Customer Reviews

A Stitch In Time EP

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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The Twilight Singers released their fourth studio album "Powder Burns" in 2006, and it continued the excellent streak for front man (and ex-Afghan Whigs) Greg Dulli. This EP was originally released on iTunes in December, 2006 and is now also available as a physical EP.

"A Stitch in Time" (5 songs, 23 min.) starts off with a blazing cover of Massive Attack's "Live With Me" (not to be confused with the Rolling Stones track of the same name!). Joseph Arthur collaborates on "Sublime", a softer track. The next 2 songs are prime Twilight songs, "Flashback" and "They Ride" are barn-burners and could have easily fitted on the "Powder Burns" album. "The Lure Would Prove Too Much" is a beautiful ballad (in a Dulli way, of course), and a nice way to cap off this EP.

Greg Dulli keeps going at it. When the Afghan Whigs didn't find the commercial success to match the critical rave it earned, he went on and started the Twilight Singers. No longer worrying about finding mainstream audiences, Dulli keeps delighting, as shown with the "Powder Burns" album last year, and now again with this excellent EP. Highly recommended!

This new release by the Twilight Singers follows their full length Powder Burns. While A Stitch in Time may not be as good as that record, this easily proves itself to be a worthwhile EP, and a great addition to anyone's music collection.

The EP kicks off with a phenomenal cover of Massive Attack's Live With Me-- a slow, intense track with an excellent vocal from Mark Lanegan. the guitar, while simple, is slow and sombre, and the vocals from both Lanegan and Dulli are filled with emotion. This version is as good, if not better, than Massive Attack's.

From Here things transition to the excellent Sublime. Joseph Arthur takes lead here, backed by Dobro, a wall of mellow guitars, and some very good, almost Hip-Hop style drumming. After that is Flashback, which I believe is another cover(not sure though). Lanegan and Dulli take vocals again here, this time a more even split. This is a very fun track that really rocks and for some reason hits me with an almost retro vibe.

They Ride is probably the best track here, after Live With Me. Dulli is in fine form here, and while it doesn't have any real genius lines like back in the Whigs days, I do agree with other review that it's similar stylistically with Dulli's previous band. Probably the most intense and straight forward rock song here, with solid guitar riffs and a solid solo. The album finishes out with The Lure Would Prove Too Much, which, aside from the excellent song title, is one of the best ballads Greg Dulli has ever written. Very slow, well constructed song. It's interspersed with phone messages between Dulli and some woman. A solid end to a great EP.

All in all, this is a change stylistically from previous TS releases, but makes for an always interesting listen. The whole record has a fun, laid back, almost spur of the moment atmosphere to it, but still retains its ability to make one think, and has a few moments that genuinely touch you. A solid 20 some minutes of music from some of the best musicians around-- not a bad way to spend $7.00.

If you just want to download it, it's only $4.00 on itunes....

And you know you want it.

Twilight Singers can do no wrong in my book. Thanks for this last minute Christmas Present, Mr. Dulli. It is greatly appreciated.

LIVE WITH ME - a Massive Attack cover with an A+ Mark Lanagan vocal. Fits in well with the excellent material on Lanagan's relativly recent "Bubblegum" album.

THEY RIDE - Greg Duli sings this one, and it has a vintage Afghan Whigs (Gentlemen era) vibe. This is the best song here, and possibly the best song Greg has recorded in many years.

This disc is supposedly an import (though it is hard to tell from where)and has a mighty high price tag. Still, THEY RIDE might actually be worth the $20 I spent on this baby. The other three tracks are fine too.

I was lucky enough to see the band, with Dulli and Mark Lanegan handling vocals on "Live with Me" live in San Francisco back in mid-2000s, and I've never been so damn jealous of talent in my life. Just a powerhouse of a band, and Lanegan somehow manages to lower the goddamned barometric pressure in the room with his vocals. It's like watching a black hole on stage... his gravitational pull is so strong no light can escape...

but for the crazy red dwarf that is big Greg Dulli. He's like the raconteur slightly-evil Old World uncle you always wished you had to slip you smokes and drinks and family gatherings, but with a vocal range that can go from a Rod Stewart rasp to a Prince falsetto in one measure.

One of my favorite bands. Cue up the 30-second sample of "Live with Me," and you'll be convinced as well.

After Blackberry Belly this is the best CD of Twilight Singers for me. I like Dulli's music and I listen to him from old Afghan Whigs to Gutter Twins. Live with me (first song) is just a masterpiece with voice of Mark Lanegan (my favorite singer).

It's a great E.P.
But it's cheaper on itunes, and They Ride is also the bonus track on itune's version of 'Powder Burns".
The coolest thing about this album, was the fact they covered "Live With Me" just months after Massive Attack had released it on their best of compilation. "the Lure Would Prove to Much" is one of Dulli's best Creations.

This EP's opener and closer are both slow burning, sexy songs speaking volumes of longing and lust, but never do either of these get overt in the sexual tone. It's amazing to me, each time I listen to these songs, how GD and company achieved that. Live With Me has Mark Lanegan sounding like Joe Cocker in love. The Lure Would Prove Too Much makes me want to slow dance & just revel in the touch of the one I love. Sublime is a real groove, with Dulli at his best, crooning, whispering, longing, creating a sexy steam bath with the sounds. Flashback is a bit more rock, but the lyrics are still about wanting & lust. I think there are at least 4 singers sharing the vocals in Flashback, one sexier than the other. They Ride rounds out the EP and is even a bit more rock, but still has the sexy groove in the electric guitar and Dulli's vocals. Another must-have for fans of Greg Dulli, this EP compliments Powder Burns LP perfectly. Actually, The Lure Would Prove Too Much would have fit amazingly well on PB, but I am glad they close ASIT with its slow-dance groove.

The cover of Massive Attack's "Live With Me" is horrible compared to the original. Mark Lanegan's voice is not suited for it and the arrangement lacks the intensity of Massive Attack's version. Bad decision, Greg. "They Ride" is a good, moody rocker with a Whigs feel, and "The Lure Would Prove Too Much" caps off the EP nicely with some emotion. Get your hands on those two songs and you'll be good.