warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

The Twilight Singers Impress But Depress In “Dynamite Steps”

Katie Lemon |
February 16, 2011 | 4:00 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Indie rock band The Twilight Singers released their sixth album this week entitled, “Dynamite Steps,” which will make you want to drink black coffee, smoke a cigarette and sulk in your post-Valentine’s Day sorrows.

You may have never heard of the Twilight Singers, but they have been around since 1997 as a side project of Greg Dulli, band leader of The Afghan Whigs.

In “Dynamite Steps”, Dulli unsurprisingly delivers the same themes as his other albums: darkness, despair and damnation. But don’t let that steer you away. Some of the songs’ softer melodies override the melancholy lyrics.

Cinematic and beautiful, the song “Gunshots” is one of the more calm songs on the album. The intro piano and Dulli’s sweet falsetto stand in contrast from the other more angry, louder songs on the album.

Dulli’s mysterious and incredibly deep voice almost taunts in the song “Be Invited,” one of the gloomier numbers on the album.

The band released a track in September 2010 entitled “Blackbird and the Fox”, featuring Ani DiFranco. This one takes stylistic influences from Joseph Arthur, who sang on the band’s fifth album, "Powder Burns."

Overall, four out of five stars for the new album. Though the lyrical themes are a bit redundant, the songs differ enough in sound to get a taste of Dulli’s stylistic diversity.

The Twilight Singers are on tour this spring. If you like their sound, make sure to catch their show at The Music Box here in L.A. on May 25th.

Reach reporter Katie here.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness