Over a distinguished career Mark Lanegan has established himself as an artist with a distinct musical style, and a distinctive voice with which to deliver his message. Well known for his work with 90s grunge band Screaming Trees, rock outfit Queens Of The Stone Age, and three soulful, doleful collaborative records with Isobel Campbell, Mark Lanegan's solo material is equally impressive. 'Blues Funeral' is a reflective return, and draws on the subjects of suffering that Lanegan knows well. Musically, the album's title accurately prepares the listener for an elegaic expression of blues and rock, although the occasional upbeat mood does surface, such as on the almost danceable 'Ode To Sad Disco'.