Staff Reviews

Mark Lanegan - Imitations

Review by Paul Stephen Gettings

Imitations is a touching, tasteful and rewarding listen that will not disappoint.»

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Mark Lanegan releases his new covers album,'Imitations',via Heavenly. Lanegan made the following comments on the new album: "When I was a kid in the late sixties and early seventies, my parents and their friends would play the records of Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como, music with string arrangements and men singing songs that sounded sad whether they were or not. At home my folks were also listening to country music, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Jones and Vern Gosdin were some of our favorites. For a long time I've wanted to make a record that gave me the same feeling those old records did, using some of the same tunes I loved as a kid and some that I've loved as I have gotten older. This record is it. Imitations. 'Flatlands' is a beautiful song I heard Chelsea Wolfe singing, 'She's Gone' is by Vern Gosdin and the Gosdin brothers, 'Deepest Shade' is a song my friend Greg Dulli wrote for the Twilight Singers and then graciously gave to me to sing, everyone knows Nancy Sinatra singing 'You Only Live Twice' but I love 'Pretty Colors' by father Frank just as much. 'Brompton Oratory' is by the one and only Nick Cave and I heard 'Solitaire,' 'Lonely Street' and 'Autumn Leaves' all sung by Andy Williams who I consider to be one of the all time greatest singers. I have always loved Dave Van Ronk and his sparse version of 'Mack the Knife' I copied note for note. I have been obsessed with the genius of Gerard Manset forever, hopefully I didn't butcher his tune too badly. I have tried to cover John Cale before and chickened out, its hard to cover your hero but I managed to get through one this time. Imitations." The twelve-track album was recorded late last year and follows his 2012 release, 'Blues Funeral'.
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