Dynamite Steps

Though his former group the Afghan Whigs built Greg Dulli’s fan base, the frontman always considered The Twilight Singers his main band, which may be why 2011’s <i>Dynamite Steps</i> sounds like an upgrade of the Whigs’ <i>Congregation</i> and <i>Gentlemen</i>. From the dramatic opener “Last Night In Town”, dynamic layers of accompaniment reveal an eclectic cast comprising his project’s fifth studio album. The Verve’s guitarist Nick McCabe brings plenty of his six-string flourishes sounding like David Gilmour by way of U2’s The Edge — but his sonic swells play second fiddle to Dulli’s gripping narrative on the simmering “Be Invited” as Mark Lanegan’s scratchy inflections match Dulli’s weathered rasp. The following “Waves” is the most aggressive and driving tune here as McCabe drops the same kind of sonic hammers brought to the Verve’s “This Is Music”. The poetic and beautiful “Get Lucky” as well as a gorgeous duet with Ani DiFranco on “Blackbird and the Fox” proves Dulli to be in fine form.