Congregation

Adding an increasingly soulful, R&B-influenced vibe to the grunge-era guitar noise of their earlier releases, 1992's <i>Congregation</i> is the album that defined The Afghan Whigs sound. Frontman and primary songwriter Greg Dulli's vocals are front and center throughout the album, delivering tales of both chemical and sexual dependency such as "I'm Her Slave," "Kiss the Floor," and "This Is My Confession." The funk guitar riff of "Turn on the Water" and the earnest cover of "The Temple," from the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>, are early indications of the increasingly '70s-influenced direction The Afghan Whigs would pursue on later albums.