Gentlemen

not bad, not so good

GRADE A STINKER.

Du ptit régurgit auditif pour bien péter un plomb

The vocals on If I Were Going are very reminiscent of J Masics so I’m immediately onboard for that. The swirling atmospheric track offers intrigue into what awaits, melting into the drums and then guitars of Gentlemen. The Guitars really are the star of Be Sweet acting as a counterpoint to the laid back drool of the vocals with an occasional burst of life. My curse introduces female vocals very much in the same style but at the same time producing a very different feel

For the second day in a row, I wish I could do half stars on this project. This album confused me. I assumed I’d really dislike it, yet found myself quite enjoying the first half (the second half not so much). It’s a bit better than the 2* albums I’ve given, but I have given 3* to albums I liked more, so that half option would’ve really come in handy. Alas, I’m feeling generous.

I enjoyed a lot of the music but I apparently do not have the patience to listen to Greg Dulli's whinging. It's not even that he has a particularly bad voice, I just cannot stand his delivery. 2/5

Pretty good alt rock album. The remaster sounded very clean. 4/5

I don't see what all the fuss is about. It just sounds like regular 90's Alternative Rock with a slight Indie edge. Not bad, but not anything special either. Key tracks: Debonair

First time hearing them, it his the spot!

Always love the slow groove.

This guy loves sex. To the point where he doesn't care about anything else. Thats what I get out of these lyrics. The music itself is pretty awesome. But fuck man! Get someone else to write the lyrics.

Such an incredibly beautiful and raw album

Again, never let them to, and somehow never comes up with similar artist, but now one that I absolutely won’t listen to more in the future. Great consistent album from start to finish.

Highlights: Gentlemen, Be Sweet

It’s fine. Feels like they’re aware it could’ve been better.

I'd always seen the name but never heard the music. Trent Reznor sounding vocals with a Wilco meets Bush sound. Very underground 90's. Wasn't quite my favorite but am happy I listened.

Muito bom e diversificado

In my opinion one of the most underrated bands ever. Top quality. No skips

Liked it overall! Really need to listen to it again but just didn't quite have time

A solid rock album more challenging than the music suggests

Really strong album. Definitely feels of the grunge era, but retains a unique feel that doesn’t sound like it’s trying to be a “me too” of that era.

No le ponia fichas y no estaba mal. Aprobo

Meh

This style of alt-rock just isn’t for me. I understand why someone would be into it, but I find the lead singer’s voice grating. It’s a well-produced album of heartfelt music, but I don’t think Afghan Whigs are my taste.

I pride myself on being a huge grunge fan but I don't recall this band at all. The record is OK; it's definitely grungy and got that early 90's rawness to it, but it fails to give me the huge moments that the other big acts from the time provided. I step away from the album not remembering any big chorus hooks or any special guitar riffs. There's good ideas here, but not enough to stand out. It sounds like a band to me that had a good core sound, were able to pay for some legit studio time, but didn't execute well enough in the composition facet to really get to the next level. I suspect a lot of the reason is on the vocalist, as I don't really think he has a great tone, and I don't love his melodies... and grunge was a genre that was jam packed with amazing vocalists.

It’s fine. Definitely stretched my boundaries for rock.

Massively unmemorable and quite boring to be honest. A classic of the 'why is this in here' genre. One thing that you learn quite quickly on this voyage is that - particularly from the US - there is alt rock and there is alt rock. It can go one of two ways, and this one goes the bad way. No imagination or subtlety. No thanks.

Some fun riffs in Be Sweet and Debonair, nice production, but most of the rest stuff is pretty bad. Vocals are annoying, most song are aimless.

I did not enjoy this at all. Singer ruins it. Awful. No vocals on last track

I feel like I was overly harsh on the Beau Brummels yesterday, because although I disliked it, I can see the difference between mere dislike and the reaction this instills in me. I gave it a solid try but had to bail just past the halfway mark.

I liked the closing track.

I remember a time when I kinda liked this style, but I just can't with these lyrics. I almost had to back up a few times because I should I must have misheard it.

I can only stand a small amount of raspy vocals and angsty lyrics, and this album overdid it for me. The first few tracks were quite good though

2.5

2.5

hate the vocal style here

I didn't like this. The world is far too full of this type of thing. Who does this guy think he is? Get lost!

Had some nice moments, musically - but over all left a sour note. Cock rock?

High 2 I like this kind of sound but this got very boring. I blame the vocalist. Its not very melodic, he just sings. Fails to keep it interesting.

Gen X cry alt but it’s actually pretty good. My Curse is a banger.

I dont get it just sounds like some misogynistic post-grunge 5/10 Favourite: Gentlemen Least Favourite: Brother Woodrow / Closing Prayer

I remember hearing of this band, but not sure I really heard any songs before now. Probably a bit too harsh sounding vocals for my tastes, but the music side is good.

Mit Gentlemen liefern The Afghan Whigs ein düsteres, intensives Album, das sich kompromisslos mit den Abgründen männlicher Beziehungen auseinandersetzt. Greg Dullis charismatischer Gesang pendelt zwischen Beichte und Provokation, während die Band eine einzigartige Mischung aus Grunge, Soul und Alternative Rock entfesselt. Die Songs sind roh, emotional und oft unbequem – aber gerade das macht ihren Reiz aus.

Pretty good, probably wouldn't listen to it again though.

- lembra o estilo midwest americano misturado com nu metal, prog e afins - tem altos e baixos, parece que eles não seguiram uma direção bem definida - apesar disso, consigo ver como muito influente pros estilos que foram surgindo

I'd read about the Afghan Whigs and the soulfulness of Greg Dulli, so I was looking forward to this, but it didn't really stick with me. Maybe it has a depth that reveals itself over several listens, but it was pleasant 90s rock that didn't really draw me in. I'm guessing this was added in one edition and subsequently removed. 3, but only just.

Too unintelligible to stick to the narrative thread. 2

The music isn't bad, although it is generic, slightly boring, early 90s rock. The lyrics and singing are terrible. I'd break up with him too.

Alternative rock is my most familiar and listened to genre, so it is surprising I had never listened to this. I did like it, but seemed very middle of the road overall, either way a few standout tracks.

Great

A tight band but with mediocre vocals. I think this one will grow on me over time.

If 'I hate you, please don't leave me' was an album. Lyrically this is a hard listen, dude is going through it. Musically it's enjoyable, especially the drums. I've listened to this a few times over the years. Solid.

9/2/25. Will need to listen again in the future. I liked a couple of the tracks, but felt bored by this one for no particular reason. Maybe it felt predictable, but my rating reflects how I felt about it on this day.

