Gentlemen

I love the music, but the lyrics are complete trash and give me gross incel vibes

did not finish. i feel it is my right to not finish albums now.

This is a little too aggressive, 90s for me. Sounds like music for guys who yell at their girlfriends in public. Yeah. I hate this.

Amazing album. Unfortunately it works as the missing link between grunge and shitty bands like Bush and Creed.

Incredibly discomforting, this might the best breakup album ever. Greg Dulli delivers a vocal performance with as much diversity as the genres explored on the record, and the choices in instrumentation (especially guitars and relentless drumming) seem to match his emotional range perfectly. Having never listened to anything by The Afghan Whigs previously, this resonated emotionally with me on the first listen. A rarity, but something that a lot of albums can only aspire to do.

The singer's voice kind of ruined it for me.

This band has always floated around the periphery of the music I listen to. Oft recommended but seldom listened to. What turned me off in previous listens was the lyrical directness. I always felt like the music begged for something more abstract and circuitous. This listen was quite enveloping though. Something finally clicked.

3.0 - A killer backing band with explosive drums and great guitar work. Non-chord based and almost absent of melody, which actually helps create some expansive soundscapes. But, sweet Lord do I find that lead singer grating! He sings with joyless, grunty disgust and the lyrics just make him seem like a dumb douchebag. Some of the writing seems lazy, leaning on unneeded swearing, which comes off as pretentious. The only standouts are "Curse Me", which has a female vocalist. Absolute gem. And the last instrumental track (again without the lead vocalist) is great.

Sort of a boring parody of a boring generic 90s album. So ethereal that it completely leaves your memory *as it is playing*

How have I gone all these years without this band in my life

Familiarity: 0/10 Notes: wow. Symphonic Grunge, layered emotion, and tight playing. Note to self, check out more Afghan Whigs Real Rating: 8/10

I guess I was aware of the Afghan Whigs but never spent much time paying attention to them. Was surprised to find out this is an album about being sad about having a boner. This is Incel Rock. I didn’t care for it, and “Angst in My Pants” is my favorite Sparks song.

Got to the fourth song, Debonair, and called it quits. Jesus was a grating album. Just loud, unmelodious shouting. Didn't add and not even remotely interested in listening to anything else they've done.

Wow, it looks like I found another candidate for the surprise of the year (for myself only, of course)! The Afghan Whigs with an album "Gentlemen", described as the best breakup record ever written. I don't know about that, but you can feel the emotions filling the whole room from the moment the first song starts. The album oscillates between an indie rock, quirky melodies to hard rock, full-on grunge tracks. The combination, that falls somewhere in-between those genres perfectly encapsulates the anger and sadness, creating a very atmospheric setup for the whole album. I think that might be one of those records, that doesn't have any fillers - every song fits into the concept, but also stands on its own. One can easily say, that there is 11 singles, each deserving a spot on the list of "greatest songs you musty heard before you die". Vocal on this album doesn't sound very well, the voice of the main vocalist, Greg Dulli, breaks up pretty often, but probably that's on purpose - it also adds more melancholy and desperation for some of the tracks. What's interesting, my two favourite songs from the album are the two where Greg doesn't sing. First one, with similar style of singing, but from a woman, Marcy Mays, "My Curse". I think this song is the culmination of the album - great, hard rock ballad, do not listen when you are going through a breakup yourself, many tears may follow. The second favourite song is the last, instrumental "Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer". It's just an excellent ending to the album filled with emotions, giving you slow and soft release, perfect song to loop forward to the beginning of the record. Easy 5 stars, I'm looking forward to the journey into Afghan Whigs' discography.

Excellent; one more album in the list of reasons why I started this project.

Never heard of this but it's absolutely fucking great. Melodramatic angst-ridden lyrics, dark vibes, just a great breakup album. Sounds way more recent than 1993 as well. Loved it.

Angst lyrics but 90’s rock sound.

