POWDER BURNS - THE TWILIGHT SINGERS
Former Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli has spent nearly 20 years advancing his sound, with “Powder Burns” his newest evolution. Producer Mike Napolitano heavily influenced what would otherwise be Dulli’s straightforward, self-loathing rock recordings, adding layers of crunchy guitars, piano and throbbing effects. While Dulli’s bitter, drunken voice remains front and center, the backup vocals and orchestras nearly make the songs sound like a parody, marrying a beast to a beauty. The affected “Candy Cane Crawl,” with vocals by Ani DiFranco, is too pretty for Dulli’s off-kilter caterwauls. Otherworldly standout “There’s Been an Accident” (with Joseph Arthur) capitalizes on Dulli’s lyrical desperation with crashes galore and a climax of cinematic strings. Dulli’s lyrics haven’t advanced much since he began using the Twilight Singers moniker, but the production and arrangements seemingly have moved forward without him.–Billboard
