The Afghan Whigs

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

Definitely the most underrated band of the grunge/post-grunge era. They were kinda lumped in with grunge, and were even on SubPop at that time. They didn't really fit into that scene, though, since they had a little bit more diversity in their sound, largely due to their heavy soul influence. As a result, they lagged far behind contemporaries in album sales, but still developed a solid following among the "disaffected youth" (such as yours truly) of the time period.

Although they were on the cusp of mainstream acceptance after Gentlemen hit, they never quite made it. I think it's because they were in a bit of an awkward place (and time) musically: too "alternative" for the mainstream, yet too straightforward and rock'n'roll for the indies. They embraced their soul and blues influences and incorprated them in their music, and that seemed to simultaneously garner them critical acclaim and alienate casual listeners.

Generally speaking, the people who aren't overly familiar with the Whigs but have heard some of their music tend to only know one album: Gentlemen (1993). It was the closest they came to breaking through, largely due to the semi-popularity of the single "Debonair", which actually got quite a bit of play back when MTV showed music videos. It's a great album, and an especially great breakup album, simultaneously caustic and (occasionally) touching.

With that said, though, 1965 (1998) is their finest hour, and it was sadly their final album (although they did do a retrospective a couple of years ago), but they definitely went out with a bang: it's the best album of the 1990s, by a mile. The blues tinge you hear throughout their previous work somes to the forfront, and the result is a tapestry of good days and sultry nights, with some funk tossed in for spice.

So, is anyone else a fan?

 

[Edwin]

Love them. 1965 remains one of my most efficient purchases of all time; I got it used for $4 very shortly after it came out, and I was able to be all snobby and shit when I heard "66" in She's All That. I don't actually listen to Gentlemen all that much anymore, and I find that Black Love gets the most playtime. They were always excellent at both starting and finishing albums, and "Crime Scene Part One" and "Faded" are the ideal models for that.

I've kept up with some of Greg Dulli's side projects as well. The first two Twilight Singers albums are decent-to-good with a few very, very high points ("The Twilite Kid," "Teenage Wristband" [with Apollonia!]) and I expect I'll like the Gutter Twins if I listen to them since I always seem to enjoy Mark Lanegan when he pops up, too.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

I've kept up with some of Greg Dulli's side projects as well. The first two Twilight Singers albums are decent-to-good with a few very, very high points ("The Twilite Kid," "Teenage Wristband" [with Apollonia!]) and I expect I'll like the Gutter Twins if I listen to them since I always seem to enjoy Mark Lanegan when he pops up, too.

I like the first TS album an awful lot, but the later stuff is just kinda meh. I'll give the Gutter Twins a whirl, I'm sure, but I've almost never liked anything Lanegan has done, so we'll see.

 

[Czech]

I really like them too, just short of "love" since I ought not throw that around. Black Love has grown into my favorite album of theirs, but I haven't heard 1965 yet. If they really ramp up the Memphisness for that last one, I can't see how I won't love it, though. I think the reason they never quite fit in with the grunge scene was because they had real musical chops at a time when that was hardly in vogue. (They also sounded hardly like '90s R&B act En Vogue.)

They were always excellent at both starting and finishing albums, and "Crime Scene Part One" and "Faded" are the ideal models for that.

Definitely, but I'll say the bookends on Gentlemen give those a run for their money. We did a thread at the old board for great 1-2-3 punches on albums, but the first four tracks on there have to be one of the great opening 1-2-3-4s.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

I really like them too, just short of "love" since I ought not throw that around. Black Love has grown into my favorite album of theirs, but I haven't heard 1965 yet. If they really ramp up the Memphisness for that last one, I can't see how I won't love it, though. I think the reason they never quite fit in with the grunge scene was because they had real musical chops at a time when that was hardly in vogue. (They also sounded hardly like '90s R&B act En Vogue.)

Yes, they do ramp up the "Memphisness" on 1965. 10+ years after the fact I still find new nuances when I listen to it, which is all the more amazing to me because it's really a straightforward album, especially compared to their two previous works. As far as the soul/blues bent, it's simultaneously very obvious yet subtle: some horns, female backing vocals, and the like are there, but they never overwhelm you; they just add to the sound. Basically, you can very much tell that the album was recorded in, and heavily influenced by, New Orleans.