I listened to the Afghan Whigs full records as a part of another list I’m taking on and I think this one is the best. Mixture of soul, R&B, post punk and alternative rock to make an interesting genre all their own. Favorite song: Debonair Least favorite song: Fountain and Fairfax

Had never heard of this band and was pleasantly surprised enough that I'll be checking out much more of their catalog, who knew I liked early 90s emo

A meeting of conflict and lassitude, laziness and propulsion. Great in theory, and a handful of others have pulled it off. But not these well-intentioned chaps.

I remember when these guys were indie darlings and this record was particularly celebrated. The cover always stood out but I was focused on other things and never checked them out until today. Was expecting more of the jangly ironic installectual indie rock I love, not this post grunge wannabe emo. Not my bag at all. I actually turned it off about 20 seconds into the second song when he sang "Cause she wants love, and I still want to fuck." Not on my dime, asshole! Slamming the off button was pure reflex and felt very good to do, like removing a splinter, but after a while I decided I owed it to this 1001 project to go back and listen to the whole album. This is very much not my kind of music. I am actively rooting for harm to befall the protagonist of these songs. I am also a little bit afraid he's going to slip a roofie into my drink. Apparently this is a breakup record? Well, all I can say is I know whose side I'm on. Postscript: Every time my mind wanders and I forget that I am forcing myself to listen to this, I turn it off. Three times now I have had to remind myself I am supposed to play this pile o shite album. I can't do it. I probably made it halfway through before I decided life was too short and no can do I.

Sonically, this album is just whatever; middling 90s grunge that could probably play on the radio for a week or two. Lyrically... this album is so disgusting. These lyrics reek of a man who has been sitting in a basement for weeks not showering, mountain dew cans everywhere, stained sheets, dim gross yellow light. He is such a disgusting man, I can see why he was broken up with. These lyrics are truly despicable. No favorite songs.

Ugh, with the whining. Eeeeuuuaaahhh. Eeeeuuuaaahhh. 50 mins of this. Even the guitar was whiny. I don't know who this speaks to but I'll bet they are real downers at a party. It's like The Cure at 78 rpm. Or Smashing Pumpkins at 45.

#3 was so bad I found myself adjusting the sound settings in my car thinking there was something wrong with them

The best lines start as post-punk on the bass and develop with the rest over the length of the cycle. The vocal and volume switch-up works, doesn't break through pervading grime.

Forgot how good the Afghan Whigs are. While grunge was taking over, this album is a nice alternative sound to what would become the ALTERNATIVE sound.

I enjoyed this album.

I was 23 when this album came out, and it got quite a lot of play in my friendship circle. It fit our idea of grown up and sophisticated rock that reflected our supposedly grown up and sophisticated lifestyles. In retrospect, we were living in sqalid share houses, working menial jobs, drinking too much, dabbling in bad drugs, and having terrible relationships that inevitably devolved into public screaming matches and somebody throwing a glass or a punch or a bar stool. And Gentlemen is the perfect soundtrack to that lifestyle. And it too, in retrospect, is squalid and immature. I don't buy the equation that shame and self loathing are moral offsets for bad behaviour, which makes this a little hard to listen to these days, now that I have a few hard won lessons about behaving like a decent human being. That said, Greg Dulli is a compelling front person. I always thought of him like darker, meaner Lloyd Cole. The character he plays is reprehensible, but given Dulli's background in film making, I assume there is a fair amount of role playing here. The band is terrific, I particularly find the guitar work lacerating and noisy in a way that reflects the thematic content. I can hear that they understand the feeling of old RnB and soul without slavingly imitating. Checking back, I seem to own quite a few Afghan Whigs albums (including this one). I should play them more often, although they do leave a slightly bad taste in my mouth. 3.5 stars, rounding down for bitter aftertaste.

Musically, right up my alley. Lyrically, not as much. Overall: not bad, not great.

