The album represents a departure of sorts for the singer. While retaining the acoustic atmosphere of his previous solo efforts, Field Songs incorporates Middle Eastern influences ("No Easy Action") as well as experimental musical landscapes ("Miracle," "Blues for D") which elicited comparisons from critics to Tom Waits.[citation needed] Lanegan's gravelly, gin-soaked vocals on "Don't Forget Me" and "Fix" is balanced out by his delicate delivery featured on "Kimiko's Dream House" and "Pill Hill Serenade." In his 2017 book I Am the Wolf: Lyrics and Writings, Lanegan says of Field Songs:
I consider the finished album to be one of my best, and it contains some of my favorite songs: "Don't Forget Me," in which I flat-out took the melody and phrasing from an Israeli folk song and was immediately busted for it by fans when it was released; "One Way Street," which has been a constant in my set lists since the day it came out; and "No Easy Action," which I wrote after reading two stories in the newspaper one morning..."Kimiko's Dream House" was a gift from my favorite singer, friend, and mentor Jeffrey Lee Pierce. He gave me the music and half the lyrics and said, "Finish it."
Reception
AllMusic's Sam Samuelson writes, "Upon repeated listens, standout tracks such as 'Miracle,' 'Kimiko's Dream House,' and 'Fix' become infectiously memorable as convincing tales about love gained and lost. All in all, every track is solid and worthy of numerous spins."
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mark Lanegan except where noted
