There's A Planet In My Kitchen

One of my men of the year has to be Mr Mark Lanegan.  I’ve had a real resurgence in my appreciation of his extensive back catalogue, be it with the Mark Lanegan Band (particular last year’s Blues Funeral and 2004’s Bubblegum), his endless collaborations (with QOTSA, Isobel Campbell, Whomadewho, Greg Dulli, Bomb The Bass, Soulsavers etc) and his own solo work. 

Both the albums he released in 2013 have been among my favourites.  The first, Black Pudding with Duke Garwood is a beautifully stripped-down affair, with Garwood’s guitar perfectly complimenting Lanegan’s rich baritone. 

The second was Imitations, Lanegan’s second collection of cover versions (after 1999’s I’ll Take Care Of You), this time focusing on his parents’ record collections and songs of his recent contemporaries.  There’s some classic, country-blues infused pop on there, that could have been recorded any time in the last forty years.  His version of You Only Live Twice is one of the stand-outs for me (the way in which the classic motif is reinterpreted as a guitar riff: genius!).