Meh

This kept threatening to turn into something pretty good but in the end it hasn’t left much of an impression. I swear half the panel for this thing are NME journalists from the 90s/2000s

3,5

Selvdestruktive tekster om hvad det vil sige at være mand. Det er jo grunget lyd men blander soul ind i det også og skiller sig ud fra resten af grunge/alternativ rock bands i 90'erne. Nu er jeg jo rigtig vild med lyden af grunge og de tunge guitarer, men teksterne thrower mig en smule off. Det er jo ikke en kommerciel succes, men det er åbenbart anerkendt som deres bedste album de har lavet. Jeg ved ikke heeeeelt hvorfor det er på listen stadigvæk?

The music is good, pretty typical 90s rock. Lyrically not into it.

Weird ass album with egotistical lyrics

This was an excellent indie rock album and I really enjoyed it! Added to the list to buy, and I checked out a bit more of their stuff afterwards too! Very, very good!

The lyrics are just not for me. I mean ethically, how it sounds etc...

Solid album, and one I enjoyed listening to. The only reason it's getting three stars is that when I went back to review it two days after listening, I had to look it back up to remember what it was. Good album, but a little forgettable.

The Afghan Yikes

When this was current, I never listened to it on the hunch it was on the soft rock end of the grunge spectrum. I was right, but missed its peculiarity: it is spiky and noisy, eschews comfortable, verse-chorus-verse for modular, obtuse structures closer to Drive Like Jehu than Pearl Jam, and has imaginative daubs of sound that keep the ear from wandering - the drone on “Now You Know” a good example. All dressing to unattractive matter: sad grunge man has the sex but still has the sad, yet the fit of form to subject is honest.

More from the "trendy '90s bands I have never heard" file. First impressions were quite poor, with music and vocals akin to a slightly-better Jane's Addiction; not a compliment. Grew on me a bit but still very much the kind of thing that would give greasy journalists a hard-on, standing proudly up against the stark backdrop of the real world and its muted indifference. Not sure where the "harrowing lyrics" reputation comes from, reading them it's all quite weak tea, perhaps a bit much for the soft indie lads of the time? If anything, this seems a major antecedent to emo and all its futile whining.

Oddly enough, I have heard these guys a lot but never really truly heard them. I don't even know if I have an idea of what they could sound like. I did not know they sounded like this, I actually thought they were a little more electronic not so live-band sound. The couple songs I heard were pretty good.

Beautiful.

Album 877 of 1089 The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen (1993) Rating : 2 / 5 Today’s album was Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs. To be honest, once it ended I couldn’t recall much of anything I had just listened to. Nothing really grabbed me or stood out. Out of curiosity, I went to the artist’s Spotify page and replayed the two top tracks from this album. Debonair was okay - I even saved it to my liked songs list - but beyond that, the album as a whole just didn’t connect. Maybe giving the lyrics a closer look would change my perspective, though from what I’ve read, it might not. Either way, this one just didn’t do much for me.

hallo wie is er nog?

'And it don't bleed / And it don't breathe / It's locked its jaws / And now it's swallowing.' Grungy tho not exactly grunge, Gentlemen is a visceral and sensible breakup record: 'Ladies, let me tell you about myself / I got a dick for a brain / And my brain is gonna sell my ass to you.' The concept album, w/ an uncomplicated notion at its core, does a lot in the way of supporting the cause for good songwriting, b/c that's ultimately what steals the show. It's not Greg Dulli's voice - not dull but not particularly notable either - or the intensity of the instrumentation. It's not even the lyrics necessarily, tho there are moments that have their shine. It's the structure and the flow, it's the abstract gestalt that somehow delivers something concrete in the end.

I feel conflicted about this album. Gentlemen by the Afghan Whigs (I thought it was Afghan Wings for the longest time) definitely has a case for inclusion on this list. It's seen a fair amount of praise over the decades and it's not the most redundant inclusion on the list, but that's the general consensus. My thoughts don't always align with general consensus though. How do I feel about Gentlemen. Well, I'll start with the positives. I actually really like this album's sound. The guitars and such are actually really cool and the production is solid. I thoroughly enjoy the instrumental sounds that I'm hearing. "Debonair" especially is a banger of a track. However, while the instrumental elements of the album speak to me, the actual vocal parts do not. This pertains to two fundamental elements of the album; the singing and the lyrics. I'm not huge on Greg Dulli's singing. It's hard to explain why I'm not a fan of it, but I feel like most people could kind of see why that is. It isn't particularly enjoyable for me, but it's not the worst thing I've heard. The writing is my other big issue. This album isn't the most comfortable listen in the lyrical department. This is a breakup album, which is obviously not a bad thing. It's valuable to have music that fits this serious life experience. However, I have the feeling that the relationship that must've ended to inspire these songs wasn't exactly the healthiest. The writing here does not paint a flattering picture of our narrator. Songs like "Be Sweet" just don't feel good to listen to aside from the great instrumentals. I don't want to say that the vocals and lyrics ruin the album. I'm sure this album appeals to certain kinds of people who may have gone through rough relationships. However, they just don't appeal to me very much. The songwriting isn't bad, but I'm not a fan myself. Overall, Gentlemen has some elements going for it that I really like, but the overall vibe of the album leaves a taste in my mouth that I don't look for very often. Good album, but not for me. 3/5.

Instrumentals were great and total typical 90s grunge and angst, but I couldn’t do the whiny vocals for the whole album.

This is so odd and so neat to listen to. It would be 5 stars except i don't want to hear the lyrics again

You know for this being a genre a usually don't like, they do a good job. I liked a few of the songs! I think I would like to see them in a grungey hole-in-the-wall bar. Well done for what it is. But the singing voices are a major turn off for me. I just couldn't get into it beyond that.

Abgebrochen vor dem Erbrechen!

Pretty sludgy alternative but with a few interesting grooves. I didn't really pick up on the soul influences but I probably won't be back for many repeat plays on this one.

Rating: 0.5 God damn it this is so bad. This is like if Jars of Clay or early Creed sung top comments from some poetry subreddit instead of singing about Jesus. I wish this band to be crushed by a shipping container full of fedoras and tiny vests. Read their Spotify bio to be subjected to DEFCON 1 corniness instantly.

It’s not terrible but it’s a long way from noteworthy

Ugh. First time in a while I've felt like telling the singer to just get over it.

3.5/5

Pretty bog-standard 90's alternative. Good thing I'm into that style.

Trying too hard to be an edgier Goo Goo Dolls.

Umm

I feel like if I listened to this when it was first released, I would have been way more into it than I am now.

If I could just exchange every whiney 90s "alt-rock" band on this list for one of the countless black artists that have been omitted i would be having a much better time. Gonna go listen to some Chuck Berry to wash the taste of this out of my mouth.

Was expecting a more indie affair rather than another grunge band. Not bad as far as quiet/load grunge goes although let down by terrible vocals - favourite tracks being My Curse/ Brother Woodrow when he doesn't sing.

Gentlemen This isn’t completely awful, but it is utterly boring, a tiresome, self important voice singing bad lyrics over tedious, mediocre 90s alt rock. Nothing stood out, or seemed notable in any positive way, the sense of dullness is just too powerful, and there is no reason to ever listen again. And that really is all I can muster. 🚹 Playlist submission: Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer as thankfully it’s an instrumental.

