Play Blackberry Belle
One Little Indian
2003
Rating: 8 biased devils out of 10
There is a reason this made so many top 10 lists at the end of 2003 – it is one of the best things I have heard in quite some time. For those unfamiliar, The Twilight Singers is the new project of former Afghan Whig’s singer Greg Dulli, founded after the demise of his former band. Their first release “Twilight as Played By the Twilight Singers” was a hit-and-miss affair, with some truly great songs and a few maudlin ones. But Dulli seems to have found his second wind, as “Play Blackberry Belle” is not only great but on par with some of his best work with the Whigs. This album features a smorgasbord of guest musicians, from Mark Lanegan (of the Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age) to Appolonia (remember an album called Purple Rain? Prince? She had some connections with all of that). The final track of the album, “Number Nine”, is one of the most spine-tingling songs I’ve heard in ages and features the low grumble of Lanegan in duet with Dulli’s soulful sound. Greg Dulli continues to craft his own niche in the rock world, adhering to no particular style of music and dominating them all as far as I’m concerned.
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