This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs

1993

Gentlemen
Album Summary

Gentlemen is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band the Afghan Whigs. It was recorded primarily at Ardent Studios in Memphis, with the band's frontman Greg Dulli producing, and released on October 5, 1993, by Elektra Records.Written by Dulli on tour for the band's 1992 album Congregation, Gentlemen is composed as a troubling song cycle that follows a toxic relationship as it ends. Noted for Dulli's grimly acerbic lyrics and influences from soul music, it is considered by critics to be the Afghan Whigs' greatest record, an essential release from the 1990s, and among the best-written breakup albums. The album was remastered in deluxe format for its 21st anniversary and covered extensively in a dedicated volume of the 33⅓ music book series.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.9

Votes

14056

Genres

  • Rock

Reviews

Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!
Sort by: Top Date
Aug 21 2021
View Author
2

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

👍
Mar 24 2021
View Author
1

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

👍
Aug 11 2021
View Author
1

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.

👍
Jun 25 2021
View Author
5

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

👍
Apr 21 2023
View Author
5

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.

👍
Feb 18 2021
View Author
3

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

👍
May 10 2021
View Author
4

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.

👍
May 03 2021
View Author
3

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.

👍
Sep 23 2022
View Author
2

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

👍
May 16 2021
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 04 2021
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 02 2023
View Author
1

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.

👍
Apr 07 2022
View Author
1

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.

👍
Apr 08 2022
View Author
5

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.

👍
Jan 20 2021
View Author
5

Angst lyrics but 90’s rock sound.

👍
Feb 14 2021
View Author
4

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

👍
Jan 14 2021
View Author
4

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

👍
Nov 11 2021
View Author
2

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.

👍
Mar 21 2023
View Author
1

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.

👍
Aug 03 2022
View Author
1

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.

👍
Sep 10 2021
View Author
1

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

👍
Nov 02 2022
View Author
5

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.

👍
Apr 22 2022
View Author
5

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

👍
May 02 2023
View Author
4

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.

👍
Oct 21 2021
View Author
4

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.

👍
Jun 21 2024
View Author
3

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

👍
Dec 21 2023
View Author
3

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.

👍
Jun 02 2021
View Author
3

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.

👍
Apr 10 2021
View Author
2

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

👍
Mar 01 2025
View Author
5

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

👍
Feb 28 2025
View Author
5

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

👍
Feb 21 2025
View Author
5

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.

👍
Jan 30 2025
View Author
5

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

👍
Jan 03 2025
View Author
5

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.

👍
Dec 12 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Dec 09 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Nov 17 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Nov 08 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Nov 01 2024
View Author
5

One of my favorite albums of the 90’s

👍
Oct 18 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Aug 29 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Aug 29 2024
View Author
5

Intense alternative guitar rock. Very impressive.

👍
Aug 16 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Aug 14 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Jul 22 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Jul 10 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Jun 07 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Feb 22 2024
View Author
5

Great album, really enjoyed the sound and the concept.

👍
Feb 11 2024
View Author
5

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

👍
Jan 12 2024
View Author
5

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.

👍
Dec 31 2023
View Author
5

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.

👍
Nov 27 2023
View Author
5

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.

👍
Nov 22 2023
View Author
5

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.

👍
Oct 14 2023
View Author
5

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

👍
Sep 11 2023
View Author
5

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

👍
Jul 28 2023
View Author
5

Amazing to hear the origin of kings of Leon music

👍
May 29 2023
View Author
5

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

👍
Dec 23 2022
View Author
5

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.

👍
Oct 13 2022
View Author
5

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

👍
Aug 24 2022
View Author
5

Ovo mi je jedan od najdražih albuma devedesetih

👍
May 08 2022
View Author
5

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

👍
May 08 2022
View Author
5

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.

👍
May 08 2022
View Author
5

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😉

👍
Jul 13 2021
View Author
5

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.

👍
Jul 13 2021
View Author
5

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

👍
Mar 27 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Mar 20 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Mar 09 2025
View Author
4

Found it in very good 4/5 will relisten

👍
Feb 23 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 17 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 13 2025
View Author
4

A lovely godfather to grunge effort.

👍
Feb 07 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 07 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Feb 05 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Jan 31 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Jan 29 2025
View Author
4

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.

👍
Jan 20 2025
View Author
4

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

👍
Dec 30 2024
View Author
4

I have a weird blind spot when it comes to The Afghan Whigs. They weren’t really on my radar in the ‘90s and I discovered them later through Greg Dulli’s work with Mark Lanegan. I own Congregation and several Twilight Singers albums but rarely listen to them. I’ve seen Dulli and Lanegan live as The Gutter Twins and love the album. And I really like this. I’ve probably heard it before. I should probably listen more frequently.

👍
Dec 27 2024
View Author
4

4.2 4x Bill Harris introduced me to this album in mid 20s. good stuff

👍
Dec 25 2024
View Author
4

24/12/24 I have never heard of this band and I like what they offer.

👍
Dec 11 2024
View Author
4

I was about 5 years too young for this at the time, which is a shame. 90s US alt-rock, from a point in time where the UK was just about to fall out of love with American artists for a while.

👍
Dec 07 2024
View Author
4

I became a fan this year (2024) when I saw them play as a dual headliner with The Church. This album exemplifies why I liked them live.

👍
Load more reviews