Aside from the title track, this is an utter dronefest. Lyrically, a heavy serving of self-pity becomes the order of the day and acts as a sinkhole, dragging down the album. There is some salvation with 'I Keep Coming Back' which draws on their soul influences, albeit he skirts round the edge of being in tune. The album's capped with 'Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer' which is a very cinematic number, backed by strings. Finally they are clambering out the sinkhole and introducing some real feelings (notably when no lyrics are involved). Alas, it's too late.

This is something, for sure. It's not terrible 90s rock. Much like the subjects of the lyrics, the album is a bit self-destructive. Like, it's actually pretty close to being a good album, but then (usually) the singer does something stupid with his voice. Nothing on this album is good on the same song. The instruments are killer on a couple songs, and then the lyrics or singing style kills them. Or, when there aren't vocals or they're actually pretty solid, the instrumentation is a tough listen. I want to like this. I actually really want to like this, but it feels like it never really gives me an opportunity to. Favorite Song(s): Fountain and Fairfax, I Keep Coming Back

I didn't read anything about this and I've never listened to it before. Made it through the whole thing without feeling like I needed to skip anything, but I also didn't really feel like anything stood out to me. 2/5

This was a good album. The singing and song compositions reminded me of groups like Bush, Deftones, Linkin Park, and others I can't bring to my memory.

Instrumentally this is cool. I'm not very into the vocals though. The best song was Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer.

Some of the best sounding alt-rock to grace this planet. Lyrics are kinda goofy at times but they're still really good. Might return.

Favorite songs: Now You Know, When We Two Parted, Fountain and Fairfax, Debonair Least favorite songs: My Curse 3/5

This album kills. All the grunge records that came out around this sound like boys cosplaying as degenerate men compared to this. The melodrama is delicious the atmosphere oppressive yet, in a glimmer, uplifting. What a band!

An fantastic document of the grunge-adjacent ‘90s indie-rock underground, with excellent guitar playing from Rick McCollum and lyrics from Greg Dulli: The line “Think I’m scared of girls, well maybe, but I’m not afraid of you / You wanna scare me then you’ll cling to me no matter what I do” hits every time. Special shout-out to the guest vocals on “My Curse” from the singer of Scrawl, a fellow Ohio outfit and hidden gem. The album lulls a little on side one, but from “Fountain and Fairfax” on, it finds a deeper, rarer groove, and it’s a 5.

I feel guilty panning things sometimes. Like, this is probably some guy's favorite record right? Maybe even a few guys? But this is just such dull Gen X Man Rock to me. The Replacements were more fun and Pavement was cooler. It's not offensive but I doubt I'll ever play this record again.

I didnt get this at all.not terrible but not for me.

I like this. Never heard this album before. It sounds 90s. But also not overly 90s. Bit rough around the edges in a good way.

One of these “not really a must listen”. 3/5

Rock alternativo de los 90. Un álbum de un grupo que no había escuchado antes y que sirve de puente entre el grunge clásico y ese post-grunge comercial que tan poca gracia me hace. Los temas son, por lo general, muy buenos. Guitarras interesantes, con muchos cambios dinámicos y de efectos, al igual que el bajo. Por otra parte, la voz no me termina de convencer: ronca y chulesca a ratos y a otros gimiente, pero que se me hace quejica y sin personalidad. Y hablando de quejarse, las letras no pueden ser más lloronas. Entiendo que se trata de un álbum de ruptura, pero no sé, echo en falta algo de sensibilidad en lugar una frustración tan explícita. Dos estrellas por las composiciones, que son más complejas de lo que hubiera esperado en un principio. Otra por la solidez del álbum en general y porque me ha sorprendido. Y le resto una por las letras y porque tampoco creo que sea un álbum imprescindible. Dos estrellitas en total.

Afghan Whigs...a band I have always felt like I should like more. Maybe it is because I didn't get in to them at the time? It is ok, but nothing that seems it would have even worked with me back in the mid-90s. 3.5/5

90s alternative rock/grunge, there was nothing really memorable about this album, it was ok, not unlistenable but not particularly good either.

Really wanted to love this - listened a few times over the last several years, it has its moments, but nothing groundbreaking for my ears.

I didn’t like much about this. The breathy singing, the irreverent sexual lyrics. All sort of rubbed me the wrong way. One song switched up the lead singer and I liked that moderately better.

A not too bad indie alternative rock album. Nothing really stands out in terms of the sound but I like the general songwriting/all the playing is good.

I’ve had to give this a second listen as it passed me by initially; this is the sort of album that probably needs more time to get to know, it’s fine but it’s not really grabbed me. They are a band that’s always been on the periphery of my musical sphere, a band I know by name but little else. I did listen to one of their more recent albums which I enjoyed (but only once or twice) so I’m holding on to the idea that there is something more for me here.

Kinda passed me by. Nothing much to say really. run of the mill grungy sound. grand

Wasn't really big on this. It wasn't bad but didn't really appeal to me.

Great guitar on this album. Other than that it's just kinda ok.

#10, and the second one that I own. The first half (ESPECIALLY "Fountain and Fairfax') is still more powerful than the second, but I'd also forgotten how much I like "My Curse" and the last song. Great listening to this again.

It’s grungy. I love 80s/ early alternative, I love 2000s-10s alt. I don’t love 90s alternative the same way. This was whiny angry-sadboy music. I didn’t *hate* it, but found it forgettable and not up my alley

Music was fine at the time but is utterly forgettable apparently since I don’t remember any of the songs today. Won’t be listening to this again.

A good friend of mine likes the Afghan Whigs - and Gentleman in particular - very much, so I have tried listening to it a number of times and never heard what he finds so compelling about it. Listening to it today, and reading the lyrics, I think the reviewers who describe this as “incel rock” and songs about being an abuser are missing the point somewhat. I think this is more a concept album (or song cycle) about a co-dependent, abusive relationship. But I think it’s about the relationship as a whole, not just the male half. “My Curse” is what convinced me of that, but I think you can hear it throughout the record. I think this is an album about two people in a trap of their own making. They are both torturing their partner and being tortured. It could apply as much to drug addiction as a dysfunctional relationship. I think this is an album worth hearing but I wouldn’t listen to it for pleasure. I don’t think it’s bad, it’s just not really for me.

Great album from my younger days. Hadn't listened to them in a long time.

Found this to be fairly uninspiring. Not a bad album, just nothing that makes it standout. 2/5 Won't listen again

Better tgan Coldplay

The what now? Will says I'll like these guys. Listening: They have a sound that has many intriguing elements to me, the opening song almost felt like Trent Reznor singing, especially having just listened to Downward Spiral. So far I'm not immediately hooked, but maybe there is a stand out song in here. This could be a band that has a handful of songs I like in their entire catalogue. Album snap shots are tricky to gauge.

Not my speed, but definitely evokes the exact era it's from, which is kind of endearing. I don't necessarily want to listen to a full album of these vocals.

