Do to the Beast

Do to the Beast is a “comeback” album from some original members of the Afghan Whigs—leader Greg Dulli and bassist John Curley. Original guitarist Rick McCollum didn’t make the return, nor did longtime drummer Steve Earle, so it’s arguable just how much of a reunion this is; McCollum’s guitars were what distinguished Dulli’s work with the Whigs from everything that came after. Do to the Beast sounds as much like the Whigs as it does Dulli’s work as The Twilight Singers. Labels and names aside, Dulli’s music tends to center on nocturnal sounds where nothing is ever resolved; his challenging voice waivers with the wind, high on emotion and short on precise melodies. It’s a sound that listeners either embrace or reject; he's never likely to break past the hardcore cult fans who love him for his epic dreams. An extensive list of guests accompany the current Whigs lineup and do their usual expert job at turning songs like “Parked Outside,” “Matamoros,” and “I Am Fire” into dramatic anthems that make palms sweat and throats dry.