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  1. Just cause they made music before 1996 doesn't change the classification of the music they made that year..

    If U2 released an electronica/rap album it wouldn't be called rock because U2 released an album in 1980/signed to whatever label then.
  2. For me grunge died after Vitalogy and unplugged Nirvana. And it's 1994.
    Mr_Trek - I know, it's their fifth album, but is very influenced by grunge... at least for my ears
  3. Btw. No Code is post grunge for me too
  4. Originally posted by dylbagz:Just cause they made music before 1996 doesn't change the classification of the music they made that year..

    If U2 released an electronica/rap album it wouldn't be called rock because U2 released an album in 1980/signed to whatever label then.

    Yeah, but they had a not too unsimilar sound in 1990 when it would've been hard to be post-grunge.

    To me the Whigs have too many soul influences and that kind of stuff to really be grunge or post-grunge.
  5. Afghan Whigs don't need to be labelled with a longer, more specific, more era-defining, more pretentious label than the one word that defines them best:


    Rock.
  6. I definitely can hear a BIG influences by Nirvana or Pearl Jam on this album, so grunge is the first what comes on my mind...
  7. Yeah I mean there's definitely big influences from the era, particularly in the vocals, but Afghans were doing alt rock before grunge ever broke through. I love the soul influence on this album.

    I'm already very familiar with it, but upon my listen for this selection's purpose, I found the album sort of....yell-y. I got tired of Dulli screaming all the time. It's incredible on "My Enemy", and as Olof pointed out, the album's opener and closer are both pristine, but there was something about the middle that dragged due to me constantly being irritated by the vocal style. "Step Into the Light" wowed me though. Been a long time since I listened to this album all the way through.

    I will say, I listened at work, so perhaps the fact that it was sort of distracting contributed to my irritation. I'll definitely give it more listens.
  8. Apologies for being so late to this one. World Cup.

    I have this ready to listen to, I'll probably do it tomorrow morning and I'll post up some thoughts. It's no Surprise you chose a Whigs album, Olof. But not knowing their music and knowing how much you enjoy them, it's a welcome choice.
  9. Originally posted by iTim:Apologies for being so late to this one. World Cup.

    I have this ready to listen to, I'll probably do it tomorrow morning and I'll post up some thoughts. It's no Surprise you chose a Whigs album, Olof. But not knowing their music and knowing how much you enjoy them, it's a welcome choice.

    Same for everything, but I'll review it today evening
  10. Black Love - The Afghan Whigs




    I never listened to anything from this guys, despite knowing they're a pretty huge name in the alt. rock scene, and despite some of our board's insistence with them So, fresh ears, fresh mind. I like the cover to the album which is a great beggining. Let's go!


