Gentlemen (3/33)

Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs
1993

Standout tracks: Gentlemen, What Jail Is Like, When We Two Parted.

"You're saying that the victim doesn't want it to end
Good, I get to dress up and play the assassin again!"

This incredible album owes much to the time of its creation. As their major-label debut, 'Gentlemen' marked a period of change and adjustment for the 'Whigs as well as one of excitement and pressure. Relationships within the band were on the verge of collapse resulting in Steve Earle being sacked, seemingly for ticking one too many bad-band-member boxes: alcoholism, meddling girlfriend, raging ego and control issues.
Instead of destroying the work, this chaotic and confused environment led to some sparks of accidental brilliance: singer Greg Dulli recorded several of the album’s lead vocal tracks in one night, whilst high on coke and trying to impress a girl. In hindsight, it's the perfect state of mind for the mood of the album.

The Afghan Whigs have always been a bit of an odd one to catagorise. Unfairly pushed under the grunge umbrella, what the band actually created was angsty alternative rock with a heavy soul and motown influence bringing along a bold, horny and sleezy tone. For a second, the bass guitar at the start of 'Debonair' puts Jackson 5's 'ABC' in my head. The rhythm is tight and groove-based, I can't think of any other 'grunge' record that could be said of. The guitars are scratchy, minimalist and raw with Dulli's voice striding around on top; rough, vemonous and confident.

Lyrically, it's the devil in a confession booth. Themes of shame, love, addiction, anger and a multitude of other demons all sung without self-pity or apology. It's naïve to think there isn't an element of theatrical exaggeration to this, but it still works.
'Fountain and Fairfax' - named after the location of a church in L.A. that holds AA meetings - speaks of substance abuse and betrayal. 'When We Two Parted' deals with an increasingly distant lover, whilst in contrast 'What Jail Is Like' talks of obsessive partners. "Think I'm scared of girls, well maybe, but I'm not afraid of you! You wanna scare me then you'll cling to me no matter what I do!"

The cover art for this album is also a perfect fit.