= The Beatles

Never was impressed with the Afghan Whigs.

I believe a Cincinnati band!

Inoffensive.

Definitely a hidden gem from this list for me

I had heard of the band before without ever listening to them. It took me a couple of tracks to get into it but when it clicked with me I ended up really enjoying it. I definitely think it’s going to be a grower so could easily go up a star when I do my second listen later. Top Track - Debonair but I also really liked Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer

I dated someone like this. That’s not a compliment.

Grossartig-Durchschnittliche Akustik-Gitarre-Rock wo absolut unspektakulär isch aber au gar ned schlimm oder nervig. müssti eigentlich mini gwohnti bewertigs-härti wiiter durezieh da ich keis Lied vo ihne gspeicheret han aber will sii so unglaublich average und ned störend sind gits hald 3 mal dur d Perrücke streichle

Na nie devo ghört, aber de Name vu de Band hed mi easy ghyped. Denkt ez chund chli was alternativs, freshes. Aber: nei, no, non, njet Fehlalarm. düdadüda, schlepped das Album ab, ** für das. nöd mega schlimm gsi aber doch zwenig oke gsi für 3puntos

glaub scho no guet gsi oder? chönts der to be honest gad wüki nöd säge will die hend d‘segel wieder uf vollmast gha und sind backbord ah mir verbigseglet gwüssi fätze hani no im chopf und sie sind grössteteils gnüssbar gsi, bi andere hani ufzmal en schreiendi stimm im ohr gha das schreit nach eme klassische 3er

Was sure I would know a song or two but feel like I’ve never heard any of that before. Largely forgettable. Not awful. But largely forgettable. 2.5

good breakup album

Indie rock with a voice I couldn't stand

I was 20 years old when this album came out, and everything about it spoke deeply to my soul. As I struggled with relationship issues, the lyrics felt like they knew what I was going through, and the thought I had deep in me. If I could have worn out the cd like you could with a cassette, it would have happened. The album holds up, and I still love it.

A bit generic for my taste. Weirdly I loved the one instrumental track more than any of the other songs that had lyrics. 2/5

This is some poignant stuff. It captures the disintegration of a relationship at a moment that I've gotta think is a universal experience: where there's still enough passion left to spark bitter, hateful arguments but where both parties already long since have crossed the rubicon and left no more space for true reconciliation. That's a bitter place to be and the tortured guitars, solemn drums and poetic lyrics portray it all beautifully. Despite being perfectly functional for this concept, I don't think a huge amount of the vocals here. Against the frantic subject matter this style of singing gets too close to scattered rambling for me, which I'm sure was part of the plan but doesn't make for great listening. Still, it's a very well realized album that captures a truth about modern relationships in a highly creative way. High 3.

Fantastic album! I’m kind of amazed that this is the first I’ve listened to this band. The energetic mix of grunge-like vocals and jangly guitars offers a more accessible sound compared to some of the louder and more distorted bands of the era. Really enjoyed this record, and hope to see more Afghan Whigs on this list.

This is fine. Reviews online promised a lot more from this band than the album actually delivers.

Regular, todas las canciones son prácticamente las mismas

Interesting Grunge(ish?) album from a band ive never heard before. I liked it

It was fine, I like 90s rock so its not bad but just bland

It’s not often that my partner as I are in complete disagreement about an album. We may not always align, but we’re usually close enough. Today, when listening to this, she asked what “that horrible caterwauling was”. I was bewildered, as I was really enjoying the music. It is that perfect level of 90’s moodiness, with a rough-around-the-edges sort of feel, and I think that’s pretty rad. I hadn’t heard of the Afghan Whigs before today, but I’m glad I have now.

I truly hated every minute of this. The music was alright but nothing special. I just hated his singing and lyrics. I can't point to anything more specific than that, I just felt super skeeved out the whole time. I would never listen to this again - 1 star.

Really like this it has a nice flow. I like his voice and it's rock but not over done with unnecessary solos. Nice riffs and tight. I will listen to more by them

Gentlemen was a great album. I always do enjoy a good alt rock album as it is one of my favorite genres due to having an easy to get into, hard to get off of kind of sound i always enjoy. This album definitely has that sound to a T. The musicianship may be a bit awkward at points but for the most part it is very great with the guitars being the main star of the show here. I have heard not great things about the singers voice but while it does take some getting used to, he does have a pretty good voice. The lyrics are probably the weakest part about this album as they could be pretty dumb but still tolerable. I still really liked this album quite a lot mostly for the musicianship. Best Song: Debonair Worst Song: When We Two Parted

I really resonated with the emotion and lyrics of this album, and really liked When We Two Parted, but overall wasn’t my favorite musical style.

A band I felt I should have listened to back in the day but never got around too. Really like this. Great drumming and hypnotic guitars.

was alright pretty weird lyricism wouldn’t listen to again i don’t think. 6.5/10

Ну такое, мне не очень заходит

Surprisingly good.

It was OK

Not really my thing, but Debonair slaps!

Cava album. Ik weet niet of er zo veel meer op staat dan Gentlemen en Debonair waarvan ik zeg: "jua, dat vliegt nu eens in mijn playlist". 2.5

Not bad

Growing up in Cincinnati, one hears about The Afghan Whigs. I’m actually from the lead singer’s hometown, although I just found this out via Wikipedia. There isn’t a plaque or anything. People in Hamilton, outside of the guitar store, have no clue this band exists. And, I think that tracks, because even though, as I said, Cincinnati cares, few in Cincy actually listen to or discuss The Afghan Whigs. All the years I lived there, you’d hear there was this moderately famous band in the nineties, and after that, The Heartless Bastards, and then unless you count 98 Degrees or the band Why?, nobody. So, people respect that someone from our little city succeeded in some capacity, but there aren’t like Afghan Whig parties. The music isn’t celebrated. Listening now, I understand why that is. I don’t mean Gentlemen is bad or anything. The instrumentation is great. The music’s just kinda meh. It lacks dancability and sing-alongability. Anger glazes over and there are some head bang rock out moments, but otherwise, angst. I did have a friend record at the home studio of one of the Whigs, which sounds like a cool time. And, giving AW my first listen, I can certainly hear a strand of influence to the future (current) Cincinnati sound. Those minor scale bass lines driving you deeper into misery, that r&b/rock crossover, that self loathing lyrical strain, that’s all still there. So, it’s interesting to finally stop by an AW album. Not quite my thing, but cool to pay reverence to a local ‘somewhat’ hero.

Something very artistic of Afghan wigs. Raw talent. I remember when gentleman came out and I remember being floored.

Tough to rate. I liked the start, but by the end I had enough. An interesting album nonetheless and glad the generator put it in.

Hated it until the last track.

Is this grunge?

Im not super into the grunge sound. I enjoyed the music much more than the vocal melodies. Very heavy on bass. Last song on the album(has no vocals) was my favorite.

