The Afghan Whigs have been making records since the late ’80s, and Greg Dulli is still the most compelling voice in the band. Soft Control is their tenth studio album and their first since 2022’s How Do You Burn? It came out August 21 on Royal Cream/BMG, and we have it in the shop at High Rhodes Records in Frisco, Colorado, on Pink & Black Smush vinyl.
The album
Soft Control was recorded in four places: Fireside Sound in Joshua Tree, Marigny Studios in New Orleans, Gold Diggers Sound in East Hollywood, and Sycamore in Cincinnati. The band cut 22 songs and trimmed them to a tight 37 minutes, ten tracks long. Former Whigs drummer Patrick Keeler, vocalist and violist Petra Haden, and Bo Koster of My Morning Jacket all make appearances. Start with the lead single “Jungle Roux,” then “House of I” and “Duvateen.”
A calmer Dulli
The band describes the record as a mix of loud guitars and soul and R&B, with more reflection than the old days. Dulli says it plainly: “I’ve worked hard on my inner peace.” He talks about the anger that drove his early work and the quiet confidence that came after. You still get plenty of bangers, just with more self-awareness behind them.
What the critics are saying
David M. Rangel of The Indy Review calls it a return in much finer form than most veteran bands manage, arguing the Whigs match or even overtake their best past work. He hears the old sinister undercurrent in “Jungle Roux,” Al Green-style warmth in “Duvateen,” and a loose, easy delivery throughout, even in the tense songs. His verdict is that the band is one of those rare groups that “actually gets better with age.” Read the full review at The Indy Review.
Get it at the shop
You can pick it up at 285 Main Street in Frisco, or order it from our web shop and we’ll ship it to you.
Shop The Afghan Whigs — Soft Control (Pink & Black Smush)
Sources: The Afghan Whigs, JamBase, The Indy Review
