Yeah, big favorite of mine this year. Might wind up close to album of the year for me since it's really been growing on me lately. I think it wound up #6 on the UNCUT best of the year list. Great lyrics throughout and fantastic music. Gets by with a little help from his friends including the always loveable Polly Jean Harvey who pops up on two of the most majestic tracks ("Hit the City" and "Come to Me"), plus Izzy and Duff from GNR on backing vocals ("Strange Religion"). And of course his old QOTSA buddies, Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri, popping out here and there. And Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers leader Greg Dulli puts in some time in the mix as well. It rocks and seethes with lots of bluesy energy throughout. I really liked Field Songs too, and the more unified or consistent sound he's getting nowadays, but it was kind of subdued compared to the old days or to this one. I would've liked it more if he'd let loose more like he does here. But it has some very good songs, including a cool, bluesy instrumental I love, with lots of texture and ambience, called "Blues for D". But what a voice. Just gets better all the time. The ravages of whiskey and cigarettes. Mama don't let your babies grow up to sound like this, but one of my favorite singers right now. You can almost see the words come out of his mouth. The Chris Goss production on this new one won't let it be mistaken for an audiophile disc, but it does sound right for the music. Kind of a Tom Waits junkyard percussion sound on much of it.
