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The severely underrated rock and soul outfit The Afghan Whigs have received a decent dedication in the form of an independently released tribute album, a project that started off three years ago when the fansite Summer’s Kiss put out a call to fans of the band to submit covers.

Receiving nearly 100 entries, it soon morphed into something much bigger, and perhaps a true testament to if not the influence of the band, then at least the undying passion that so many have for it.

Straight outta Cincinnati, The Afghan Whigs were the first non-Pacific Northwest act signed to Sub Pop Records when the Seattle Scene was blowing up. The group bounced across a couple of major labels as the 90s wore on before finally calling it a day in 2001, leaving behind a trail of emotionally devastating music led by the brutally dark and confessional lyrics of an unrepentant Greg Dulli, whom some deemed a bit too honest in describing the male psyche and how it functions.

Sample lyric: “Tonight I go to hell, for what I’ve done to you / This ain’t about regret, it’s when I tell the truth.”

Getting inside a brain like that is no small task, but the artists on Summers Kiss: A Tribute to The Afghan Whigs do an excellent job, be it unsigned indies or much better known contemporaries paying homage.

Sweden’s Sounds Like Violence, who are getting ready to drop its sophomore effort this year, begin the record frenetically with “Sammy,” which best represents the more punk side of The Whigs. The Gin Riots stagger the vocals on “Be Sweet” and jut the music nearly out of control before reeling it back in with a hypnotic bassline.

Switching gears, Matthew Ryan slows down “The Slide Song” to a near hush of a singer songwriter track instead of a simple pop piece. And Chess Club from Memphis put a grungy spin on the heartbreaking “When We Two Parted.”

But it’s the extended family of The Afghan Whigs who trick the songs out the most, changing them up to give them a fresh identity, but retaining the inherent familiarity.

Mighty Fine, led by the falsetto of Steve Myers, a back-up singer with The Whigs on tour for its final album, brings a Prince-like funkiness to “Somethin’ Hot.” Susan Marshall, who also did back-up and the occasional lead vocals on that same tour, turns the let’s-dress-up-and-turn-the-night-inside-out “Going to Town” into a jazzed up, sultry come on.

Grunge icon Mark Lanegan, who most recently toured with Dulli as the other half of The Gutter Twins, immerses his ominous tone in “Tonight,” driving an already creepy song into completely disturbing territory, even ending it with a raspy, “Scared ya – didn’t I?”

Joseph Arthur, a sometime Dulli collaborator in the collective known as The Twilight Singers, tweaks the pleading “Step Into the Light” with gospel tinged harmonies and a subdued organ.

And My Jerusalem, made up of Twilight Singers Dave Rosser and Jeff Klein, take perhaps The Whigs’ most accessible song, “66,” and somehow make it even catchier by replacing the acoustic guitar with the slight but effective tinkling of piano keys.

Tribute albums often miss the point, but by mixing it up so expertly, much like The Whigs did throughout its own catalog, Summer’s Kiss nails it, even down to the cover shot, an updated take on the group’s Gentlemen record by Sam Holden that shows you might not be able to replicate a classic, but you can do it justice.

For more info: Go to the Summer’s Kiss Records website for details on where to purchase Summer’s Kiss: A Tribute to The Afghan Whigs.

Note: This review also ran in the Delaware County PA (Philadelphia) Times

When it comes to fan sites, few can hold a candle to Summer’s Kiss, an online treasure trove of all things orbiting the Afghan Whigs’ universe. With a level of dedication that verges dangerously close to obsessive, Summer’s Kiss reports on Greg Dulli’s ongoing projects (Twilight Singers, Gutter Twins), as well as those of his bandmates (former and current), collaborators and friends. It’s safe to say that, if the kid who delivers Dulli’s morning paper is performing in his middle school production of The Music Man, SK will break the story, as well as serve up details concerning showtimes, ticket prices and who is making the lemon bars and punch that will be sold during intermission. Summer’s Kiss: A Tribute To The Afghan Whigs features some of the creamiest Whigs’ tracks, re-interpreted by a host of MOKB-approved performers, including Mark Lanegan, Joseph Arthur, Matthew Ryan and My Jerusalem. This doesn’t mean Dulli’s famous friends snatched up the choicest cuts. The Queen City’s own Wussy deliver a punishing rendition of Retarded, and Mighty Fine’s workup of Something Hot is just dirty fun. In addition, Summer’s Kiss is also streaming a handful of bonus Whigs homages that just missed the final tracklist.

Summer’s Kiss: A Tribute to the Afghan Whigs Buy Now
4/5 Stars

Coming up alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Mudhoney, the Afghan Whigs stood apart as a rock band with an appreciation for soul and Motown. This tribute album features some big names alongside lesser known artists. Capturing the early, frenzied melodies from album Up in It, Sweden’s Sounds Like Violence do a rapturous version of Sammy. Mark Lanegan adds an even more sinister undertone to Tonight and Joseph Arthur is suitably hypnotic on the lonely Step into the Light. A mix of album tracks and singles are tackled, making it a treat for fans and a perfect introduction for the uninitiated.

In your face, Rob Thomas!

