The return of the mighty Afghan Whigs.
February 18, 2014 2:33 PM   Subscribe

Sixteen years after their last album, '1965' (it wasn't only Madonna making kick-ass music in 1998), Bob Odenkirk outs The Afghan Whigs' return with a new album on SubPop, 'Do to the Beast'. For your viewing pleasure, the video for the sublime new western 'Algiers'. The album sees light of day on April 14 & 15, 2014. Greg Dulli on getting the band back together and how Bob Odenkirk happened to tweet first.
posted by brokeaspoke (17 comments total) 21 users marked this as a favorite
 
HELL YES
posted by josher71 at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2014 [3 favorites]


Sweet. Wondered what happened to them. I was just listening to Gentlemen the other day...
posted by Chuffy at 3:36 PM on February 18, 2014


Best news I've heard today.
posted by thivaia at 4:04 PM on February 18, 2014


Chuffy, if you're not familiar with Dulli's Twilight Singers project you should check them out. They've put out quite a lot that compares to the Whigs' best material, albeit generally a bit poppier. Some of the albums are a bit hit or miss, but I think Blackberry Belle is pretty solid in its entirety.

Anyway, I'm excited about this news, but can't help but think that the Whigs without McCollum isn't quite the real Whigs for me... Dulli's shown that he can bring his menacing self-loathing Lothario schtick to any of his projects, which leaves the real essence of the Whigs (at least in my opinion) the unique sound of McCollum's guitar work. I'm terrible at describing music in technical terms, but that guitar sound (angular and abrasive while still being undeniably funky and melodic) is something I've never really heard from another musician.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 4:09 PM on February 18, 2014 [4 favorites]


Was just listening to 1965 the other day. Such a conflicted album, full of songs that go nowhere and do nothing ("66", with it's endless repetitions of "Come on little rabbit"; "Crazy" with that autopilot drumming) ... but God damn, would I not want it any other way. Dulli's sneering, breathy, unhip crooning, McCollum's overdriven guitar, the booming bass-drum funkiness of Horrigan's drums. All of it, so good. Glad they're back.
posted by jpolchlopek at 4:26 PM on February 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


Greg Dulli does stuff to my ladybits when he sings. The one time I saw the Twilight Singers, I wanted to faint when they started playing "Teenage Wristband."
posted by Kitteh at 4:50 PM on February 18, 2014 [3 favorites]


Excited about their return, but that video was terrible. Liked the song, though.
posted by dobbs at 4:59 PM on February 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


Afghan Whigs played Sled Island in Calgary (our better version of NXNE) a few summers ago, so they've been "back" for at least three years.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 6:53 PM on February 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


a box and a stick..., I fully agree with you regarding McCullom, but there's something about the new track besides Dulli's vibe and, as you put it, Lothario, that certainly feels like the Afghan Whigs vs. say, the Twilight Singers. Like you I'm quite excited about the new album.

The video I can take or leave but I really dig the 'Algiers' single as a song and as something of a return to form for the (newish) Whigs.
posted by brokeaspoke at 6:58 PM on February 18, 2014


ethnomethodologist: Yeah, they've been doing a lot of shows on and off for the past few years but it's only in the past year that they felt it was time to put together another record. For both I'm very grateful in their own way. It's just a shame McCullom isn't on the new set.
posted by brokeaspoke at 7:04 PM on February 18, 2014


On my 'highest rated' playlist, I've got over half the songs on Gentlemen. I've been meaning to check out Twilight Singers, and now I've got even better goodness to look forward to.

happy day, happy day
posted by Ghidorah at 7:47 PM on February 18, 2014


I've been a fan for over 20 years. And I was a fan of Twilight Singers and his various side projects as well. But no McCullom , no sale.
I've never been one of those guys. The guys who are like "Peter Criss wasn't with them so you didn't really see KISS"
But come on. No McCullom negates at least 40% of the point of this thing. Without him this is just Dulli playing his old songs which he never stopped doing in the first place.
I'm really glad I didn't pull the trigger on that $40 Sub Pop presale for the new record.
We're good on Twilight Singers here. All stocked up, thanks.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 10:54 PM on February 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


unfortunately, I read it as the Afghan Wings, and, well, make of that what you will.
posted by marienbad at 1:41 AM on February 19, 2014 [1 favorite]


A friend sent me something funny this morning.
Listen to this while imagining 1965/Twilight Singers-era Dulli.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:51 AM on February 19, 2014


Oh god, that's both eerie and sort of hilarious. They could have thrown a cover of it onto She Loves You and I probably would've like "wait, I thought these were all supposed to be covers??".
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 10:12 AM on February 19, 2014


Afghan Wings? I'm stealing it. mk? thx.
posted by brokeaspoke at 10:13 AM on February 19, 2014


Afghan Wings had that big hit "Black Love Take Me Down (To the Streets)"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:42 PM on February 19, 2014


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