I bought this record ("Ballad Of The Broken Seas") after reading a well-written review of it somewhere.

Before buying this record, I knew of Mark Lanegan only from Screaming Trees, and I hadn't really heard Isobel Campbell at all.

I am so impressed with this record. It's really good.

The obvious antecedents for it, as Isobel Campbell acknowledges, are Serge Gainsbourgh/Jane Birkin and Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra. The really interesting part, though, is that Campbell is in charge here.

Isobel Campbell wrote:It’s weird...as much as Nancy Sinatra was an influence on this album, as an artist I identify much more with Lee Hazlewood, or with Serge Gainsbourg over Jane Birkin. I’m writing most of the songs, I’m producing the music...I’m in the Serge/Lee role, and Mark Lanegan is my own personal Jane or Nancy, which is a thought that amuses me greatly! I had things I wanted to say, from a male perspective, in these songs, and it’s good to have a male voice to sing them for me.

The songs Isobel Campbell wrote for Lanegan to sing in his great whiskey voice- these are really good songs. They are all sexually charged. Campbell writes about sex in a real way. This record is sexy.

The last song on the record, "The Circus Is Leaving Town," is instantly timeless, a classic, a great song.

Campbell is super-breathy, but their voices really work together. The playing and song arrangements, etc. are excellent.

Mayfair, and probably lots of others who read this EA crap, would like this record, I think.

I will check this out--and wouldn't have were it not for this post. Salut.

My wife listens to this record about once a day.

I don't like it. The whole lonesome rambling roadman cowboy looking for love on the dark side of the wrong side of the railroad to nowhere thing is contrived. I think he sings about drowning in whiskey and beer, right? Come on, buddy.

Richard Hawley manages this aesthetic without sounding so goofy, I think.

Their voices are good. the players are pro. I won't argue that. But it's got a good helping of "L.A." in there, if you get my drift.

But, hey, that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.

vockins wrote:I don't like it. The whole lonesome rambling roadman cowboy looking for love on the dark side of the wrong side of the railroad to nowhere thing is contrived. I think he sings about drowning in whiskey and beer, right? Come on, buddy.

Ha- I usually skip over the "whiskey and beer" song when I listen to this record.

Your wife is cool, vockins.

I should confess that I gave this record to my own wife shortly after buying it. I like it and am impressed by it, but she really loves it.

I've been a fan of Lanegan's for awhile- whether it was with the Screaming Trees, QOTSA or solo, he always seems to add something interesting to the mix. He sounds like he smokes about 10 packs a day.

This album is good. I also recommend picking up his last solo album, Bubblegum.

I had no idea!

Good tip.

I've been fan of the 'trees as well as his solo career. My bro got this album a few weeks ago. Haven't listen it completely. Will check it out later.

I hadn't really heard Isobel Campbell at all.

She's formerly of Belle and Sebastian. I bought this after I heard a review on Sound Opinions. It was one of the rare times I've ever bought anything based on their recommendations. The first half (Deus Ibi Est, Black Mountain, The False Husband and Ballad of the Broken Seas) stands out. Kinda Twin Peaks meets Ennio Morricone.

*wiping vomit from keyboard*

Jeebus M Cripes!

This record, she is...how you say, horrible!

The vocals of the B&S woman! So, so...horrible!

it's about this far from sounding like Enya!

Blurgh!

Adam CR wrote:it's about this far from sounding like Enya!

Enya? Come on, man. It doesn't sound like Enya.

I'm going to try the Angus Jung method of skipping the whiskey and beer track, but until then, I don't like the record.