IN REVIEW: The Afghan Whigs - "In Spades"

For most bands whose heyday happened in the flannel n' angst '90s, time hasn't exactly done their sound any favours; while a precious few have endured and evolved, the majority are now regarded as relics of a bygone time, with records that were well received when they were fresh but haven't aged particularly well. So, it's a true testament to a '90s band's foresight when their records actually sound better now than they did back then.

You can make a solid argument that The Afghan Whigs fall firmly in the latter camp, with a handful of records during their initial run that were paid very little attention compared to their contemporaries of the time but have since been lauded as some of the decade's best work (or, at the very least, most underrated). Between 1992 and 1998, before their original disbandment, they put out a string of four records that have held up remarkably well. So, when they returned from a decade-and-a-half hiatus in 2014, they did so with an untarnished legacy and their core sound pretty much intact and yet didn't sound like a band from another time. With a fleshed out sound and a darker overall tone, Do To the Beast was regarded as a welcome return that didn't smack of crude nostalgia.

Proving this was no one-time return engagement, The Afghan Whigs have delivered their second album since reforming (and eighth overall) with no signs of artistic decline. In Spades, as a whole, is lusher, more gnarled and offers more variety than even Do To the Beast, let alone their previous works. Like Do To the Beast, In Spades is more interested in progression than reminiscence; and, while there are several moments that hearken back to Gentlemen and Black Love, this is still very much a record rooted in 2017. Arabian Heights is a clear winner here, and perhaps a perfect encapsulation of not just who this band was, but who they are.

Greg Dulli's songwriting is sharp as ever, and the natural aging of his voice rears a more assured and wizened performance. As mentioned earlier, the arrangements feature a wealth of ideas, and songs are constructed in such a way that they have ample room to grow, wither and reconstruct, and that they're able to make standard-length songs sound so epic proves the players' mettle. Just listen to the stunning Demon in Profile, a song that packs six minutes worth of heat and aplomb into just three and a half. Or the dark and breezy Oriole, which builds up layers of sound and overflows with creativity in just four.

There's a lot to dig into on In Spades, and the more you listen the more it has to offer. In a time when the bands who stole headlines from them back in the '90s have mostly become footnotes of history and/or resorted to desperate nostalgia, The Afghan Whigs are still reaping the rewards of taking the road less traveled; with a multi-faceted and vibrant record that stands among their best work, they've proven more vital now than they were at their supposed career peak over twenty years ago.

May 5, 2017 • Sub Pop
Highlights Arabian Heights • Demon in Profile • Into the Floor