Mark Lanegan // Imitations

Wheee, I sure do like a bit of gravelly ballad. Mark Lanegan, late of The Screaming Trees and a successful and prolific solo artist since the 90's has released an ace new collection of cover songs. They are tracks that he heard his parents play while he was growing up in the sixties and seventies like Andy Williams and Hall and Oates, alongside more current artists like Nick Cave. There are 12 songs on this great collection, mostly glum, heart wrenching, bash-your-head-against-the-wall-sad ballads, which are just brilliant sung in Lanegan's embittered, tragic, damaged gutteral growl. They suit him perfectly. Outstanding tracks for me are Solitaire, originally written by Neil Sedaka and performed by Andy Williams (now that's a combo that's hard to beat), and I'm Not the Lovin' Kind, originally written and performed by John Cale. Just perfect if you've just been dumped, or been unlucky in love; this album will lie by your side when you are weeping on your bed and hold your hand, bring you cups of tea and whisper "It'll all be OK. People have been heartbroken since before time began". Also, it's really good for singing along to on a car journey. Hey, everyone wins! Thanks Mark Lanegan. Good work.