    1.Crime Scene, Pt. 1 - ok, so a slow beggining... Very cinematic. Love the guitars coming in. Not too keen on the vocals on my first impression I'm afraid. Ok, that impression has gone. Do you think I'm beautiful? Or do you think I'm evil? The song has truly lifted off and I like it a lot. I think I'm gonna truly enjoy this guys if this song is a good indication of where they're going.
    2. My Enemy - wow, now this is some serious rocker. I can now hear the grunge you were all talking about, but there's much more into it. I love the drums' change of pattern for the chorus, astonishing. I think I'm gonna enjoy playing this one on guitar. As a guitar player and lover, I'm already thaking Olof for chosing this album! Not a fan of the doubled (and out of sync.) vocals on the final "I told you once, I told it like it was" part, but it' s a small detail. Finishing on a major chord is surprising too, you'd expect a darker ending!
    3. Double Day - Pearl Jam covering Nirvana with Greg Dulli singing? The weakest track so far for me, but it might grow on further listens I feel.
    4. Blame, Etc. - gggrrraaaooorrghhh!! This one picks up the excellent quality of the first two songs. Funky, groovy verses, gotta love them. Blaaame, denyyyy, betraaaay, diviiiiide... So many sonic differences between the verses, the bridges and the choruses! And well, using the same line (A lie, the truth - which one shall I use?) as in the opening song is something I always love.
    5. Step Into the Light - this is some heartbreaking ballad from the sounds of it. The drug of your smile has gone and left me alone. I need it bad, I need it now, won't you come and give me some? Strange drum pattern/tempo during the verses that makes my head spin a bit. This song has some excellent lyrics we can all relate some time, I think. The good times have gone away... But we'll have the music.
    6. Going to Town - let's pick up the pace again. Great bassline (is that a bass, really?), great chorus. This is one I will play when my girl and I go to town at night, for sure! Amazing song. It's one of the easiest on the ear, though, so I imagine this is one song the true fans won't appreciate much... Am I right? But I love it!
    7. Honky's Ladder - I think I still gotta make up my mind about this one. I might hate or like it, I'm unsure.
    8. Night By Candlelight - wow, this is some cinematic music again! I love it from start to end, although I expected it to explode a bit earlier and a bit harder than it does. This would be the best song, hands down, if it lifted off with some harder guitar work after the drums come in at 2:30. Without it, it's just a haunting song, but not as brilliant as it could be. A shame.
    9. Bulletproof - something a bit more standard. To tell the truth, to tell it well - it all depends upon the liar, what a great verse! I love the change at 4:00, back to the start of the song. Some serious howling at the end of the song, you can feel this is probably one of the songs that mean the most to whoever wrote/sung it.
    10. Summer's Kiss - I can hear Pearl Jam again. And this is one of the best vocal deliveries of the whole album! Straight to the top tracks list. It could should have been longer!!
    11. Faded - wow, some piano at least! Haha... Oh well, it soon lifts off, and what an amazing song it becomes. I can't help hearing some Aerosmith in that "BAAAAAAby" and "FAAAAdeeed" screams, sorry if the comparison ain't the best for you but it totally sounds like Steven Tyler haha. 5 minutes into the song and it feels like it's been going for 2 minutes - the clearest indication of a fantastic song. It could have gone on forever and it still would feel like a nice little catchy tune! Great ending for a great album.


    Summary
    Well, it's been a great discovery, and I am surely going to listen it more than twice! There are some weaker songs, obviously, but overall it's a truly great album. Thanks Olof! 9/10 and it could be a 9'5 if Night By Candlelight had exploded properly!!
    Top songs: Crime Scene, Bulletproof, My Enemy, Faded.

  11. Glad you liked it Sergio! Everyone better watch out when you and your girlfriend are Going To Town with the match and gasoline I guess...

    On the topic of Honky's Ladder: It's a fucking awesome song. It also has a really weird awesome video.

  12. I've just cocked up again Typed my lengthy review as I had my first listen, then clicked "Post a reply to this topic". New page. Gone. Argh!

    I'm not going to type it all out again, I do apologise. I'll try and summarise what I typed below.

    "Crime Scene Part One" kicks off well and by the end of "My Enemy" I feel I'm in for a very enjoyable listen. However, I don't like "Double Day that much and although I acknowledge that shift in musical direction here and I recognise something familiar within the song, I'm left feeling a little worn out by the vocal delivery. "Step into the Light" is a remarkable track on the album. A welcome break for me but also the start of a satisfying run of tracks. "Going to Town" and "Honky's Ladder" are both really good. I disagree with Sergio regarding "Night By Candlelight", I don't feel it needs to go anywhere else. It's fine as it is. Not massively keen on "Bulletproof". The first 90 seconds and the last 90 seconds or so are where it's at for me, everything else in between did little for me. I like the way "Summer's Kiss" gradually builds from the start. I do agree with Sergio when he mentions the possibility of it being longer. It just sort of ends. Finally, "Faded" is an excellent closer.

    Overall, I feel I need more listens to truly appreciate the album. Not really one for a late night listen this one, so that may be a factor in my current opinion. I'll post up additional thoughts on subsequent listens.

    Top three tracks:
    1. Step into the Light
    2. My Enemy
    3. Faded

    Rating 6.5 out of 10
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.