Gentlemen

Afghan Whigs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1993)
• Original Release Date: October 5, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002HD5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

11 tracks. Still sealed. Drill point mark into title spine does not touch art.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic and Heartbreaking Album October 15, 2005

By Etc

Format:Audio CD

This is about as emotionally intense as it gets. Apart from Dylan's classic album "Blood on the Tracks," I can think of no other record that so perfectly encompasses the bitterness and beauty of heartbreak.

There's a venom that lines the music and lyrics, and everything is is almost masochistically brutal and occasionally just nasty. It's dirty and raw, and filled with an honesty that music rarely has the guts to even try to emote.

This is not some angst-ridden whining that typifies what music today offers up for expression. This is a portrait of the brutality that simultaneously tortures and enriches relationships. Loaded with malice, bitterness, insight, guilt, pennance, and love, Gentlemen is a seminal work that feels as though it's always been there. It's a soundtrack to your pain, and it aggressively forces you to confront yourself. As another reviewer put it, this album is something of a confessional, and it is hard to not identify with it, as harrowing as it can be to do so.

When Sub Pop was making it's big push, the two bands they were placing their bets on were The Afghan Whigs and Nirvana. I guess it's obvious that Nirvana "won" that contest, and while there are commonalities between the bands (and I would say that the Whigs deserve a bit more public acclaim than they have recieved), Nirvana never created anything as naked as this album. There's nothing obtuse about this; it's as straight forward and 'in your face' as rock music can be.

If you're already a fan, I would also recommend hunting down the "What Jail is Like EP," which features some of the best cover songs ever... namely the cover of The Assponies "Mr. Superlove;" which belongs up there alongside the soaring accomplishments of Gentlemen.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hotter than Cincinnati Chili! July 28, 2000

By Thornton F. Cole

Format:Audio CD

The pride of Ohio's River Mecca, the Whigs let it all hang out on this stellar SubPop (Nirvana, Mark Lanegan, Sprinkler) release. The unbelievable bravado of frontman Greg Dulli is matched only by the funkiest bandmates since Morris Day's The Time. Touchingly depraved running the gammut from drug abuse to sexual orneryness, this album has it all. An AP top 100 Alternative Album, this record is a must own for any serious devotee of indie style rock. One listen to the painful and truthful strains of "Be Sweet" or the addiction anthem "Fountain and Fairfax" and anyone who has been out all night in the last decade will be sold. The Whigs clearly studied the Rolling Stones, Curtis Mayfield, Prince, Husker Du and Gang of Four because never has their been a rag tag bunch of loveable hooligans to find the funk, blues, alt-rock and timing of this band. And they love fellow Cincinnati bad-boy Pete Rose, the only person in Ohio who could probably outlast 'em at the bar of your local strip club. An amazing record. Check out some of their other stellar releases, including "Congregation", "Up In It", "1965" and the rocking "Black Love."

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and scary..... And simply brilliant May 9, 2008

By ASA

Format:Audio CD

Wow, the only thing more difficult than listening to this record is writing a review.

A little history.... I saw the title song on MTV's 120 minutes. It was good. I heard the song on the radio and it was good. Just about every song on this CD is "good." The point being, when you listen to it as a whole, each song becomes GREAT. "Gentlemen" and "Debonair" were minor hits, and if you heard those songs and they sounded "o.k.", trust me when I say that after to listening to CD a few times you will appreciate those minor hits 10 fold.

I bought this CD a few months ago after reading the reviews on Amazon.com. I was blown away. I really haven't seen such passionate reviews for any record on Amazon.com. Not even the Beatles have any 5 star studio recordings. Where the listeners/reviewers duped? Hardly.

I have now been obsessed with this CD for 2 years. Words can not describe the pain, torment and beauty of this CD. This is not a CD to listen to while drinking beers and playing pool with your buddies. This is a solitary CD, to be listened to while sitting in a chair, with a glass of Scotch, and giving it your full attention. No books or magazines allowed. Just you and your attention, please. Only then will you truly understand the genius of this record.

This CD is all about love. A love that lasted a third of Greg Dulli's life. A love that ended. Greg is in horrific pain, and it is obvious. To write songs that simply say "You are a b_tch and I hate you" would be way too simple. This is not that type of record. Greg accepts responsibility for his failings. The part that is really scary is that you and I have those same traits and thus, the same failings. To use a tired cliche, Greg points the finger at the female, and simultaneously points three fingers back at himself. And you and I have at least two of those three traits.

"Gentlemen" was the first song I heard. It was "ok" a few months ago, and yet now it is simply brilliant. I can honestly say I "get" that song perfectly when listened to with the rest of the CD. Every song here works... there is no filler. Even the instrumental at end works, like a warm bath after at hard day's work in a coal mine. The instrumental is needed after the emotional devastation caused by this record.

This is not a fun CD to listen to. In fact, Greg had another singer sing one of the songs because it was too painful for him. "My Curse" features Marcy Mays, and she is amazing. If you were wondering, there is a line where she talks about perfume that the other person is wearing. This is not a lesbian love song, it is a song written by Greg to a female that he could never sing in the studio because it was too painful. And if you go to youtube and see the live version of the song sung by Marcy, you will understand why.

My favorite song may by "What Jail is Like," but "Be Sweet" and "My Curse" are also among my favorites. "Favorite" meaning most painful, most like my own life, and most likely to make me cry.

People compare the Afghan Whigs to Nirvana. They were both on Sub Pop. "Nevermind" is brilliant, but it is not "Gentlemen." First, the lyrics on "Nevermind" can't even come close to "Gentlemen." There are no "an albino, a mosquito" lyrics on Gentlemen. This is not to bash Nirvana, but Gentlemen is so much deeper. Second, The Afghan Whigs are great musicians. If any of you play guitar, you know that "Nevermind" is a pretty simple album to play, so long as you know what a power chord is. Not so with "Gentlemen." The Afghan Whigs are real musicians, with a definitely soul influence. Heck, there are even pianos on this CD.

Well, I guess I've rambled for a long time. If you are still happily with your first girlfriend from 8th grade, then skip this CD. Get a Hanson or Lady Gaga record instead. But if you have been emotionally destroyed by the breakup of a relationship anytime in your life, then get this CD. You will understand it. It will speak to you. You will be amazed by it, just like 99% of all the others who have reviewed "Gentlemen."

And yes.....it really is that good.