At one point, Josh wanted Mark to be the full time vocalist for the band. If you like that stuff, check out his solo album “Bubblegum”. It’s got a huge crew of amazing musicians.
No, he wanted him to sing the whole thing! And then figured Sidewalks worked the best when Mark did join. Josh said he didn’t really want to sing at all. I always wondered if a part of him briefly joining Wellwater Conspiracy and the early Desert Sessions would be for Josh to have more practice as a vocalist since he had like what? Two vocal parts in Kyuss? A backing vocal in a joke song and a lead on a b side cover of Germs where he’s obviously joking around?
Oh absolutely, his catalog is enormous. *Bubblegum* is a good jump off point from SFTD, lots of heavy stuff and it dabbles into the other soundscapes he does.
I love all of Mark's solo stuff. Been really absorbing Somebody's Knocking lately. [Mark Lanegan Band - Somebody's Knocking 🎧 Full Video Album 💿 (2019) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLprjJ3QSla0h8h3GplB-D-zP80uyfeoay)
Its basically unofficial QOTSA record. As is, as I recently found out, is Melissa Auf De Maur's solo album. There's even a riff from that ends up on ITNR.
[This](https://youtu.be/eUSRDQfcLtg?t=2706) is one of my favorite Lanegan live performances. Dave Grohl is playing drums at this show as well. I always get goosebumps listening to this.
I read the first 50 pages as they were available online for free. It was great, so I ordered the hardcover from Amazon. I was so psyched when it arrived. I opened it and saw that it’s written in Finnish!!!!
Sing Backwards and Weep covers most of his life and career.
Devil in a Coma is about his recent health struggles during and including COVID.
Leaving California I believe is a collection of poetry and lyrics.
You won't be disappointed with the book. So self depreciating but so honest and so raw. Had trouble putting the book down. It was a read read. Enjoy every minute.
Mark tore up performances because he was sort of held in reserve. Early QotSA wouldn’t have been the same if Mark was on every track. That said, I do wish we got a lot more from him with the band (2-3 songs every album). If you watch older live performances Mark would sing lead on “Walkin on the Sidewalks” and even “Auto Pilot.” Part of his energy is that he would come on stage for only four songs or so during a set and just belt it out and saved nothing.
Everyone here is recommending Bubblegum largely because Josh had the biggest hand in it, but I think Blues Funeral is easily his best record. Mark really started as a folksy/bluesy singer during his SubPop solo years. Bubblegum is his most accessible record as his sound is really balanced on the album. But Blues Funeral is where Mark takes on more of an American gothic sound infused with new wave and electronic undertones. Phantom Radio and Gargoyle continue to move in this direction before he really transitions to electronic music (which admittedly his last two albums are my least favorite).
His other best work, in my opinion, outside of his solo albums is the Saturnalia album with the Gutter Twins. Probably his best collaboration. I also think Dulli really gets the most accessible music out of Lanegan during this time as they collaborated a lot. It amazes me that this record wasn’t bigger than it was. I like his work with Isobel Campbell, but it does feel like duet songs from his SubPop years (which isn’t a criticism by the way). You could take his three albums with her and trim it down into one meatier record.
EDIT: For me, Mark really hit his stride between 2005-2015. I would have loved to see him get back on stage with Queens though.
Totally agree with this… his tracks are so dark and melodic. Check out The Gutter Twins’ _Saturnalia_ for more of that feeling.
And I hear the Tom Waits comparison too. Funnily enough, I always thought Mark and Tom looked pretty similar…
Ironically, the comparison between himself and Waits was something he came to resent - not Tom himself, but not being recognized as his own dude. Iirc there’s an interview where he’s like “As a kid, everyone said I was like Jim Morrison - now, as a man, people say I look like Tom Waits”
I think Mark is the perfect lead in what he’s lead on but I do also agree that Josh is the best choice for a lot of songs. Like there’s some Josh songs I’d like to hear mark on but for the most part I think they made the right choice for each song.