Couldn’t get into it. Debonair was okay.

5/10

The singing makes the music worse. Boring.

I mostly did not like this album. It had a few interesting moments that kinda reminded me of Fugazi, which gains them a point.

Music from the 90s it’s good

Some good sounds on this album. Good musicianship, but not sure I'd listen much.

I forgot about these guys. They’re pretty good. A little bit too much woe is me.

2 out of 5. The vocals made this a hard listen, but oddly enough I enjoyed the drumming on this one.

Didn’t really get into this band back in my youth, and listening to this album I see why. I just didn’t find anything here that stood out amongst all the bands I loved back then. The lead singer especially just turned me off. With a better lead singer, I could have seen this being much better than it was.

Surprisingly good

Surprisingly really liked this dark, grungy, but symphonic album. Excellent instrumentals and while the vocals certainly have that grungy edge to them, for me it wasn’t unbearable or unpleasant.

Big yuck for this one. The music is very well put together, if depressing. Like, time to end it depressing. There is nothing wrong with that though (the world needs sad) and there is a lot of beauty here. I just didn't need a ticket to bummer town today. The lyrics are fucking terrible. I guess the point for Greg Dulli was to illustrate himself as one big, toxic, red flag. He succeeds and wallows in it, track after track. Congrats, I guess? He has stated that the idea of these lyrics is to paint himself as the bad guy, but the portrayal of the female counterpoint does not come off any any kind of positive way. I feel music journalism has tried to steer this away from misogynistic waters, but if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck...... 3/5 if this was instrumental.....

I didn’t really get much enjoyment out of this one.

Nice enough but not noteworthy 3 *

Groupe inconnu. Après le premier morceau d'introduction un peu long, un 'Gentlemen' (++) arrive, bien plus dynamique, avec une basse bien en avant et une batterie assez créative. La ligne de basse est également intéressante dans 'Debonair' (+++). Par contre les morceaux plus lents sont ennuyeux ('When We Two Parted' -, 'My Curse' -, 'I Keep Coming Back' --). Le reste est moins remarquable mais bien exécuté. Bonne découverte donc, que j'écouterais probablement de nouveau, mais qui ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5

Kind of meh.

Alt-rock with nothing special about it to me. Its not bad but no song pulled me in and made me want to listen again.

Nothing notable.

boa

Nice lyrics and themes, cool riffs and some catchy moments. A little bit dated in sound. Liked going back to it a few times.

Hät öppis vo U2 - eifach in besser...Ok, es isch nüd alles guet. Mich erinnerets ächli a Stoner-Rock i de Aafäng. Brother Woodrow isch wie Dozer in soft.

wa isch etz da gsi? oke de zweit song tönt noch öpisem. okaaay da isch rhythmisch no geil. be sweet isch etz seeehr repetitiv und denn luut und denn wieder s glich. ich check d textur vo grossi kick trochne bass ehner weiche gsang aber s tönt noch me mues für mich irgendwie. bin etz bi now you know und es isch seeeehr afoch 90er rock aber es blibt mer gad absolut nüüüüüüt s letdte isch instrumental und ich glaub es gfallt mer besser wenns nöd si ged haha

if I were going funny ahfang ES BREAKUP ALBUM gentlemen findi echt na cools riff jaa es kauft chli und ich muss sege ich finds na cool aber au nöd meh, es gaht chli ah mier verbii ok when we two parted hani jz aktiv nervig gfunde hahahaha schöni stricher my curse wird au progressiv nerviger hahaha jaa vill hani nöd dezue z sege, han scho es paar sache na cool gfunde, aber villes au eifach ok oder nervig

Heard of the band before. Subpar grunge-adjacent music with bad lyrics and bad vocals. Its only saving grace are the instrumentals 2/5

Liked it, but won’t go out of my way to listen again

Dense. Oppressive. Agitated. Dark, bleak howls, with the vocals hiding behind massive guitars.

Grungiger soul

has a Radiohead but good vibe 3 songs in debonair has a fun walking line in it very period production and tones

One of the lamest grunge albums I have ever heard. Compltely ripping off all the bands that do it 100 times better, and the attempts at sounding theatrical just end up coming across as annoying more than anything.

Jäkligt najs sound, och när dom peakar så äre fan 5/5

Trevligt!

Good not great. Did enjoy it, though.

Some interesting ideas, but nothing that sets the album out

This was pretty good

2/10. Didn’t enjoy

Missed out on this when it came out, need to relisten to this.

This is why I started doing this list. Finally someone i never heard before that is worth the time to listen.

Gentlemen is the fourth studio album from the Afghan Whigs, an alt-rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. The band made guitar driven, post-punk grunge. Gentlemen is the band's most commercially successful album, and is generally regarded as the band's best recorded work. The album includes two of the Afghan Whig's biggest singles, the title track and "Debonair." These songs seem typical of early 90s rock, effect heavy guitars and vocals in the era of U2 and Pearl Jam. These songs are catchy, but not particularly memorable.

My favorite part was when the lady sang, but sadly I learned she’s not a real member of the band. Anyway, the rest of it wasn’t so bad.

Ok. Nothing stood out, sought of washed over me, will give a second listen sometime sort of generalist rock leaning Indy.

The Istan Twigs better watch out

I missed thos group. Knew it existed but couldnt remember anythingz They rock surprisingly good

Ça va mais pas de banger (c'est dommage Spotify m'a reco un de leur son juste après et il était super)

Vraiment pas mon truc

J'ai écouté quelques chansons j'ai pas franchement vu l'intérêt de l'album. À mon avis assez fade sans être mauvais. J'imagine que ça avait sa place en son temps.

Vraipent pas fou mais pas maivais.

If ChatGPT made a rock album

good music, vocals kinda irritating

Dull.

Boggy and unfriendly.

I'm a big fan of this "depressed guitar distortion" sound. It reminds me of better times. The song Gentlemen has just the perfect blend of distortion and tasteful precision. Lots of silence is used to separate riffs and sub-riffs, and the bass undercuts the guitar exactly. (In fact, the bass might actually be better than the lead, at least in this particular song.) The singing is definitely above average here too, and the drums are energetic and complex. Debonair is another standout for essentially the same reasons. The texture is thick but not too thick. It's very appealing. Fountain and Fairfax, at the very heart of the album, is another contender, this time specifically for its guitar line and underlying bass drone notes. None of the other songs particularly stand out, and some (like My Curse) come dangerously close to boring the listener. And I don’t really count this as part of the “up-and-down” rollercoaster that’s essential for any great album. A low-energy track still has to be consistently engaging – and fortunately, all of the songs here manage to do that, if barely. As is the modus operandi for nearly all forms of punk or alt-rock music, the vocals are kind of bad. The singer sounds the best when he's doing a rock-esque scream (e.g. in Gentlemen), but even then it sounds like a mildly discount Robert Plant or Axl Rose. The lyrics, or at least those few I paid attention to, are pretty clumsy. Literacy clearly isn't one of the Afghan Whigs' strengths. "It's all a lie / It's nearly dead / It's in our hope baby / It's in our bed" "I got a dick for a brain / And my brain is gonna sell my ass to you" "I'm really slobbering now / Let it stink / Let it dry up / Is it impossible? / How?" 3/5 Key tracks: Gentlemen, Debonair, Fountain and Fairfax

Loved this! I hadn't heard this band's work before, but it was basically right in my wheelhouse.

i have no prior experience, but this band is the favorite of one of the worst people i know so i had to discard some preconceived notions. i then quickly conceived of them again. yawn on its own merits, bottom of the barrel considering the context of music available around it in that time frame. and scene.

sure. 2.5

Bits of this were giving kind of Trent Reznor depression vocals (positive) but most of it was wandering guitar and made me feel sleepy.

