The Afghan Whigs

Not merely the best blue-eyed soul act of their generation, the Afghan Whigs were also a cover band par excellence -- from their devastating rendition of the Supremes' "My World Is Empty Without You" to the Uptown Avondale EP to the dozen or so covers scattered across the B-sides of their U.K. singles, Greg Dulli and company consistently proved their mastery of the popular song, resurrecting classic pop, soul, and R&B hits via renditions that often equaled and sometimes even bettered the originals. Compiling highlights from the Honky's Ladder and Going to Town singles issued by U.K. label Mute, the U.S. promo Bonnie & Clyde EP is a must-have for Whigs fans, proving the elasticity and perversity of their approach -- only Dulli could convincingly take on TLC ("Creep"), Jack Haley ("If I Only Had a Heart"), and Ella Fitzgerald ("You've Changed") in succession and add bold new dimensions to the lyrics each time. The Black Love cut "Going to Town" -- the most sinister song Stevie Wonder never wrote -- and a reading of Dulli pal Harold Chichester's moving "I Want to Go to Sleep" round out the package. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide