The best rock band you've never heard are BACK (Afghan Wings)

That's right, ladies and gents! Soul/Rock/Whatever antiheroes the Afghan Whigs are returning in April with their new album, the awesomely titled "Do To The Beast".

Labelled "The Motown Nirvana", the Whigs scored an underground hit with the phenomenal "Gentlemen" - an unbelievably venomous mix of searing rock and swaggering soul. They followed that up with two more extremely strong albums, the miserable, film-noir influenced "Black Love" and the arse-shaking sexy party album "1965" before calling it a day, having never gained the recognition or sales they deserved. They reunited in 2012 for a few tours, including a memorable set with Usher, but that was supposedly going to be it.

UNTIL NOW.

I'm unbelievably excited, not least because I now have the perfect soundtrack for drinking the frankly silly amount of Scotch I got for Christmas. So, here's a 3 song introduction to the best-kept secret of the 90s.

Gentlemen: The title track

edited 27th Jan '14 1:58:32 PM by Jonny0110

Honky's Ladder, from the brooding Black Love

Somethin' Hot, from the partylicious 1965

There are people who haven't heard of the Afghan Whigs?

Plenty. Sadly.

I mean, I wouldn't exactly call them mainstream, but I wouldn't call them obscure.

Also, if it's okay with you, I think we should holler for a thread name change so the thread's name isn't so ambiguous/a marketing slogan.

I post only as an example of someone who has never heard of them.

I've heard a couple of albums of theirs: Gentlemen is their most relatively well-known album because it's full of very bitter Breakup Songs, but musically I can't really get into it - it's been a while since I listened last, but I found the songs generally pretty samey. 1965 I like a lot more - "partylicious" is a pretty good adjective for it. Oh, and "Honky's Ladder" was the first song of theirs I'd heard - a local radio station I listened to in the late 90's was playing the censored version.

Yeah I tried to change the thread name after having second thoughts, but I couldn't. Afghan Whigs are back is fine by me.

I have heard surprisingly little by Afghan Whigs, but it is heartening to know that such a band is still kicking around in some form.

Well, at least to put the name of the band in the thread, y'know?

New single, "Algiers".

To be honest, not the thunderous "we're back" statement I was hoping for. But it's growing on me with every listen. I love the murder-ballad feel of it (backed up by the cool video). Having said that, I hope the rest of the album sounds more distinctly "Whigs", rather than sounding like it would fit onto the last Twilight Singers album.

edited 19th Feb '14 3:59:05 PM by Jonny0110

I see this song is in the long, proud tradition of borrowing the intro from "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes. This is not meant as a knock at all, I just find it interesting how frequently that song gets homaged, and that it can be given a feel that's completely outside it's 60's Girl Group origins - in this song, it ends up with kind of a Spaghetti Western feel.

edited 19th Feb '14 7:45:00 PM by MikeK

I edited the title for you. Does it look good or do you want something shorter?

Seems like a good compromise like this.

it's Afghan WHIGS, not wings.

edited 22nd Feb '14 12:14:19 PM by Jonny0110

The clips are all up on Amazon. Good to hear a few rockers on there.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Beast-The-Afghan-Whigs/dp/B00IGZ3CN8/ref=mb_oe_o

Also, could we change the name to the correct name of the band, as I detailed above? "Afghan Whigs new album" would be even better. Much shorter.

The album is now streaming for those who preorder the CD/Vinyl through Sub Pop records. I am British and don't fancy paying more than the CD price in postage so I am holding off, like.