No. 73/1001 If I Were Going 4/5 Gentlemen 3/5 Be Sweet 3/5 Debonair 4/5 When We Two Parted 4/5 Fountain And Fairfax 3/5 What Jail Is Like 3/5 My Curse 3/5 Now You Know 4/5 I Keep Coming Back 3/5 Brother Woodrow 3/5 Average: 3,36 Musically I liked this, the singers voice really showed some weaknesses on some songs.

Raw and emotional. Lyrically repugnant. Don’t love the vocals but subjectively appropriate for the style/message. I don’t like it, but I COULD under the right circumstances. Going middle of the road rating, but can’t fault the whole package.

I like Afghan Hounds. They’re cool. I don’t like Al Qaeda. They’re seriously not cool. This here Afghan Whigs thing is somewhere in between, probably closer to the Al Qaeda end of the spectrum. The vocals are kinda Trent Reznory although a lot more painful and whiny and also the music is just pretty generic alt-rock/grunge stodge. It does have a glint of a power pop feel although I say ‘pop’ loosely because all of the melodies were quite tiresome and a slog and not even remotely catchy.

Blah. Wasn’t bad enough to be a one but didn’t hold my attention and I kept n ou ting how many more songs until it was over.

Radiohead with all of the pretension but none of the talent. Shitty lyrics, tacky song names, Dad Rock at its most uninteresting.

The 90s really were a crap decade for original music. Listened to this yesterday, must be forgettable as now can’t even recall what they sounded like.

I picked up a used copy of this in 1994 on the strength of "Debonair" and "Gentlemen", which had been getting some play on MTV. It was different from the grunge that was was dominant at the time, being a little more soulful than your typical alternative band. Over the years, Greg Dulli's become a staple of alternative/indie music for me with the Afghan Whigs and with his other project the Twilight Singers. The first half of this album is flawless with every song a standout. I really like how Dulli reintroduces the chorus of the opener "If I Were Going" in "Debonair", three songs later. It's a cool use of a motif you don't see a lot in alternative rock albums. The second half isn't quite as strong, but there's some cool ideas nonetheless - I like bringing in Marcy Mays as a guest lead vocalist on "My Curse" and I like that they throw in a cover of a Tyrone Davis song, which is unusual for an album that's supposed to be a concept album about a breakup. Anyway, awesome album. Highlights are "If I Were Going", "Debonair", "Gentlemen", "Be Sweet", and "When We Two Parted". 5 stars.

Beter dan best goed

It took me a long time to come around to liking the Afghan Whigs but now I’m all in. The record is wonderful.

Love this. Been a fan of this album since it came out.

I've heard of The Afghan Whigs before, but I don't think I've ever heard any of their music before, and I certainly couldn't tell you what they sound like. I tend to enjoy rock music from this era though, so I have moderately high expectations for this album. Let's jump into it! This album snagged my attention from the first song, and never let go of it over the course of its eleven songs. I really loved the guitar playing on every song, and the band's sound was really unique. This album sounded like nothing else I've ever listened to from this era. I'm usually big on hooks and melodies in the music that I listen to, but I enjoyed this album despite its lack of reliance on those elements to construct its sound. The guitar playing and other instruments did a great job of crafting a dark mood that matched the lyrical tone. Speaking of other instruments, I really enjoyed the piano and mellotron arrangements utilized on this album as well; they really added a lot of depth to the sound. The cello playing on "Fountain and Fairfax" was amazing as well, and I'd have to rank this song as my favorite on the whole album. As much as I enjoyed "Fountain and Fairfax" though, the whole album was really strong from start to finish, and there wasn't a single song I didn't enjoy. I thought the songwriting was really strong on this album too. These lyrics were certainly full of heartbreak, rage, and dead-end despair, but I thought they captured those feelings in a meaningful way. This album really caught me surprise today, and I can see why it has a reputation as one of the best rock albums of the nineties.

exceptional in every way, the most obviously underrated band of the 90s

I love the grunge era but never listened to this band before now. Groovy and emotionally raw to the point of being a little uncomfortable. Will listen again and again.

this is like... horny teen boy angst in a bottle?

