9. Come to Me – The second (and better) duet with PJ Harvey. There is what a ballad sounds like when grownups write and sing it and all the syrup and pre-production nonsense are removed. (“Time takes a while to break you/And now only fire can wake you”).
10. Little Willie John – “Little Willie John” is disposable without sounding like filler. This is one that could have been replaced by one of the better songs from the rarities EP that spawned “Methamphetamine Blues). The lead vocal is as good as any on the album and it is that vocal that kees “Little Willie John” from dragging the album down.
11. Can’t Come Down – A defiant lyric with a very different vocal style and freak-out electronic percussion. Tracks 11-14 were recorded with Alain Johannes (produced for Live and Chris Cornell, was in the band Eleven) and they comprise their own min-suite toward the end of the album.
12. Morning Glory Wine – One gets the feeling from listening to early Screaming Trees work that Lanegan is a reluctant balladeer. “Morning Glory Wine” finds him sounding more comfortable in the role.
13. Head – The most obvious Screaming Trees song Lanegan has recorded in a long time (he should sue himself for lifting the riff to “All I Know” from Dust.
14. Driving Death Valley Blues – The B-side and cousin to the single “Sideways in Reverse” (“I don’t want to go cold turkey”)
15. Out of Nowhere – “As it begins, so to it ends/ crawls to a stop and then starts again” is a perfect line for the last song on an album. “Out of Nowhere” has a slight retro, 70’s classic rock vibe and it closes Bubblegum on a winning note.
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
I wrote this review the day the album came out and it was written pretty much as a running commentary.
It is amazing to me one year later how much of this still rings true to me and how much of my opinion has changed.
I still like the best moments on this record as much as anything he has recorded. I think as an album, Bubblegum was a little too long. It's not his best and it's not my favorite but it is a terrific record.