Afghan Whigs
Congregation (Sub Pop) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2
Loosely schooled in the music of Seattle`s Sub Pop Records (first home of current chart darlings Nirvana), the Afghan Whigs tap a more accessible brand of music than normally associated with the Seattle-Minneapolis axis of grunge guitar groups. Culling the angst of harder-edged bands as well as the melodies of later Husker Du, this Cincinnati troupe stirs a torrent of emotions on neatly paced songs like ”This Is My Confession” and the sauntering ”Let Me Lie to You.” Singer Greg Dulli lifts ”I`m Her Slave” and ”Conjure Me”
(the latter amid a backdrop of superb wah-wah guitar effects). His vain attempts to duplicate the gravelly vocal style of Husker Du`s Bob Mould notwithstanding, the band`s tight rhythm work meshed with Rick McCollum`s guitars-masterful on the song ”Turn On the Water”-put the Afghan Whigs on rock`s cutting edge.
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