Greg Dulli's Twilight Singers present...
She Loves You (One Little Indian)
By: Alex Steininger
Including guest vocals from Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan on five of the eleven songs, former Afghan Whigs' front man Greg Dulli and his Twilight Singers deliver a splendid cover record that even Afghan Whigs fans will feel fulfilled by.Known for busting out the covers as b-sides and during live performances during the Whigs era, covers are no stranger to Dulli.
However, to decide to do an album of all covers either indicates a lack of material to do your own record, or an inspiring idea to re-interpret the songs that have influenced you over the years. Luckily for Dulli and fans, She Loves You conforms to the latter, with Dulli's vision carried off well.
Tackling Bjork's "Hyperballad", with the help of Lanegan, The Twilight Singers create an atmospheric, textured, dark indie-rock vibe wrapped around Bjork's spacious original, turning the subdued into an almost epic piece.
Meanwhile, The Twilight Singers give new breath to Fleetwood Mac's "What Makes You Think You're The One", written by Lindsey Buckingham, possibly about bandmate Stevie Nicks. Transforming the song into an all-out rocker, Dulli strips away the intimacy of the original. But pumps it full of other emotions at the same time, giving it a much more withdrawn, reserved, and angry feel than the original, its dark textures and subdued, held back rock attack bubbling underneath.
Other notables include "A Love Supreme", originally done by John Coltrane, Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit", and Marvin Gaye's "Please Stay (Once You Go Away)". The latter a soul-infused dark rocker that beams with emotion and power, Dulli's whiskey growl nearly begging.
It is clear with one listen to She Loves You that Dulli's well is not dried up. Instead, he has chosen to re-do his favorites the way he hears him, in the way they have inspired him, giving these classics new light, a new vision, and helping Dulli fans discover his roots. It is a fine offering from a seminal songwriter that, even when he's not writing, has much to offer in terms of songwriting and presentation. I'll give it a B+.