Skibunny: “Miles Iz Ded”

Perhaps more appropriately labeled as a re-imagining of “Rebirth of the Cool” – the first remix in the Afghan Whigs’ official canon – Skibunny (Website | Myspace) close out our bonus tracks series with a fun, uptempo party version of the classic song.

The Whigs never shied away from dance versions of their songs, later releasing a 12″ remix of “Somethin’ Hot”. Keeping with that tradition, “Belfast’s no.1 remixers, promoters and commotion causers” (via NME) create a 2009 update showcasing the versatility of the Afghan Whigs.

You can stream Skibunny’s cover of “Miles Iz Ded” below or download the track here.

[audio:http://s161876060.onlinehome.us/sk/miles2.mp3]

The question I get most often is “why did it take so long to release”? The short answer is that we had a huge learning curve and were very naive about many, many things. That being said, this album could not have happened without the support of the artists involved, their managers and labels, the fine folks at Chrysalis and Domino Publishing and (most importantly) the fans of the Afghan Whigs. This was a labor of love, and at many times felt like a vanity project. However, I was often reminded with emails and messages that there were people besides me that wanted this record. That motivated me to finally get it finished and release it to the world.

I owe a special thanks to Sam Holden for composing and photographing the cover of the album. Thanks to Trent Rosecrans, my long time collaborator for helping me get started and providing a sounding board for the submissions. Thanks to Don and Darren for being early reviewers of the tracklisting. And a big thanks to my wife for not kicking me out while I spent days filling out paperwork, traveling and putting together press kits.

I’ve been living with many of these songs for years. They feel like my kids and I’m so proud to finally share them with you. The Afghan Whigs may be gone, but their music is as meaningful, important and personal as ever. Summer’s Kiss is over, baby. But we can still put on our rose fur coats and party like it never ended.

- Lee, SK

Buy at Summerskiss Records
Buy at Amazon.com (currently SOLD OUT, more on the way)
Buy at Shake It Records in Cincinnati

Silver Bridge Disaster: “Gentlemen”

When planning this album, it was always our intention to include a young Cincinnati band. While it didn’t work out that Silver Bridge Disaster’s contribution made its way to the final track listing, it stuck with us as a reminder that Cincy’s music scene is still very much alive and thriving.

Named for the 1967 Ohio River bridge collapse that took 46 lives, SBD takes its local roots seriously. However, they injected their take on “Gentlemen” with a good bit of irreverence and fun, making the song their own. The two-pronged Prog guitar duel at the 2:05 mark will bring a smile to your face.

You can listen to Silver Bridge Disaster’s cover of “Gentlemen” below or download the track here.

[audio:http://s161876060.onlinehome.us/sk/gentlemen.mp3]

When I first got my hands on Summer’s Kiss, the new tribute album to the Afghan Whigs, I truly felt like a kid with free reign in a candy store. Thirteen songs and I knew how each of them originally sounded. But getting to hear other bands’ takes on the Afghan Whigs just made me giddy. The only problem was where to start? “Retarded?” “66?” “Uptown Again?”

Such a difficult choice that the only answer that felt right was at the beginning, and oh what a joy. It’s rare (if ever) that a band can make a cover better than the original (although the Afghan’s did it with their cover of TLC’s “Creep”) and while none of these tracks are better than the originals, they are all honorable covers.

I think one of the best features to this particular tribute album is that most of the artists are not well known. Apart from Joseph Arthur, Susan Marshall, Mark Lanegan and Zykos, the other nine bands were pretty well unknown to me, doubling my pleasure in the music.

Add in how each of the artists presented very different takes on the Whigs’ songs, and you have the basic principles for a good cover album, because really if you wanted to hear an exact replica, wouldn’t you just listen to the original or hear a generic cover band at the bar?

From Arthur’s almost gospel like cover of “Step Into The Light” to the near punk sound of Sounds Like Violence’s “Sammy,” the gang at Summers Kiss Records did a superb job of picking worthy covers for this album.

Then there’s The Domani International’s (without checking, I’m going to naturally assume the band name was inspired by the Twilight Singers) cover of “Debonair.” As if nailing the guitar work and the emotion of Dulli’s vocals wasn’t hard enough, TDI placed an impromptu keyboard fizzle in the middle of the track that added some dexterity to an already super song.

I think we all know how hard it is to make a truly good cover/tribute album, but luckily in this circumstance, the fine people at Summer’s Kiss Records got it right.

Whitetrashparty: “My Enemy”

Whitetrashparty is just the band I was hoping to come across when we started soliciting music for the tribute album. I knew there had to be musicians in working bands that were as passionate about the Afghan Whigs as I am. These guys are such fans that they named themselves after the Whigs’ first single and recorded their own versions of 3 classic Whigs songs.

For this bonus tracks series, I chose Whitetrashparty’s cover of “My Enemy”. It’s a vicious song lyrically with a killer set of hooks and riffs. Whitetrashparty plays it close to the original, which in this case is a very good thing. And while WTP is able to recreate much of the trademark Whigs sound, know that their original music parlays that aesthetic to their own unique lyrics and melodic sensibility. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

You can buy music from Whitetrashparty at their website or stream tracks at their Myspace page.

You can listen to Whitetrashparty’s cover of “My Enemy” below or download the track here.

[audio:http://s161876060.onlinehome.us/sk/myenemy.mp3]