Artist The Twilight Singers

The Afghan Whigs’ gradual shift from grungy rock to sultry soul music initially seemed odd, if not outright suspect, but Whigs leader Greg Dulli dispelled any doubts with his current band, The Twilight Singers. The group’s 2000 debut, Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers, stretched simmering R&B through spacey textures, with Dulli pleading and crooning through airy slow jams and subtle songscapes that leaned toward trip-hop. Dulli may not be the svelte gentleman he once was, but on this year’s Dynamite Steps, he can still be a provocative motherfucker, nonchalantly tossing out lines like “Spread your legs / insert your alibi” and filling his moody, driving songs with references to lying, stealing, and dying.

Updated 04/27/2011