A romantic with a capital R, Afghan Whigs’ auteur Greg Dulli strives for high drama above all. With ’94′s Gentlemen, he and the Whigs produced an essay on the masochism of masculinity that explored characters and emotions with uncommon depth while still rocking intensely. Black Love is even more of an epic, with Dulli painting a gripping urban tableaux of temptation and trouble. The band continues to broaden its soundstage, employing strings, organ and backing singers as a lush counterpoint to Dulli’s vocal swagger and guitarist Rick McCollum’s stinging leads. Like the Stones on “Sticky Fingers,” the Whigs fuel their ambitions with the fire of great black music, fashioning rock’n'roll of symphonic sweep and elemental passion. An indelible work from a great band.