Album of the Day

For their follow-up to the critically lauded GENTLEMEN, The Afghan Whigs headed to Memphis' Ardent Studios for 1996's BLACK LOVE. The band's fifth studio album overall, the Elektra collection boasts a strong R&B influence and a rich cinematic feel - lead singer Greg Dulli had been planning to make a film noir movie, and though the project was never completed, it left its mark on the music. Opener “Crime Scene Part One” was inspired by the screenplay for "The Million Dollar Hotel," and the album's dark tone fuels songs like the single “Going To Town,” though the set also includes such heartfelt ballads as “Summer's Kiss.” As Stereogum put it, BLACK LOVE is “a real roller coaster, with the most aggressive material in the band's repertoire as well as the most beautiful,” and that may be the reason the set remains a fan favorite.