Greg Dulli wants to be your dark prince of soul-noir, and on Gentlemen, Afghan Whigs’ major-label debut, he nearly pulls it off—if you don’t mind a little sleaze with your swagger. Imagine Pretty Hate Machine-era Nine Inch Nails trading synths for snarling guitars and a bottle of bourbon: the mood is just as bleak, but the sound is more sweat-soaked and analog. The title track opens with a slinky drum pattern that sets the tone, while “Debonair” struts with taut basslines, and “Now You Know” brings muscular drumming and a catchy guitar jangle. Dulli leans into raw emotion, often sounding like he’s exorcising demons in real time. “Be Sweet” shocks with its problematic lyrical gut-punch, while “What Jail Is Like” swaps guitars for piano, giving things a moody elegance. “My Curse” offers a rare moment of vulnerability with female lead vocals, and closer “Brother Woodrow” trails off with a shadowy instrumental fade. Gentlemen is a bruised, soul-infused slugfest—equal parts seduction, confession, and self-destruction.

I was entertained. Conversely, I was not transformed.

Lyrics are a bit cringe but was a good enough listen. Be sweet was standout track for me. Album cover i found a bit creepy

Great music. Weird vocals.

Instrumentally this was really good, some tracks having a real dark ambience. But thst vocalist is horrendous. I’d have probably gone 5 otherwise.

There is some minorly interesting music. The singer sounded sounded familiar, like a glam rock band Faster Pussycat or L.A. Guns maybe, raspy and sleazy like that. I get a creepy vibe - I can never love music that sounds like that.

Liked

прик.

A de-aged cover of a failing relationship. This kid is pre-auditioning to be a male lead in an indie film. Chewing the scenery, and at such a young age. Just think. This kid is minimum 40 now. Time does indeed pass. Cutting edge reporting from your intrepid reviewer. Unless this is about the poorly received Whig party mission to Kabul, I don’t know what this is and have never heard of it. Spin me a yarn. I wish to not think about work for 48 minutes. If I Were Going - I don’t know what to think about this. Just an intro, so it could go either way. There are flashes of technical oddity, and more worryingly, flashes of sappy, melancholic grunge-lite. Where will we go from here? Gentlemen - Ladies and Gentlemen by Saliva. Strange that we haven’t seen any Saliva yet?? Do you think they’re just being coy with the WWE PPV theme songs? Probably. I’ll be patient and I’ll tell my therapist that I still believe. I don’t hate this, but I’m not choosing it. Be Sweet - What? I really have to hand it to straight women and gay men for that matter. Male humans are the most disgusting and pathetic sexual creatures on the planet. To put up with any of this deserves only the highest of praise. Listen up, singer guy. If you have a problem with commitment, maybe write some sort of metaphor. Don’t use your sensitive voice to say “I just want to fuck.” I’m going to be sick. Debonair - Great word AND it reminds me of donair, which has me pining for that sweet mystery meat delicacy of my ancestral homeland. Well. At least a few hundred years back. Colonialism and all that. With that, I listen to another mid mid-90’s alt rock song. The Pixies this ain’t. When We Two Parted - How dare you try to get poetic now? Two songs ago you were saying you had a “dick for a brain,” and now you’re giving me a whispery alt country ballad with a Shakespearean song title? In theory, I shouldn’t hate this, but in execution, I certainly don't like it. The singer is so unlikeable. This sounds like a drunken voicemail you’d get from a heartbroken Bryan Adams. Fountain and Fairfax - What happens on this street corner? Bruce Springsteen impersonation contest? Oh no, he’s waiting for his “angel.” What Jail is Like - Overly bombastic, piano led radio rock that would actually get radio play if not for the world’s stinkiest singer. All around awful. Like a poorly executed execution, I am twitching and begging for the end of this. My Curse - I can’t wait to hear about what the singer’s curse is. NEW SINGER?? Oh my god. It’s so much better. It’s still a boring song, but I’m feeling less gross, and that is a refreshing sensation. Like a shower and warm bed after accidentally walking by the gathering of the juggalos. Now You Know - We’re so back. I think when you create art in groups, there can be magical collaborations that produce ideas that would’ve been impossible without said collaboration. I also think that in some cases, there has to be compromise. You may be the guitar player for this band and wince as that singer does that dumb vocal divebomb, or the pianists insistence on playing these old-timey casino runs over this boring song. I feel for anybody who was forced to attach their name to this. I Keep Coming Back - listen. I am no writer. I’ve tried, and I continue to fail. At least I have the respect for the art form to know I’m a hack. How can you write these words and show up to a studio (which costs money) and presumably request multiple takes to perform this basic ass high school blues trash? How can you recover from this without a public apology? Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer - Wow. What a meaningful closer. Absolutely virtuosic piano playing over incredibly lush soundscapes which were absolutely not grating at all. I love high pitched pangs repeated every 4 bars for 6 minutes. I can’t believe this is the last song. I’m in music listener heaven. It’s been awhile since I was so heavily confronted with the fact that a bad singer can ruin any musical output. I found myself not hating much of this at the outset, but I grew so angry with the vocalist that I now despise this album. It’s not as if this thing was a five star classic without the singer anyway, but hearing his juvenile caterwauling reminded me of reading incel-coded instagram content or listening to the grown-up high school bully talk about his “baby mama” who he is currently cheating on. This album was listenable in small doses, but quickly wore out its welcome like a down on his luck friend who was supposed to be back on his feet in a couple of weeks, and now there is a him-shaped dent in your living room sofa and he scares your children. Remind me to cancel my pilgrimage to the mountain ranges of Afghanistan. I think there’s still time to get a refund. 1.5 HIGHLIGHTS: My Curse

not bad!!! David Galea recommended their older album which I also preferred

The cover is a 10/10

decent album, just wasn’t the most interesting

Likte det

It was alright. Not much else to report. Lyrics are a bit... childish? Odd? Probably won't listen again but it was okay.