After the first track, this was a perfect album. Somehow getting better and better with each song. So much emotion packed into every single note. What a fucking gem

Quando a junção de camadas sonoras carregadas de guitarras demonstram que a busca por conexão se transforma em um jogo de manipulação e desilusão, desafiando as convenções e revelando a essência crua da condição humana.

This is one of those albums I wish I’d known about back in the early and mid-‘90s. It’s a mix of alternative and rock with a raw, gritty sound that adds texture and emphasizes the underground indie rock feel. I love the rhythm guitar, which has such a strong drive that grounds the songs and sets their tone and direction. The production is also raw and gritty but still meticulous, giving each instrument its own space to stand out and shine.

One of my favorite albums of the 90’s

Another band that I wish I'd got into sooner. Quite grungey, but subtler and more varied.

Great AW album, just like Congregation and 1965, but Gentlemen might be their best. Mainly listened to their music in the 90s, but it might be time to check out their more recent albums. my vote in 1993: 10/10 and in 2024: 10/10.

Intense alternative guitar rock. Very impressive.

Atmospheric and soulful.

Great rock album. Feels adjacent to Alice In Chains. Themes of abuse, manipulation, and the fallout of a romantic relationship. The vibe is spot on. Love whatever they’re doing with the instrumentals. The singer’s cadence didn’t feel quite right to me, but it did make for some unnerving moments. Album twisted the expected, kept me on my toes. Some transitions and leitmotif. Standouts: Gentlemen, Be Sweet, Debonair, When We Two Parted, Fountain and Fairfax, My Curse, and Brother Woodrow.

I was surprised I hadn't heard of this band or album since it should have been in my wheelhouse. Then again, discoverability wasn't stellar before the internet. I can hear a lot of other bands' inspirations in this, both forward and backward in time, giving this album a bit of a timeless and nostalgic feel for me, though I'm not sure what it does for others.

I thought this was very good. Enjoyed the album and listening to other related music after it ended, will definitely listen to more.

Very good album. Couldn't stop listening and got better the second time through. Will add this one to the rotation!

One of my favorite albums ever.

5/5 the emotional delivery won me over. i can hear dulli going through life events as he sings. the fact that the best song My Curse isnt sung by him speaks to the quality of the songs themselves and the band performance. i can almost hear the producer yelling notes to the band as they play only to be ignored.

So good

Great album, really enjoyed the sound and the concept.

This album was a scuzzy revelation when I first heard it and I loved it for that.

Irresistibly heavy, heady and at times hedonistic, Gentlemen is presented by Afghan Whigs approaching ascendancy. It's almost hard to find a flaw with this record, apart from it being not long enough. But it is best that things are this way. It gives off a feeling of warmth and comfort, oddly enough. Appropriate choice of color palette for the album cover, too.

Amazing

Never heard this band before but still makes me feel the 90's nostalgia feeling creeping in. This was a good record and still sounds good 30 years later. Album cover is a little bit creepy, reminiscent of another album I discovered from this list, Throbbing Gristle's D.O.A.

Take a dive down into the dark, debaucherous depths of Dulli and The Whigs’s most well-known—and most malignant—masterpiece; fucked up as it might seem, it’s one of my favorite places to be.

A great find for me! The vocals were much weaker than the instrumentation on this albums though the lyrics were decent and the vocals did grow on me as I listened. Since I didn’t know anything about this band the second vocalist was a fun surprise (and she was great on My Curse). The guitars reminded me a lot of Ash from a few days ago. “Debonair” had a funky intro and the solo on “My Curse” was my playing style so that was fun. The album sounds like a hybrid between Pearl Jam and Drive By Truckers. Would do a 4.5 if possible but I think this would keep growing on me if I listened more so I’ll give it a 5.

powerful

I had been meaning to check in on Afghan Whigs as they were the subject of Bandsplain this week and I had never heard them. This is one of the most intense records I’ve heard and it absolutely rips. May not be a repeater for me unless I’m really in the mood but goddamn this is excellent

Great album, good rock

Not a 5/5 but can't give it 4/5. 93/100 would be fair. Brilliant album.

