Customer Reviews

Black Love

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If my memory serves me right, this record came out on the same day that Smashing Pumpkins' "Mellon Collie and the Inifinite Sadness" was released (or right around then). Whereas that album went on to sell millions and established the Smashing Pumpkins as alterna-rock poster children, "Black Love" languished virtually ignored and sold (comparatively) nothing. I sold "Mellon Collie" back years ago and still listen to "Black Love" every week. This album is the document of an incredilble band at the height of it's artistic greatness. As a concept album, it makes it statement very powerfuly; as a rock album, it combines passion, regret, rock, and punk, more faithfully and convincingly than a thousand Smashing Pumpkins. "Faded" is anthemic rock at its most soulful, and the messed-up funk and soul of "Blame, etc." and "Honkey's Ladder" sound as convincing as Jon Spencer's best blues adorations. In the big rock and roll scheme of things, I can honestly put this record in the same category of greatness as The Who's "Who's Next" or Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" and not feel like some poseur, alterna-rock wanna-be. It really puts forth the same sense of absolute, timeless greatness. Everything about this record is incredible: the sound, the lyrics, the artwork, everything. Why Smashing Pumpkins are still so well regarded and Afghan Whigs are still so "underground" is such a complete mystery to me. In 20 years I won't know who Billy Corgan ever was (unless he's the governor of some state), but I'll still be listening to this great piece work. Can I write this any louder: THIS ALBUM IS INCREDIBLE.

If there's one reason I've kept churning out my mediocre pieces of semi-informed musical criticism for the past four years, it's the hope that my writings may lead others to discover quality bands that they might otherwise have missed, especially those whose time has come and gone without finding the commercial success they deserved. Much like Dinosaur Jr., Mudhoney, and Pop Will Eat Itself, the Afghan Whigs are one such band. Led by the impassioned wailing and libidinous lyrics of frontman Greg Dulli, the Whigs played a sweaty, soulful brand of rock that, regrettably, didn't quite fit in with either the dominant mainstream or alternative currents of the '90's. They didn't sound like Nirvana, and they didn't sound like Hootie and the Blowfish, they just sounded like the Afghan Whigs, and while that sound didn't earn them platinum record sales it should earn them a listen from serious rock fans. And this album, 1996's Black Love, was a fitting testament to their abilities.

While there a few somewhat wimpy moments to be found on Black Love (with Step Into the Light being by far the worst offender), most of the songs here are excellent, filled with outsized emotion, irresistibly memorable hooks, and flawless musicianship. In spite of Dulli's commanding vocal presence, the real star here is guitarist Rick McCollum, whose playing expertly exploits tension, dynamics, and dissonance for a sound somewhat tantamount to a bizzarre crossbreeding of U2, the Replacements, and Yo La Tengo. McCollum provides just about everything you could want to hear on a rock album, from the steady buildup and massive crescendo of Crime Scene Part One; to the euphoric leads of My Enemy; to the screeching feedback of Blame, Etc.; to the hard-pounding riffage of Honky's Ladder and Summer's Kiss. Even better are the album's two longest songs, Bulletproof and Faded. The former starts out with a dense haze of guitar noise before morphing into a monumental piece of fiery, intense rock; the latter is a slow-burning, piano-driven epic that shrinks and grows in harrowing fashion througout its eight-minute running time.

Anyway, while it's rather tragic that these guys didn't have much of a commercial impact, that certainly shouldn't be viewed as an indictment of their sound. Black Love is a vastly underappreciated album, one that should appeal strongly to fans of intelligent, emotional rock 'n' roll. Unfortunately, such a commodity seems to be in increasingly short supply these days, but that just means those who manage to deliver it deserve even more of our attention.

Having listened to Black Love from beginning to end countless times, I can only say that it is truly an awesome album. Not awesome as in the generic way that the term has been driven into the ground, but literally this album leaves you in awe after listening to it. It encompasses every possible human emotion from the eerie start to the tear jerking Faded. If you want balls to the wall, badass rock and roll, Honky's Ladder will fit the bill better than ANYTHING that Korn or Limp Bizkit have ever put out. The Afghan Whigs are the greatest rock band in existence, and Greg Dulli has a voice that is beyond compare. I could write over the 1,000 word maximum singing the praises of this album, but I will digress and leave it up to you to buy this album and listen to it as often as possible, I promise you will never get sick of it. Hell, while you're at it, buy two copies, one for your car and one for your house. My favorite CD of all time.

Known more for the fact that they were sadly overlooked by the music-buying public than for their compelling music, the Afghan Whigs really hit home with this release. Many AW fans regard "Gentlemen" as their masterpiece, but this was my ticket into the Whigs experience, so I am partial to it. For those not familiar with the music of Greg Dulli and Co., they were the only band of the 1990's to combine grungy punk with the swagger of R&B, and it usually succeeded. Greg Dulli's lyrics and voice are the obvious standout, and this album is a display of how extreme his personality is. Songs like "My Enemy", "Blame, Etc.", "Going To Town", and of course, the centerpiece "Honky's Ladder" absolutely drip with rage. Yet for all the anger contained therein, those songs also have an element of yearning and vulnerability to them as well, as if Dulli would rather not be disillusioned, but just can't help himself. And the lyrics are just magnificent; very tongue-in-cheek and humourous in a dark way (When you say/Now we got Hell to pay/Don't worry baby, that's OK/I know the boss). And "Night By Candlelight" is a beautiful, lush sounding ballad, with strings all over the place. The pictures on the inner sleeves (a dead body, a gun, a half-nude woman) perfectly complement the noir-ish sound of the record. Buy this if you are interested in exploring the darker, grittier side of the Afghan Whigs.