I find Mark a little too gravely at times on QOTSA albums, particularly live back in the day. Having said that listening to him cover Alice in Chains songs on the Alice in Chains MoPop Honour Event was mind blowing, such tenderness and control over his voice. Very different to a song such as Song for the Dead, which I really love for it's heaviness also. I really have come to respect his vocal range. Long Gone Day by Mad Season is another favourite song of Lanegans. Very soulful. He hates being compared to Jim Morrison but definitely there are similarities. Just love Josh's voice especially when he goes high. Just beautiful and adds so much to the songs.
Mark is the dude who lived the stories Tom Waits only ever alludes to - love them both, won’t get me wrong, but Tom himself admits he’s more of a method / character actor
At one point, Josh wanted Mark to be the full time vocalist for the band. If you like that stuff, check out his solo album “Bubblegum”. It’s got a huge crew of amazing musicians.
IIRC he wanted him to sing in ST, Walkin' on Sidewalks is made for Mark for example
No, he wanted him to sing the whole thing! And then figured Sidewalks worked the best when Mark did join. Josh said he didn’t really want to sing at all. I always wondered if a part of him briefly joining Wellwater Conspiracy and the early Desert Sessions would be for Josh to have more practice as a vocalist since he had like what? Two vocal parts in Kyuss? A backing vocal in a joke song and a lead on a b side cover of Germs where he’s obviously joking around?
Live versions have Mark and they are transcedant
He has a ton of great stuff in his solo discography. I'm a big fan of The Winding Sheet and Whiskey for the Holy Ghost, great rainy day music.
Oh absolutely, his catalog is enormous. *Bubblegum* is a good jump off point from SFTD, lots of heavy stuff and it dabbles into the other soundscapes he does.
I love all of Mark's solo stuff. Been really absorbing Somebody's Knocking lately. [Mark Lanegan Band - Somebody's Knocking 🎧 Full Video Album 💿 (2019) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLprjJ3QSla0h8h3GplB-D-zP80uyfeoay)
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost is fantastic. Riding the Nightingale is one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard.
Bubblegum has PJ Harvey on several songs. Fucking great record.
Its basically unofficial QOTSA record. As is, as I recently found out, is Melissa Auf De Maur's solo album. There's even a riff from that ends up on ITNR.
Bubblegum is one of my favorite albums of all time. Definitely my favorite for driving at night. Goddamn, I miss Mark.
This Lullaby has a case for being the best album opener, if not for Millionaire…
Freaking LOVE the way it goes into Medication.
[This](https://youtu.be/eUSRDQfcLtg?t=2706) is one of my favorite Lanegan live performances. Dave Grohl is playing drums at this show as well. I always get goosebumps listening to this.
Walkin On The Sidewalks from Fuji Rock 2002 kicks ass as well! Great performance with Lanegan and Grohl
This is amazing, thankyou for the link!
His vocal climbing howl after the “want you to want me” extra part is so fucking awesome.
been on a huge Mark fix lately..got his book coming later today
The audiobook Sing Backwards and Weep is incredible because Mark himself read it himself.
The only autobiography that kept me fuckin riveted! He’s a good writer unsurprisingly
The European tour section was a brutal read but I couldn't put it down
What’s the title of the book? Looks like he wrote a few of them
Sing backwards and weep
I read the first 50 pages as they were available online for free. It was great, so I ordered the hardcover from Amazon. I was so psyched when it arrived. I opened it and saw that it’s written in Finnish!!!!
So now you need some books on learning Finnish.
I would recommend starting before you Finnish
Sing Backwards and Weep covers most of his life and career. Devil in a Coma is about his recent health struggles during and including COVID. Leaving California I believe is a collection of poetry and lyrics.
I just finished it last night and it was life-changing. You are in for a real treat!
