Producers: Jack Endino, Mike Johnson, Mark Lanegan.

Recorded at Reciprocal Recording, Seattle, Washington in December, 1989.

Personnel: Mark Lanegan (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Mike Johnson (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Kurt Cobain (electric guitar, background vocals); Jack Endino (electric guitar); Justin Williams (violin); Steve Fisk (piano, organ); Mark Pickerel (drums).

Recording information: Reciprocal Recording (12/1989).

Shortly before the early-1990s grunge boom hit, Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan was already blazing his own path with his solo debut, THE WINDING SHEET. Marking a considerable departure from the Trees' feedback-drenched neo-psychedelia, this spare collection of acoustic-leaning songs allows Lanegan to wander into darker, more unsettling territory, as revealed on the thrillingly bleak "Mockingbirds" and the haunting title track. Not only do these subdued songs, co-written with guitarist Mike Johnson, allow Lanegan's deep, husky voice to hang in the air longer, they share a shadowy, nearly macabre sensibility with other revered artists such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits, giving the singer added appeal and mystique beyond the standard rock-frontman persona.

THE WINDING SHEET is also notable for featuring the backing vocals of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain on the sinister "Down in the Dark" and a cover of Leadbelly's desperate "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," the latter a track that Nirvana would perform on its UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK album. An underrated classic of the Pacific Northwest scene, this record established Lanegan as an intriguing and unpredictable artist in his own right, a reputation that he would make the most of in subsequent years.

Removing himself for a moment from the rowdy world of grunge, Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan put his best solo foot forward with a set of acoustic dirges. His menacing voice haunts each track as the blues come to life throughout the album. Capturing the melancholy mentality of the Pacific Northwest, his words descend like raindrops upon deep puddles of mud. The undeniable beauty of a song such as "Ugly Sunday" obviously comes from reveling in the mire, something that Lanegan has been all too familiar with as a recovering addict. He finds a kindred spirit in Kurt Cobain as the two join forces to present "Down in the Dark." And his version of Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is as charged as ever with pent-up frustration and jealousy. An emotional journey through the pains of life, The Winding Sheet is an album that accurately expresses the candid underbelly of the grunge aesthetic. ~ Robert Gabriel