This will probably sound pretentious as Hell, but I'd say this album is one that the Stones wish they had made (and I say that as a Stones fan). It's a true watershed moment by the most underrated band of the last 20 years.

They were always excellent at both starting and finishing albums, and "Crime Scene Part One" and "Faded" are the ideal models for that.

Definitely, but I'll say the bookends on Gentlemen give those a run for their money. We did a thread at the old board for great 1-2-3 punches on albums, but the first four tracks on there have to be one of the great opening 1-2-3-4s.

I actually think "Somethin' Hot" and "Omerta/The Vampire Lanois" from 1965 are superior bookends, but that might just be my bias speaking. Regardless, each of the last four albums had bookends in the good to great range. The best closer for me, though, is probably "Miles Iz Ded". And the video for it is pretty fucked up too, especially for its time.

 

[Czech]

I'm a more complete human being for having heard 1965. Whoo-ee. Justin Timberlake should do a cover of "66."

 

[PLAGIARISM!]

'Crazy' is a near perfect pop song.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

I'm a more complete human being for having heard 1965. Whoo-ee. Justin Timberlake should do a cover of "66."

Just always listen to me and you will be fine.

 

[Czech]

I think I've listened to the first four songs on 1965 (I'm not counting "Sweet Son of a Bitch" as a song, per se) on every run I've taken in the last two weeks and I'm not even close to being sick of them. Pretty remarkable. I think with some Afghan Whigs, it can all turn to ice cream soup if you're not listening closely, but those songs are the best of the best.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

I think I've listened to the first four songs on 1965 (I'm not counting "Sweet Son of a Bitch" as a song, per se) on every run I've taken in the last two weeks and I'm not even close to being sick of them. Pretty remarkable. I think with some Afghan Whigs, it can all turn to ice cream soup if you're not listening closely, but those songs are the best of the best.

They're pretty good, but give me "John the Baptist" and "Omerta/The Vampire Lanois"; the former is just a ballsy, swinging track, and the latter just has this edge and groove to it that floors me every time I listen to it, even 11 years later (I bought the album on its release day because I am fucking old). I also love how the album builds to that movement (it's more than just a song). There are a couple of stellar live versions of "Omerta" out there as well, although from the evidence I have collected, they weren't a great (merely average-good) live band. I never got to see them myself, unfortunately.

Regardless, as I told you before, the whole fucking album is amazing. It's moved into my #1 all-time spot, actually. So ridiculous.

Oh, and if you haven't, give Congregation a shot. It's sort of hit and miss at first, but the more you listen to it, the better it is. It also has what I consider to be the second best song they ever recorded: "Miles Iz Ded" (there's also "Rebirth of the Cool", a remixed version, out there as a b-side). Oh, and their cover of "The Temple" (from Jesus Christ Superstar) is on there as well, as it is awesome. Oh, and "Tonight" is really great also.

God, I could gush forever about them. It's like I'm 14 and talking about my first girlfriend (or boyfriend, whatever).

 

[Czech]

"John the Baptist" is all about those horns, and songs like that are probably why they were a little underwhelming live. Too much good production involved in the albums; can't really replicate it. And yeah, "Omerta/Vampire Lanois" is stellar. I love all of 1965, but the first half has all the great self-contained songs, while everything from "John the Baptist" on out kind of makes a big suite. I guess that's a better way of thinking about it rather than "ice cream soup" or whatever I said.

I have Congregation and like it. Title track is really cool, but the whole album doesn't stand up to the next three.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

"John the Baptist" is all about those horns, and songs like that are probably why they were a little underwhelming live. Too much good production involved in the albums; can't really replicate it.

Even on earlier material they just sound a little too disjointed from time to time. However, it's very possible it was due to that time period and the various...activities they enjoyed; that could definitely affect their playing ability. They did a great live version of "Beast of Burden", though. Oh, and "Cocksucker Blues".

I have Congregation and like it. Title track is really cool, but the whole album doesn't stand up to the next three.

Well, yeah, but it's still good. At first I felt it was pretty average overall, but it grew on me, and the last ~4 songs really make it what it is, IMO.