Winding Sheet
The singer for the Screaming Trees, Lanegan here choses to substitute his band's psychedelic yawp for the moody introspection of modern blues. His smooth croon transforms into an angry growl when the music turns stormy. "Mockingbirds" features a treacherously descending piano melody; "Wild Flowers" allows for an out-of-tune guitar to explain its world-weariness. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is noted for being the first time a Seattle grunge-rocker tackled the old Leadbelly classic. (The second Seattle guy to tackle it, Kurt Cobain, can be heard on electric guitar and on backing vocals for "Down in the Dark.")--Rob O'Connor