The last time Greg Dulli hinted that an upcoming Afghan Whigs release would be less fueled by personal turmoil, we got 1965, a rager of a party record that remains a fan favourite and contains many live staples. In a just world, “66” would have been a massive radio hit. In the press release for Soft Control, Dulli indicated that this collection is driven by a confidence that he can pick up where he left off.
“Jungle Roux” builds tension in the way that many great Afghan Whigs songs do, but it quickly hits its stride with a huge chorus, with backup singers and a line Dulli was born to spit: “Heavy lies the crown.” The band, flanked by original Whig John Curley and a locked-in crew of heavy hitters Dulli’s assembled over the years, sounds massive and on fire on this track. It’s impossible not to imagine this song being performed live with that nine-piece band from the 1965 tour.
While it may not get that treatment, between “Jungle Roux” and the other previews, Soft Control is shaping up to be a highlight of a bulletproof discography. Heavy lies the crown, indeed.