Mark Lanegan Band release their new LP, Somebody's Knocking, through Heavenly Recordings. It's hard not to pick up on the influences for the band's direction, with obvious references being Joy Division and Simple Minds... but there's a definite '80s vibe running throughout...

Somebody's Knocking contains 14 (56 min, 58 sec) very different songs with one strong thread running throughout. The musical style is very much seeped in '80s nostalgia, but brought up to date.

There's no arguing that the songs are solid, well produced and the lyrics and vocals are strong and powerful, but this album just didn't grab me. Even after a month of playing there's no track I could single out as one that stood above the others.

It's an entertaining enough LP, just it offers nothing new or overly exciting that would entice you to play this any more than a handful of times.

5

Nick Smithson