Overall: 6/10 There's some really good songs on this album but most of the lyrics make me cringe. It's not often that I'm listening to music and have to replay a section of a song just to make sure they actually said what I imagined. It's a shame too cause I love the instrumentals of pretty much every track. The guitar work is especially good on songs like My Curse (with a great female vocalist) and Debonair. I'm sure I'll come back to a few of these songs but overall it's not something that I want to infect my brain with on a regular basis. Fav Song: My Curse Least Fav Song: Be Sweet

5/5 - really enjoyed the feeling of this album

First off, I do not like that album cover. I was also not in the mood for a dreary grunge record with basically no discernible pop hooks. Apparently this is a cult classic, which I can see. It sounds like something that would be personal to some listeners and would’ve influenced much better albums. But I didn’t enjoy spending time in the headspace of this narrator and his fucked up relationship. If the goal was to reflect the mood of the a toxic breakup, then mission accomplished. I did however lol at the lyric “I got a dick for a brain / and my brain is gonna sell my ass to you” Songs I didn’t mind were: -Be Sweet (featuring the aforementioned lyrics) - especially the refrain over the outro -My Curse -I Keep Coming Back (just realized this is a cover which is why the lyrics are more straightforward and it sounds more timeless than the rest of the album) -Brother Woodrow/ Closing Prayer - instrumental closing track was fine In general I preferred the back half. Maybe I would enjoy individual songs more if I heard them in isolation but as an album listening experience this gets a thumbs down from me.

I like this album in theory, but not in practice. A mash up of grunge, indie, alternative rock and emo from the 90s with 2 singers, that's my fuckin' jam... on paper. Yet when i listen to this album i feel a mixture of boredom and annoyance. It's a real conundrum. I'm a big Pixies fan and this album is like the Pixies but shitty, shallow, boring and uninspired, but hornier and grungy-er.... ultimately not much like the pixies past a broad description. I regret even mentioning their name in this review alongside the Whigs. I just feel like this album should work... but it doesn't... and that frustrates me. Other bands have just done this mix of sounds better. I even have a hunch this band has done this mix of sounds better at some point in their career... but I don't care enough to listen to the rest of their discography. I really don't like the main singers voice, especially on the more aggressive tracks. On ballads his voice is definitely better. But overall, it's at best generic, at worst annoying. I prefer the single track where the other singer takes the lead, her voice is much better. I wish there was more of an interplay between their vocals throughout the record. Woulda been a big improvement. Some highlights from the record: Be sweet - the catchy "be sweet" outro is quite nice - the lyrics "i have a dick for a brain" did make me laugh... i appreciate the honesty What is Jail Like - I dig the moody piano driven instrumental and the escalation in the back third My Curse - the lead singer isn't on this track... which i'm sad to say is a plus. I like her vocals more. I like the drama of the track in general. Strange side note: the main chord progression reminds me of tears in heaven... but that doesn't ruin the track for me Now you know - it makes me think of a different, better band... but i just can't place it. Maybe the song Black by Pearl jam (when Vedder starts screaming/singing/yodelling in the outro)? but i'm not certain Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer - I enjoyed the string kissed instrumental outro Note: i wrote this review a few deep after the leafs won game 3. If there are any typos, i apologize in advance. Go leafs go.

I wanted to enjoy this more. The lyrics made me cringe, and the tempo just pushed and pulled throughout

I tried my hardest to like this record because, on paper, it’s right up my alley (90’s, “grunge”-ey, big guitars, etc). In reality, the valleys outweigh the peaks, and around the midpoint this record becomes a slog. The heavier songs sound like bad Smashing Pumpkins, and the more ballad-like ones are everything that people roll their eyes at when you say “the 90s were my favourite decade for music”. I get that this is a cult classic and whatever… but for me, this record feels almost like the beginning of the unfortunate post-grunge era filled with weird ballads with super shallow lyrics and heavy songs that sound like knockoffs. 2 stars.

Started out hot with some classic 90s rock rizz guitars but cooled off and was kinda cringe thirst incel lyrics

Okay, this is some good stuff. A very self-aware sort of arrogance to it, kind of dour in a way that works great. I think the vocals are not my favorite thing and there's nothing groundbreaking here, but I liked this a lot.

pettymykseni ilmeessäni kun tajusin ja ymmärsin että tämän bändin jäsenet ovat amerikkalaisia, eikä afganistanilaisia. sen sijaan että kuuntelisin hyper-uskonnollisten afgaaninaisten itkuvirsiä kuuntelin yhdysvaltain itäisen pohjois-keskustan 90-luvun alternatiivista poppirokkia.... taas... mitä vittua? tämä ei ole hyvää musiikkia. omaperäisyyttä lakkaavaa intrumentointia ja hengetöntä laulamista, mikään tässä ei erota bändiä massiivisesta indieklöntistä joka ilmeisesti vittu kirosi länsimaalaisen musiikin ikuiseen keskinkertaisuuteen. haista vittu. clickbait motherfuckers. my curse

I get a bit of light in my eyes when I see the album is American 90s alt rock. Unfortunately this was the bad kind. It doesn’t sound anything like Sugar Ray but somehow it feels a lot closer to Sugar Ray than it does to something I would like.

A very 90s album, though I wouldn’t really call it grunge; closer to something like Fugazi. A bit repetitive (and maybe bordering on misogynistic) but the music is pretty good. Best song: Debonair

Why is he singing so far from the mic?

I liked this album listen! It was a solid alt rock album with some grunge elements. I’d never heard of this album or artist before this so it was interesting to listen to something new. I can see why other people would like this album but I don’t think it was for me personally. I didn’t particularly like the lead singer’s voice and how he was slightly under pitch or struggling to find the pitch at times but maybe that’s a stylistic choice. Either way I’m not sure if I would listen to this album again but I would recommend it to other alt rock fans!

I go back and forth on loving and disliking this album. At times its raw, emotional and beautiful in a rock n' roll way. But then it is just too much being a jerk and full of his emotional toils but not deciding to focus on change. There are some solid garage style rock points.

I like the guitar work. Especially like them when they are rocking out with some funky complex riffs like Gentlemen, Debonair, Fountain & Fairfax, Now You Know. I don't mind his screamy vocals. It's a bit much on Fountain & Fairfax but sounds like he is going through some shit. Which brings me to the lyrics. As much as I like the music on some of the songs, the poetry of the lyrics doesn't really connect with me (with what I can actually understand). Too much emo drama shit for me. Be Sweet is a therapy session inside his head that I didn't need but thanks for letting your dick brain hang out there for everybody. He tones the screamy down a bit on What Jail is Like and actually sings. That's a pretty good song. The slow songs drag & aren't that interesting to me. Brother Woodrow... wow. so much violin you can swim in it (or choke on it).

This sounds like a parallel universe record where Trent Reznor sings early 90’s alt-rock as Nine Inch Nails, rather than the decade defining jndustrial electronic music they are known for. Songs often start with interesting flourishes but then the vocal melody marches on earnestly to nowhere. My Curse shook things up by being a solidly written song with powerful lead female vocals. Overall, not bad at all, also not quite earth shattering. With multiple listens, it has the potential to grow hard on me. For that reason, I’ll give it a 4. Other highlights include Gentlemen, Debonair, Fountain and Fairfax, and Be Sweet.

