MARK LANEGAN BAND

Bubblegum XX (Beggars Arkive)

In the latter years of Mark Lanegan’s life, there always seemed to be an album, book or collaboration on the go, so his untimely passing two years ago left a gaping black hole. However, Lanegan’s estate and Beggars Arkive have been working together on Bubblegum XX, a 20th anniversary reissue of Lanegan’s 2004 album Bubblegum.

Thanks to a remaster at Abbey Road, Lanegan’s voice – as recognisable, and unforgettable, as Johnny Cash or Michael Stipe – is now very much at the fore, along with every nuance of guitar, organ or piano in the background instrumentation. Bubblegum stems from the early-2000s era when Lanegan was an auxiliary vocalist with Queens Of The Stone Age and was created – in a haze of drug psychosis and sleep deprivation – during downtime on tour, in hotel rooms and recording studios.

A dark, moving listening experience, Bubblegum XX features some of Lanegan’s most formidable songs reflecting on brutally soul-destroying events. When Your Number Isn’t Up overflows with survivor’s guilt and grief for Kurt Cobain; Morning Glory Wine was written for an ex-partner who became a murder victim. Strange Religion, a love song written during the demise of a relationship, is stunning – it’s since been covered by Soulsavers, with Dave Gahan on vocals – and Hit The City, with PJ Harvey guesting, reflects on the upbeat euphoria of denial.

Bubblegum XX comes packaged with Here Comes That Weird Chill – a 2003 EP that features the brilliantly decadent Skeletal History – and a further 13 songs comprising hotel room demos and previously unreleased tracks. One, Union Tombstone, was originally earmarked for Beck to collaborate on; this didn’t happen for whatever reason then, but Beck’s harmonica is featured now. This reissue successfully makes an iconic Lanegan album even greater. 

words DAVID NOBAKHT