Amazing to hear the origin of kings of Leon music

This album is really disgusting but also really good. With lyrics like this I was really surprised to see a song with a female vocalist, but it was pretty awesome. The only song I didn't love was the 2nd to last one. Finding albums like this is what makes this list fun. Score: 90 Art: 80

Fantastic album

One of my favorite albums of all time. Before I listened to Gentlemen I was a boy, after listening to it I was a man. The Afghan wigs aren't easily my favorite band and I have seen them perform numerous times.

Wow, awesome mix of grunge and psychedelic guitars. Definitely hear some king gizz in here.

Ovo mi je jedan od najdražih albuma devedesetih

Prachtalbum! Ik heb nu al zin in het concert deze zomer, de kaartjes al op zak!

Geen tijd gehad om deze top plaat te beluisteren, maar dat hoeft ook niet, want deze heb ik waarschijnlijk meer gedraaid dan welke andere CD ooit! Helemaal goed.

Geweldige band! En deze plaat is een van de meerdere hoogtepunten in hun oeuvre. Wel erg 90's-anger maarja dat is nou eenmaal waardoor ik gevormd ben😉

This is so '90's

Afghan Lids

Otra de las grandes sorpresas de este conteo. PORQUE NO HABÍA ESCUCHADO ESTO ANTES. Brutal disco, creo que es el mejor disco nuevo para mí que escuchado hasta ahorita en este juego.

Me gustó mucho, creo que cumple con su cometido de corazón roto rockero. A ratos suena oscuro, a ratos suena enérgico, pero como que la sensación de tristeza se mantiene constante. Todo suena bien y sigue esa misma línea. Disfruté sobre todo "Gentlemen", "Be Sweet", "When We Two Parted" y "Now You Know". 10/10

it was okay

Really great stuff! Completely thrown by how much I enjoyed it

They did an excellent job of putting the feelings of a break-up to music. It evokes those feelings both sonically and lyrically, which doesn’t make it easy to listen to.

Du rock «fiable», voix et guitares typiquement des années 1990, un bon moment

If I had heard this in 1993 I would have eaten this the fuck up. I'm not sure how I missed them. They were popular enough that I'm familiar with their name, but for some reason never got familiar with their material. This was a superb listen. Still enjoy this sound, man, I love dirty alt rock. Not quite a fiver for me. 9.7/10 ★★★★½

I can't believe I have overlooked this band my entire life. I'm pretty sure I recall it being recommended based on my music taste before but I just never bothered to listen. This hits right where I like my early 90s grunge to be. I preferred the first half of the album over the second but I was really pleasantly surprised by this artist. Rating: 4

A good one; strong songwriting, decent singing, powerful emotional core.

Found it in very good 4/5 will relisten

Greg Dulli has a really excellent grasp of classic R&B with an emphasis on the R. A really great album of R&B that reminds at times of the stones. Songs are strong and punchy, but the production is a little muddy which lends to the down and dirty vibe. I can't think of another band in the indie/alternative scene that sounds quite like this except maybe Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. 4 stars

I liked it

Quite enjoyed this, never heard of them before... decent indie grunge

A lovely godfather to grunge effort.

Big perla sarà che era una giornata tostang Forse a tratti non mi è piaciuto il cantante ma nel complesso bella scoperta

I want to give this album a 5 but the first half is better than the second. If it kept the energy it had for the first half it would be a 5. Otherwise a great album

Not mind-blowing, but a consistently good shoegaze-style album that was a very nice experience to listen to!

wow this was a lot sadder than i was expecting it to be

This is a band I’ve always been interested in as they’ve been a big influence on some of my favorites (The National for example), but this is the first Afghan Whigs album I recall listening to. Really great sound and the kind of album that rewards multiple listens. Good, raw lyrics like in Be Sweet. This makes me want to deep dive into their catalog.

“Muddy Waters invented electricity” — Willie Brown in the movie Crossroads with Ralph Macchio.