Music Review

Think Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" and you find yourself in the right territory for this surprising and cool release from a former member of Scotland's Belle and Sebastian and a hard rock stalwart.

On so many levels this music should not work--the two artists inhabit such different musical spaces and worlds. Campbell sings like an angel, a delicate and tender voice, while Lanegan sings like the Devil, his voice reminiscent of the back alleys and dark nights his other musical career(The Screaming Trees) often finds him in, and yet, what we have here is a wonderful and very satisfying collection of songs.

Though Campbell's name comes first on the cover, it is hardly an equitable pairing in terms of presence..Lanegan dominates many of the songs with Campbell reduced a bit to a highlighted backing singer, but most of the time it works. Their take on Hank Williams? ?Ramblin? Man? is among Lanegan?s best contributions, but his most compelling performance is reserved for the album?s title track, a tale of two hearts at war and its effect on the bodies that house them: ?I bring you a tale of the broken seas, and I?m drowning in whiskey and beer. My doctor reports that if I don?t stop soon, I?ll drown in an ocean of tears.? A cello that appears towards the end of the song is perhaps the most mournful moment of anything these twelve songs offer, and that is saying something.

You have to be in a certain mood for this cd but when you find yourself there, its a perfect fit.