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Oct 30, 2013Covers of songs by Nick Cave, Chelsea Wolfe and Lanegan’s Gutter Twins bandmate, Greg Dulli, bring this collection slightly more up to date, but nothing sounds out of place. Rather, in Lanegan’s hands, they coalesce to form a record of timeless, typically morose joy.
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Classic Rock MagazineOct 23, 2013The vibe remains constant and satisfying. [Oct 2013, p.86]
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Sep 26, 2013Imitations comes at the right time of year: like autumn, it has a decayed feel. Yet, this is more triumphant than simply bleak.
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Sep 20, 2013Imitations as a whole shows this [Lanegan’s continued ability to branch out from any perceived comfort zone and break new ground] as well, proving once again that even after four decades in the game, Lanegan is not an artist content to conform to expectations, but will continue crossing borders to indulge his muse.
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MagnetSep 19, 2013Lanegan's stamp here is reverent-yet-indelible--think Mark Kozelek channeling AC/DC--and the organic sonic approach is an especially intriguing left turn following the electro buzz 'n' thrum of last year's resplendent Blues Funeral. [No. 102, p.57]
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Sep 19, 2013It’s a rewarding experience and probably one of the closest, most intimate listens an artist will offer this year.
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Sep 19, 2013With lush instrumentation so rich that non-vocal versions of the songs are also included on the album, these pills aren’t exactly chewable, but they’re easy to swallow.
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Under The RadarSep 12, 2013He has shown that he can use his gift to reinterpret and make these songs completely his, revitalizing them and turning them into new classics. [Aug-Sep 2013, p.92]
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Sep 12, 2013Imitations is another strong entry to the diverse repertoire of a singer who seems to be gaining an increasing grasp of his vast expressive potential with age.
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Sep 23, 2013Imitations lacks the visceral punch that Lanegan delivers at his best: it doesn't demand that the listener descend with it in the way that, say, Bubblegum manages to. That's not to say, though, that it's a failure; it's more the case that its emotional palette is a relatively comfortable one.
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Sep 18, 2013Lanegan’s personality is present throughout Imitations without defiling the spirit of the originals, the best attribute of any cover.
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Sep 17, 2013Slight dips aside, Imitations could never be described as pale.
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Sep 16, 2013Imitations is a fine collection that reveals the depth of the songs through the openness and considerable skill of the singer.
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Sep 13, 2013Lanegan's edge is his keen ear for contemporary material that suits the overall mood.
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UncutSep 12, 2013A genuine emotional affinity underpins the marriage between Lanegan's lupine growl and 12 melodramatic songs of masculine despair. [Oct 2013, p.70]
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Sep 19, 2013Imitations may not alter Lanegan’s roundabout arc as a musical itinerant, but it’s a steady reminder of the breadth of his scope and the depth of his roots, not to mention his stature as one of the most potent voices of his generation.
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Q MagazineJan 27, 2014Rather than radical reimaginations, Lanegan serves up tweaked arrangements within the original frameworks. [Oct 2013, p.105]
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Sep 24, 2013A covers record will probably never pique interest in the way that a fresh batch of new material will. But for those who do take the risk, fans and the curious alike, Imitations is a touching, tasteful and rewarding listen that will not disappoint.
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MojoSep 19, 2013As ever, Lanegan's voice is solemn and affecting, emphasising the melancholic sentiments of the material. [Oct 2013, p.91]
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Sep 16, 2013Up there with Cash’s ‘American’ series this is not. But 48-year-old Lanegan is a classy bastard, so he just about gets away with it.
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Sep 13, 2013His own sepia baritone summons some of that warmth on versions of “Solitaire”, “Autumn Leaves” and “You Only Live Twice”.
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Sep 12, 2013It's lightweight stuff, and the artier items on the list don't add ballast. Taken as the simplest of pleasures, though, Imitations succeeds on anyone's terms.