Mark Lanegan

Thanks to his membership with Queens Of The Stone Age, Mark Lanegan’s a somebody again after years of drug problems and overlooked solo projects. Though known mostly as the guy from Screaming Trees, his best work wasn’t with his former band, so the fact that this new EP has his new playmates on it is quite exciting. Featuring Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri (QOTSA), Dean Ween, Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers) and Chris Moss (Masters Of Reality), Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities), is his first solo work in nearly three years. Using the familiar riffage of Homme’s guitar work for five of the eight tracks, it feels not unlike Lanegan’s contributions to the mighty Songs For The Deaf. Most enjoyable is hearing his muddy, outhouse interpretation of Captain Beefheart’s "Clear Spot,” where his husky voice comes in handy mumbling the Captain’s words. A new full-length, Bubblegum, is expected in the spring, featuring all of these guests plus PJ Harvey and G N’ R’s Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan.