Bubblegum (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Bubblegum
Type = Album
Longtype =
Artist = Mark Lanegan


Released = August 10, 2004
Recorded = 2003-2004
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 49:06
Label = Beggars Banquet
Producer = Mark Lanegan, Chris Goss, Alain Johannes
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jex1z88a5yv2 link]
*Pitchfork Media Rating-10|7.2 [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/19291-bubblegum-with-mark-lanegan-band link]
*"Q" Rating|4|5 p.121
*"Entertainment Weekly" (A) p.66
*"UNCUT" Rating|4|5 p.96
* The Guardian Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/review/0,,1271711,00.html 7/30/2004]
Last album = "Here Comes That Weird Chill" (2003)
This album = "Bubblegum" (2004)
Next album = "Ballad of the Broken Seas" (2006)
Misc = Singles
Name = Bubblegum
Type = studio
single 1 = Sideways in Reverse
single 1 date = 2004
single 2 = Hit the City
single 2 date = 2004

"Bubblegum" is an album by Mark Lanegan, released in 2004 on the Beggars Banquet label under the name "Mark Lanegan Band" (see 2004 in music).

The release features a prominent cast of guest musicians, among which are PJ Harvey, Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age, Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs, and Duff McKagan and Izzy Stradlin of Guns N' Roses. Also appearing on Bubblegum is Lanegan's ex-wife, Wendy Rae Fowler. The favorably reviewed album is his most commercially successful to date, reaching number 39 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.

Music

Recording and production

The album was recorded at various locations 2003-04 including: Rancho De La Luna (Joshua Tree, CA); Sound City (L.A., CA); Stagg Street (Los Angeles, CA); Lethal (L.A., CA); Donner & Blitzen (Arcadia, CA); 11 a.d. (Hollywood, CA); Sound Arts (Houston, TX); Kudzu Ranch (Mebane, NC); Del Boca Vista (South Pasadena, CA)

The album was Mixed by Rick Will except Alain Johannes (11-14) and Mathias Schneeburger (8, 15)Recorded by Tracey Chisholm, Alain Johannes, Rick Will, Jonas G., Mathias Schneeburger, Aldo Struyf, David Catching, Brian Baker, Rick Miller, Rail Rogut, Pete Martinez.

Photos: Anna Hrnjak

Art Direction & Design: Susan McEwoen

ongs

Release and reception

"Bubblegum" received mixed reviews from music critics. Allmusic's Mark Deming described the album as "With the Screaming Trees an increasingly distant memory and his brief tenure with Queens of the Stone Age seemingly over and done, Mark Lanegan appears to have well and truly become a solo artist, and while the dark and blues-shot introspections of Whiskey for the Holy Ghost and The Winding Sheet felt like a respite from Lanegan's usual musical diet of the time, Bubblegum sounds like an effort to fuse the nocturnal atmospherics of his solo work with the impressive brain/brawn ratio of his better-known bands." awarding the album four out of five. The Guardian's Alexis Petridis wrote the record was "Lanegan once called his bluesy solo work "death dirges". From its matt black cover inwards, Bubblegum never stints on the dark stuff. There is drug-induced despair and failed romance, with music to match: sibilant drum machines that recall 1970s art-punks Suicide, dolefully minimal guitar figures, shrieking feedback and the unmistakable wail of PJ Harvey on backing vocals." Petridis awarded the album four out of five stars. Pitchfork Media reviewer Matthew Murphy commented that "Throughout Bubblegum, Lanegan proves himself adroit at navigating the back alleys of Babylon, but after the record's umpteenth reference to loaded shotguns, '73 Buicks, and goin' cold turkey, one can't help but think he might eventually want to take a stab at some new material. So far, his voice has proven to be well-suited for whatever use he has put it to; hopefully next time he strays a little further afield to better stretch its limits."

"Bubblegum" was the Lanegan's breakout album. Upon its release in August 2004, "Bubblegum" peaked at #39 on the "Billboard" Top Independent Albums chart. The album granted Lanegan' his first commcercial successful album. "Bubblegum" peaked at #19 in Italy, #28 in Belgia, #30 in Norway, #35 in Finland, #36 in Netherland, #43 in the United Kingdom, #67 in Germany and #189 in France.

The single "Hit the City" peaked at 76 on the British singles chart and is Lanegan's first charted single.

Bubblegum Tour

When Bubblegum was released Lanegan was still a full time member of Queens of the Stone Age, he was recording Lullabies to Paralyze which would be the last album with the band. The album was delayed cause Lanegan released Bubblegum which would become his breakthrough album. The followed up with the Bubblegum tour which was one of the reason why "Lullabies to Paralyze" was delayed, the other was that Nick Oliveri was fired. [cite web
url = http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1484974/20040211/queens_stone_age.jhtml
title = Nick Oliveri, Mark Lanegan Leave Queens Of The Stone Age
publisher = VH1
date = 2004-02-12
accessdate = 2007-06-18]

Track listing

#"When Your Number Isn't Up" - (3:01)
#*Featuring Chris Goss
#"Hit the City" - (2:48)
#*Featuring PJ Harvey
#"Wedding Dress" - (3:07)
#*Featuring Wendy Rae Fowler
#"Methamphetamine Blues" - (3:16)
#*Featuring Josh Homme
#*Featuring Jonathan Russo
#"One Hundred Days" - (4:36)
#*Featuring Chris Goss
#"Bombed" - (1:08)
#*Featuring Wendy Rae Fowler
#"Strange Religion" - (4:07)
#*Featuring Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan
#"Sideways in Reverse" - (2:46)
#"Come to Me" - (3:45)
#*Featuring PJ Harvey
#"Like Little Willie John" - (3:53)
#"Can't Come Down" - (3:37)
#"Morning Glory Wine" - (4:27)
#"Head" - (3:04)
#"Driving Death Valley Blues" - (2:48)
#"Out of Nowhere" - (2:43)

Personnel

* Chris Goss
* Tracey Chisholm
* Molly McGuire
* Aldo Struyf
* David Catching
* Wendy Rae Fowler
* Joshua Homme
* Keni Richards
* Jim Vincent
* Mike Johnson
* Ian Moore
* Bukka Allen
* Alain Johannes
* Natasha Shneider
* Brett Netson
* Greg Dulli
* Nick Oliveri
* Jonathan Russo
* Izzy Stradlin
* Duff McKagan
* Troy Van Leeuwen
* Joey Castillo
* John Kastner
* Eddie Nappi
* Dimitri Coats
* Mathias Schneeburger
* Melanie Campbell.

References