Whiskey for the Holy Ghost

Infobox Album |
Name = Whiskey for the Holy Ghost
Type = Album
Artist = Mark Lanegan


Released = January 18, 1994
Recorded = Ironwood, Riciprocal, & Steve Lawson Studios, Seattle, WA, & Messina Music, NYC
Genre = Alternative rock, Blues rock
Length = 49:22
Label = Sub Pop
Producer = Mike Johnson & Mark Lanegan
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hjfexqlgld0e link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/marklanegan/albums/album/231079/review/5946225/whiskey_for_the_holy_ghost 4/21/94]
*"Q" Rating|4|5 8/01, p.150
*"Entertainment Weekly" (A-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300821,00.html 1/21/94]
*"NME" Rating|3.5|5 2/5/94, p.39|
Last album = "The Winding Sheet"
(1990)
This album = "Whiskey for the Holy Ghost"
(1994)
Next album = "Scraps at Midnight"
(1998)

Whiskey for the Holy Ghost is the second solo album by former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan. The album builds upon the roots music foundation that Lanegan had established with his debut The Winding Sheet. Released during the grunge explosion of the early 1990s, "Whiskey for The Holy Ghost" showcases Lanegan's growing maturation as a songwriter and vocalist.

The recording was reportedly a frustrating affair for Lanegan; at one point the singer had to be physically prevented from throwing the masters tapes into a river by producer Jack Endino. Despite the album's slow gestation and Lanegan's notorious substance abuse problems, the songs on "Whiskey for The Holy Ghost" sound remarkably cohesive. Lyrically, Lanegan continues to delve into the darker side of the human experience on songs like "Borracho" ("Here comes the devil prowling around, warm whiskey for every ghost") and the Biblical "Pendulum" ("Jesus Christ been here and gone, what a painful price to pay"). Other songs reveal a beautiful vulnerability, such as "The River Rise," "Carnival," and the stunning "Riding The Nightengale."

"House A Home" was released as a single with an accompanying video. "The River Rise" was used in the 1996 grunge documentary Hype!, where it accompanied a montage filmed at the vigil following Kurt Cobain's death.

Dan Peters of Mudhoney plays drums on "Borracho."

Track listing

# "The River Rise" - 4:29
# "Borracho" - 5:40
# "House a Home" - 3:07
# "Kingdoms of Rain" - 3:24
# "Carnival" - 3:40
# "Riding the Nightingale" - 6:17
# "El Sol" - 3:42
# "Dead on You" - 3:11
# "Shooting Gallery" - 3:32
# "Sunrise" - 2:55
# "Pendulum" - 2:12
# "Judas Touch" - 1:37
# "Beggar's Blues" - 5:36

Personnel

*John Agnello - Engineer, Mixing
*Krisha Augerot - Background Vocals
*Sally Barry - Background Vocals
*Ed Brooks - Engineer
*Frank Cody - Organ, Piano
*Terry Date - Engineer
*Tad Doyle - Drums
*Jack Endino - Engineer
*Kurt Fedora - Bass
*Mike Johnson - Organ, Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Harmonica, Piano, Guitar (Electric), Background Vocals, Producer, Slide Guitar
*Dave Kreuger - Violin
*Mark Lanegan - Vocals, Guitar, Producer
*Bob Ludwig - Mastering
*J Mascis - Drums
*Dan Peters - Drums
*Mark Pickerel - Drums
*Mike Stinnett [http://www.mikestinnett.com] (misspelled as "Stinette") - Alto Sax
*Phil Sparks - Bowed Bass, Bass (Upright)
*Ted Trewhella - Piano
*Justin Williams - Organ

External links

* [http://www.otisproductions.com/Lanegan/laneganhouse.html "House A Home" music video]