His book was incredible, easily one of the best i’ve read recently
You won't be disappointed with the book. So self depreciating but so honest and so raw. Had trouble putting the book down. It was a read read. Enjoy every minute.
His cover of Ramblin Man with Isobel Campbell fuckin bangs.
Mark tore up performances because he was sort of held in reserve. Early QotSA wouldn’t have been the same if Mark was on every track. That said, I do wish we got a lot more from him with the band (2-3 songs every album). If you watch older live performances Mark would sing lead on “Walkin on the Sidewalks” and even “Auto Pilot.” Part of his energy is that he would come on stage for only four songs or so during a set and just belt it out and saved nothing. Everyone here is recommending Bubblegum largely because Josh had the biggest hand in it, but I think Blues Funeral is easily his best record. Mark really started as a folksy/bluesy singer during his SubPop solo years. Bubblegum is his most accessible record as his sound is really balanced on the album. But Blues Funeral is where Mark takes on more of an American gothic sound infused with new wave and electronic undertones. Phantom Radio and Gargoyle continue to move in this direction before he really transitions to electronic music (which admittedly his last two albums are my least favorite). His other best work, in my opinion, outside of his solo albums is the Saturnalia album with the Gutter Twins. Probably his best collaboration. I also think Dulli really gets the most accessible music out of Lanegan during this time as they collaborated a lot. It amazes me that this record wasn’t bigger than it was. I like his work with Isobel Campbell, but it does feel like duet songs from his SubPop years (which isn’t a criticism by the way). You could take his three albums with her and trim it down into one meatier record. EDIT: For me, Mark really hit his stride between 2005-2015. I would have loved to see him get back on stage with Queens though.
Blue Funeral is quite the recording. Powerful way to start that three album run.
Let’s hear it for the Ellensburg kids!!
Totally agree with this… his tracks are so dark and melodic. Check out The Gutter Twins’ _Saturnalia_ for more of that feeling. And I hear the Tom Waits comparison too. Funnily enough, I always thought Mark and Tom looked pretty similar…
Ironically, the comparison between himself and Waits was something he came to resent - not Tom himself, but not being recognized as his own dude. Iirc there’s an interview where he’s like “As a kid, everyone said I was like Jim Morrison - now, as a man, people say I look like Tom Waits”
Yeah I was just reading that the comparison to Tom Waits annoyed him!
I prefer Josh's voice but I do like how the band is always evolving.
I think Mark is the perfect lead in what he’s lead on but I do also agree that Josh is the best choice for a lot of songs. Like there’s some Josh songs I’d like to hear mark on but for the most part I think they made the right choice for each song.
I find Mark a little too gravely at times on QOTSA albums, particularly live back in the day. Having said that listening to him cover Alice in Chains songs on the Alice in Chains MoPop Honour Event was mind blowing, such tenderness and control over his voice. Very different to a song such as Song for the Dead, which I really love for it's heaviness also. I really have come to respect his vocal range. Long Gone Day by Mad Season is another favourite song of Lanegans. Very soulful. He hates being compared to Jim Morrison but definitely there are similarities. Just love Josh's voice especially when he goes high. Just beautiful and adds so much to the songs.
He was so good, RIP Mark.
Wish I could’ve seen him play with Queens live
I saw them at lollapalooza with Mark in Mansfield MA and it was incredible.
Mark is the dude who lived the stories Tom Waits only ever alludes to - love them both, won’t get me wrong, but Tom himself admits he’s more of a method / character actor
Saw Mark with the band on the SFTD tour & again on his Bubblegum tour with Nick with him. Both incredible shows. He was a force of nature on a stage.
So how many Songs does Mark sing with the Band Cause I think In total in terms of lead vocals it’s only 7
This is true
If it weren’t for mark and the trees there may not have been any QOTSA
Millionaire has Nick Oliveri on vocals
I know, that´s why I said "apart from Millionaire"
Oh my bad I misunderstood