Very few bands can state that they put together back-to-back opuses like The Afghan Whigs did with 1993’s Gentlemen and 1996’s Black Love.
After doing some time as the proverbial misfits at Sub-Pop Records, the Cincinnati quintet seemingly found greener pastures on the Elektra Records roster.
Known as the label that hosted The Doors, Metallica and Motley Crue , Elektra was shooting for gold with a band that would join The Pixies as their contribution to the alternative counterpunch that shocked the world.
The Whigs were a smart bet as they were different enough to stand on their own yet familiar enough to find a fanbase.
Let’s take a look at the two records that to this day define what the Afghan Whigs are all about.
The Similarities
With the Whigs it all starts with aggressive soul music. The outlaw leanings of leader Greg Dulli may not be over-the-top in most cases, but his records often serve as homages to the gritty grooves of the Memphis’ Stax Records.
Both records also flip to the other side of the coin and embrace old school country melancholy. Its wild that the pendulum swung so drastically in opposite direction and yet the end result always sounded like The Afghan Whigs.
The rest of the bullet-points point to band that was in the business of crafting next level shit.
Both records have epic intros that set the tone for what was to come. Both albums also had clear cut signature ballads that served as pleas for forgiveness in the wake of chaos.
And while they don’t stop there, it’s safe to say that both Gentlemen and Black Love both were designed to take the listener on a thrill ride and neither disappointed.
In fact, both records had flashpoints that force the audience to make a emotional decision on what they were participating in. An ex-paramour once stated ‘I hate that record. That man is a real mutherfucking asshole.’ Message received.
The Differences
The major difference between these records is simple and plain. Gentlemen is truly the fuck boi bible, and Black Love is a Bonnie & Clyde style adventure
After the success of the Gentlemen, the budget seemingly opened up and the fidelity shift is front and center.
Black Love feels like the soundtrack to a movie and in fact it is. Its just a flick that never got off the ground and that is a shame.
Where Gentlemen casts it’s ballot as the greatest breakup album of all-time, Black Love mostly felt like a you and me against the world noir thriller.
Violence, sex, drugs, agony and redemption are themes that are front and center. Blind faith and the naivete and pain that accompanies it also shows up.
The albums serve two different purposes yet feel like the siblings that they are meant to be.
Overall, Black Love visited the extreme nature of the band’s sound and it creatively paid off.
Where Gentlemen positioned itself as a alternative rock album with a variety of different flavors, Black Love stood up and stated ‘this is a R&B ballad. This is a country song. This is the heaviest rock song we ever wrote and btw we’re putting some slide guitar on that bitch too.’ Throw in a tearful appearance by the late, great Shawn Smith and the end result is a decade defining masterpiece.
The Legacy
After these back-to-back spectacles, the band had another fine major label record album in them in 1965 which Columbia Records distributed.
Duli went on to projects such as The Twilight Singers before the band reformed.
The muscular Do The Beast, the sinful In Spades and the charging new How You Burn are also worthy of every second spent with them.
But it’s the merciless grip of Gentlemen and Black Love that captured them at the peak of their powers.
Listen: Afghan Whigs Gentlemen & Black Love