The Afghan Whigs created a masterpiece with this record. The music perfectly suits the emotional intensity, often dark and deep. Each song blends seemlessly into the next. In the end, 'Black Love' is a cohesive complete work with no weakpoints.

BTW, I am still kicking myself for not seeing them tour in 1996 supporting 'Black Love'. It is that good.

Greg Dulli can work wonders with a simple line and his gravelly vocals. On 1993's seminal Gentlemen he conjured up a dirty world of cheap sex and obsession, here two years later things haven't changed. Black Love is a slightly more polished album than its predcessors, but forgiveable due to the sheer quality of the songwriting and lyricism. Opening with the bleak Crime Scene Part One and then burrowing deeper on Blame, Etc. (which recalls the classic Debonair), the Whigs begin to rise fromn the dead with a clutch of uplifting, almost anthemic rock monsters - Going To Town and the album centrepiece Honky's Ladder - before going all lighters in the air with the closing nine-minute Faded. Less staisfying over a longer period of time than Gentlemen, but this is the perfect starting place for those unfamiliar with Afghan Whigs. An essential purchase.

Here is the concept album to end all concept albums. It's all about killing people, being on the run from the cops, and trying to convince your significant other to join you in your upward spiral toward the light of the dusty streetlamps. This is a head-trip in every key, for sure.

I know my review title is a bold statement, but I believe this album stands above all the music I purchased or experienced in the 90's. I am always completely shocked and surprised when I see other Afghan Whigs fans rank this lower than their other albums like Gentleman and Congregation. I see this as the clear pinnacle of their career. 1965 is also a very good album, but I will take this album end to end over it every time.

When I first bought this album, I must admit I didn't enjoy it on the first listen. But on each later listening, the underlying melancholy, emotion, and conceptual flow through the songs began to create a stonger and stronger attachment to the album. It is that kind of connection, along with albums that get better with each listen, that lifts an album to be one of my favorites. Of the 50+ alt-rock genre albums I purchased in the 90's (plus many many more listened to, but not purchased), this is now at the top of my list, and is still a must play in my collection.

Part of me is disappointed that this is not more critically acclaimed amongst other great albums of all time, but then I come to my senses and realize I get to really enjoy this relatively hidden gem with a select few.

For the short time the music world was lucky to have these cats, The Afghan Whigs have blessed rock with some damn good product. Having never put out a bad album, Dulli and Co. have had it on smash since "Up In It." My first intro came from 1992's Congregation which I happend across on a whim. (working at a music store allows that sort of thing!) I was blown away by the bands wistfulness and knew I was on to something truly dope in investing in their sound. By the time 1996's "Black Love" came out, it was over. No other band had me in it's clutches as bad as the Whigs. No need to even mention the masterpiece "Gentlemen", as this review is about "Black Love" and it's own inherent gorgeousness.

In discussing the Afghan Whigs among the curious or un-informed, I often draw the parallel that their music is a lot like John Coltrane's final recordings. Anytime a rock band is utilizing Fender Rhodes, Clavinets and Cellos, you're in for a twist. This is not casual music meant to serve as background fodder while you play a rousing game of Madden. No my friend. An album like BL is to be experienced every time you hear it. From the beautiful choral-like opening of "Crime Scene Part One" you know this is not your typical "Drive Thru" band rock experience. Tracks like "My Enemy", "Going To Town", and "Honky's Ladder" are rife with some of the best songwriting you'll ever hear, more akin to poetry than pop-rock. Thank God the lyrics were included! And the "ballads"? "Step Into The Light" and "Night By Candlelight" are beyond description. Hope your love life is in tact because Dulli will have you bawling and reaching for the phone at 3am, begging for that second chance! And the closing track "Faded" is an 8 minute opus that'll damn near have you shedding a tear.

I really hate sub-genres when describing music, but the Afghan Whigs defy description. I'd almost call them "soul-alt" if I had to, but then that would limit them in the sense that they are a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Just writing this reveiw makes me long to pop this cd in. Tremendous. Get all of their stuff please.

In the midst of a time when popular music was becoming boring again a band known only to the true music junkies put out a CD that though went largly unsold at release, changed many lives forever for those of us who bought it. I still own the first copy of this CD I bought that March day in 1996. And I still listen to it constantly. This is not just a great CD for the Whigs but also a Masterpiece in itself. I remember being very frustrated for a few months that all music wasn't this genuine and well thought out. If you like this CD you should check out the others but no promises on their congruity with the sound and mood of this album. The other Whigs albums are great and I have always loved this band but Black Love is a crime-ridden, dark noir opus. Please give it a listen.