tone, while the lyrics set the mood the entire album boasts. "St. Louis Elegy" is a good example of the album's mechanized blues sound. Starting with a drum machine and a synth bass, the songs holds the funeral-like sound with reverbed guitars that give an almost eerie atmosphere with Lanegan putting his distinct touch over it. The song is really beautiful, giving the listener a 1800's western feeling.
Another song that really works is the dark disco of "Ode To Sad Disco". The techno synths and the slide guitar make this track really memorable while Lanegan shifts from low to higher vocals, giving his best attempt at a falsetto. The lyrics again give a gloomy western feel "A mountain of dust burns in your mouth/ Here there's no north, just south").
Not all songs sound sad and hopeless though, "Gray Goes Black" starts with some lovely guitar licks and a cool driving bass, but as soon as Mark starts singing he drowns the song in his turgid darkness. Also, 'Blues Funeral''s few rockers "Riot In My House" and "Quiver Syndrome" raise the album from the rather slow hellish vibe, atracting the listener's attention from the lyrics still encased in the impending doom.
Towards the end of the album the songs tend to just flow with less of an identity the first half of the album has. For Lanegan's fans this is not necessarily a bad thing because the songs are not bad at all, but for the newcomers it might be harder to follow. However, "Harborview Hospital" shines with its dreamy guitars, a simple, effective bass line and lovely vocals. Also, "Tiny Grain Of Truth", which sounds a bit scattered has a brass section akin to a funeral march that really brings the record to a stark end.
'Blues Funeral' is a really dark album that offers some great music from the always steady Mark Lanegan. The album is more suitable for the fans but it's also a good start for newcomers too. But, since all the songs are aimed to dig deeper and deeper into sadness and loneliness you never know if his feelings are along the way or it's just fiction.
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Album Rating: 3.5
Good review. I'm gonna post one for this later, probably my 2nd favourite record of the year so far.
Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven | | | Album Rating: 3.5
thanks! this is my first 2012 album, so I can say it's my favourite haha
Digging: Santana - Abraxas | | | Album Rating: 3
Good review, have a pos : )
The album is not bad in any way, and I really like the heavy bluesy feel throughout, but overall it's kinda forgettable...
Digging: Swarms - Low Sun EP | | | Album Rating: 3.5
thanks clercqie! yeah, I feel the same, I remember half of the songs but the others are downright forgettable. also I really like your avatar :D
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I listened to the stream posted in here about this album, I totally agree with insomnian15 and clercqie.
Digging: Vauxdvihl - To Dimension Logic
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That Soulsavers album was the last thing I've heard from this guy and it was pretty good
Digging: Goldie - Timeless
| | | Album Rating: 3
Ha thanks : )
I still have to get his other stuff (with The Gutter Twins), because the things I've heard from them were really good, though.
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i love this album so much
Digging: Death - Individual Thought Patterns Digging: Death - Individual Thought Patterns
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well written and to-the-point review, pos.
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Here's your well-deserved pos. Need to check this out, kind of stopped caring when Mike Johnson
stopped being the force behind the music.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
thanks guys! @turnip I have had Ode To Sad Disco stuck in my head all day long. there are some really good tracks here IMO
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Looking forward to listening to this
Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight | | | Album Rating: 3
This has been really well received by the professional press around here.
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not the fork
Digging: Augie March - Strange Bird Digging: Augie March - Strange Bird
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gota check
Digging: Gary Glitter - kiddy diddler Digging: Gary Glitter - kiddy diddler
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guy needs to cheer up
Digging: Thinking Fellers Local 282 - Strangers From the Universe
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
haha yeah, but I think then he wouldn't be Mark Lanegan anymore
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gravedigger's song rules
Digging: Trojan Records - Trojan Ska Box Set Digging: Trojan Records - Trojan Ska Box Set
| | | Album Rating: 4
This was a typically great album from Lanegan.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
damn, this is a pretty dark album, and actually the first album i heard by this guy. Some great
atmosphere going on in the songs, and i gotta say that half-way into the album it sounds really good.
Digging: Meshuggah - Koloss | | | |
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