I liked this. It’s super raw in its exploration of toxic relationships, and shows the darker side of certain dudes’ brains (not all of them of course)! It’s seeing a bad relationship from the “gentleman’s” perspective, who seems to be self-aware of how destructive and shitty he is, and he continues to be that way anyway. A well executed concept! Favorite song was the one NOT sung by the guy though, My Curse. That song rocked!

It's fine? Like it's all grungy or whatever. The 90's are to Gen X as the 60's are to the boomers. 6/10

53/1001 Funny this should come up, because I was trying to remember who did that song Debonair a couple of days ago, and here it is. Forgive me if this sounds a little harsh (Afghan Whigs were, of course, active before the whole grunge thing exploded) but this is the downside of Nirvana's legacy: Bands pounding away at their guitars like they are trying to kill them and singers shouting as loud and as raw as they possibly can because, you know, angst and all that. Cobain had killer melodies, he wasn't JUST SHOUTING. Nirvana had proper pop hooks, and a unique, off-kilter musicality and melodic sense which underpinned everything. Not many people seemed to latch on to that - so many copycats just settled for the cranked overdrive pedal and the shouting and left it at that. This album reeks of 1993, and I might have been more kind to it back then. Not sure the passage of 32 years has done Gentlemen any favours though, and I'm not sure why it has ended up on this list. The sound of 1001 local acts opening your nearest pub music festival.

This album makes me feel like I’m listening to Spotify on shuffle outside of my “liked songs”. I found myself wanting to hit skip a few times. It’s weird because the music isn’t that bad. It may be the unfortunate instance where I just don’t feel like listening to this. Or I’m not engaged in the offering. I’m trying though. This is like Dinosaur Jr. That’s what I’m thinking at this point. Ya, it’s just the same thing over and over again. Mid level intensity. Decent music. The vocals aren’t terrible . There really isn’t anything to make me turn away from the album but there also isn’t anything to keep me listening. It’s mid but not terrible.

I’m not quite sure why this album gets lionised. It’s not bad. It’s good: even very good. I might suggest maybe excellent. But not great. 3 stars.

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. He was also terrific and believable as the voice of John Lennon on the Backbeat soundtrack. 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.

Classic 90s rock.

Need to listen to more of them.

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

The first few songs reminded me of British Sea Power, particularly the singer’s vocals.

Didn’t hate it. Very 90s won’t come back to 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

Бе

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.

It's funny--I always associated The Afghan Whigs with the whole British alternative/alt-rock scene, but I don't think I ever (actively) listened to them, and I doubt much of their stuff made it to the radio, so this was a totally uninformed conjecture. And although it's not totally off-base, the fact that they were an American band highlights how little I really knew (I'm guessing that "Whigs" was part of what threw me off in a continental sense). Overall, it seems like a fine sample of the 90s alt-rock genre, and I enjoyed it that I'd never heard any of the songs before, but I'll admit I'm unlikely to revisit the album. The only songs that kind of stood out for me were "Debonair", "Fountain and Fairfax" and "Now you know" (largely because they all had better guitar hooks than other tracks); "My curse" is also an interesting change of pace. (I had high hopes for their cover of "I keep coming back", but was kind of disappointed.) I do wish the album's mix could have been a little better, though, as I would never have guessed that this was a breakup album without reading about it, as I found most of the lyrics largely indecipherable. And hilarious that Linda Ronstadt (on the same label when this album was released) thought the album cover was all but child porn. Also, kind of cool that Steve Earle ("Copperhead Road") was a member of the band when the album was produced.

Enjoyed this for the most part (I found the last track a little grating) but I doubt I'll ever listen again--sorry, Whiggies.

If Trent Reznor and Bob Dylan sang vocals for Radiohead, you would get the afghan whigs.

3.5

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

Starts off great, dips towards the end. 3.5 stars

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.

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.

This was hard to listen to. Every song felt like it had potential but missed the mark. My brain kept trying to fix everything but it never worked.

Вроде и прикольно, а вроде и нет спорно

Musically started off ok but tailed off. Sound of the songs better than the singing and the lyrics.

A 90s alternative rock band that had passed me by. Similar to Buffalo Tom, but nowhere near as good, with hints of other bands from that time. I like some of it, and if the songs had melodies it would be great, but it’s a no from me. So many better bands from this era to choose from.

Didn’t like them at the time, and time has not tempered that view. Just dreadful misery indie rock. No melodies, guitars a mess, production tinny. Just a big fat no from me.

Meh

Lyrically interesting at times, but musically it was more of a dull Smashing Pumpkins. I can see the appeal, but not for me.

I liked it at the beginning but it got a little tedious by the end.

I am usually a fan of 90s alternative and this did nothing for me.

incelcore

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

This album did nothing for me. Completely forgettable

Beter dan best goed

I should like this album but for some reason I’m just ok with it. Doesn’t grab me.

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

The Afghan Wings do good stuff and have their place in music history. I didn't find this album very memorable though.

This was a weird middling listen Liked the 90s sound aesthetic. Parts reminded me of RHCP (bass lines), some REM, and a bit of seaweed. Album was a bit all over the place, almost like as if a drunk, depressed man couldn’t figure out what kind of music he wanted to mope to, so listened to all different kinds. Intriguing enough to merit a deeper look into their catologue.

Cool band name. I didn't love it but I did enjoy it and would listen again. 3.25/5

I started out liking this album but found my interest waned as it went on. It is not a bad album and the guitar work is notable, but it just didn't last for me...

Kind of mediocre, some good bits, but I grew a bit bored by the end. I'm going with 3 stars, as if it weren't for all the other bands who did this better, then I guess I might have liked this more.

3.4 Good, but nowhere near the level of their early 90s alternative contemporaries - Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, et al. The 3 song run from Be Sweet to When we.. was the albums high point, but after that it peters out a bit and ambles around for another 30-40 minutes or so. Disappointing 2nd half to what was building up as looking promising.

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.

I would probably have loved this if I’d heard it when it came out. I didn’t. Because I can’t find an emotional connection to it, I don’t love it now. It’s ok though.

Found it in very good 4/5 will relisten

not my thing

Super bounced out of this one! Often groan whenever 1001 gives me esoteric rock, especially from the 90s. As an artist, I do feel bad poo-pooing genuine works of art. The Afghan Whigs put some top notch creative energy into this, but it was very contextual, and listening now is better left to specific or historical interest. This is not an album to listen to before you die. Die without listening. Or if you do listen, try not to die.

Ca commençait pas mal du tout mais ça s'endort petit à petit et ça finit en ronronnant doucement.

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.

Another one where the singer doesn't always care about hitting the notes but it musically rocks harder so sometimes it really works? Usually it really doesn't though.

kinda good but also kinda shiddy. Will I listen to again: 10%

Generic American rock shite

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

3/10