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Amazon.co.uk Review
Saturalia, the debut album by The Gutter Twins, brings together two long-standing veterans of the '90s alternative rock scene--Greg Dulli, the soulful voice behind the Afghan Whigs, and Mark Lanegan of psych-tinged grungers Screaming Trees and latterly, Queens of the Stone Age. Both gentlemen being, shall we say, personalities, Saturnalia could easily have come off as the musical version of the town that ain't big enough for the both of them. Agreeably, though, the pair appear to have learnt to live--indeed, thrive--in one another's company. The name The Gutter Twins may be something of a misnomer: "The Stations" and "Idle Hands" might unfurl in a thunderstorm of sludgy, blackened guitars, but there's also stately orchestral arrangements and quite grandiose, anthemic touches that suggest Saturnalia is more than a sleazy busman's holiday. Mostly, the pair let their vocals echo one another, which is a strange choice: their voices are so distinct, and it would be nice to hear a little more interplay. Still, at this album's level best--"God's Children", perhaps--it simultaneously recalls the psychedelic gospel of Screaming Trees' epic Dust and the gallows-bound soul of Afghan Whigs' Black Love, and as any fan of either band could tell you, that's a great thing. --Louis Pattison
Review
With a gestation period almost as long as an elephant, The Gutter Twins have finally released their first offering, Saturnalia, an ominous, raw, dark sounding album that scorches itself into your eardrums. The Gutter Twins are long time alt rock legends Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs), both of who have been collaborating with myriad musical partners in the years since their former outfits met their demise. Lanegan most notably partnered with Isobel Campbell on the Mercury nominated Ballad Of The Broken Seas.
Combining traditional rock grandstanding, with twisted undertones, a smattering of blues and the finest traditions of American alt rock, Saturnalia is not an album that will pick up your spirits, but there is a beauty to be found in something that seems sound of the more painful corners of life.
Lead single Idle Hands has an album-typical darkness to it, with an almost satantic sounding, stadium-sized guitar riff underpinning lyrics of love and suffering intertwined. It's the sound that listeners with a tendency towards head banging will have been waiting for.
Even in the murky feel to Saturnalia, there is a variety in the sounds and influences. Circle The Fringes begins with a softer feel, but before long the ominous, oppressive atmosphere creeps in, exploding in a ferocious scrawl of guitars. In contrast, I Was In Love With You has a fantastic layered approach, with echoes of a Beatles-esque sound found inside a swirling, anthemic ode to heartbreak.
Who Will Lead Us and Seven Stories Underground, both of which have a bluesier feel, but still hold discordant undertones, while Each to Each has a whiff of Electronica about it.
Saturnalia is never less than music on a grand scale. It's about the depths of rawness; of soulful words wrapped up in alt rock forms. It is a sound full of passion that feels as if it will only be fully unleashed when played on stage. If only all alt rock was a good as this. --Helen Groom
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I believe I possess everything that Mark Lanegan has recorded. Not bragging, just stating a fact to support my absolute admiration for what he has done, and my belief that he has one of the great voices in rock. The only album that I didn't really like was his Ballads of the Broken Seas with Isobel Campbell - which won awards for goodness sake, but just didn't cut it for me. Otherwise his solo work is of singularly excellent quality, he has the standout tracks on any Queens of the Stone Age album and as for the Screaming trees, easily the best and most innovative of the "grunge" bands.
Greg Dulli? Don't know so much about him but enjoyed a couple of Afghan Whigs albums, especially 1965.
So put them together and what do you get? An exuberant slice of psychedelic, rocky americana. On this album you will hear rocking beats, mental metal guitar, slower acoustic folky numbers, excellent vocal harmonies and truly superb, proper songs. Just look at the instruments that are played on this album. Guitars - electric and acoustic of course, drums, bass and keyboards, so far so ho hum. But there are violins and cellos on some tracks which add a warmth to the affair, the harmonium is hauled out to lend an ethereal rasp to "God's children". "Each to each" features sequenced beats merged with mandolin, and the closer "Front Street" is a slow burning, more traditional epic, kind of creepy, poem set to music.
Maybe I'm being over zealous in my support for this album but anything released this year that overtakes this as my album of the year (or indeed the last few years) will have to be special indeed. This album is that good! In the past couple of weeks we have had an excellent album by Gary Louris which knocked my socks off and now this one. Maybe 2008 will be the year of "New Americana". You heard it here first!!
Greg Dulli? Don't know so much about him but enjoyed a couple of Afghan Whigs albums, especially 1965.
So put them together and what do you get? An exuberant slice of psychedelic, rocky americana. On this album you will hear rocking beats, mental metal guitar, slower acoustic folky numbers, excellent vocal harmonies and truly superb, proper songs. Just look at the instruments that are played on this album. Guitars - electric and acoustic of course, drums, bass and keyboards, so far so ho hum. But there are violins and cellos on some tracks which add a warmth to the affair, the harmonium is hauled out to lend an ethereal rasp to "God's children". "Each to each" features sequenced beats merged with mandolin, and the closer "Front Street" is a slow burning, more traditional epic, kind of creepy, poem set to music.
Maybe I'm being over zealous in my support for this album but anything released this year that overtakes this as my album of the year (or indeed the last few years) will have to be special indeed. This album is that good! In the past couple of weeks we have had an excellent album by Gary Louris which knocked my socks off and now this one. Maybe 2008 will be the year of "New Americana". You heard it here first!!
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you're reading this, then the chances are you're already au fait with either, if not both, of the individuals that make up the Gutter Twins, and to a certain extent will know what to expect here (clue: QUALITY). Of course, there will be newcomers; curious and hopeful listeners, drawn in by the reputations and the rave reviews, and it's at those folk that this review is primarily aimed.
Saturnalia - the first complete album of collaborations between Greg Dulli (ex-Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers) and Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age) - is a dark and moody affair; blues of the blackest kind from two of music's great survivors. While it's difficult to decipher the exact details of the experiences that inform this set of songs, it's pretty safe to say that these guys have "seen some stuff" in their time, and so if you're of the introspective, heart-broken, love-lorn, or occasionally cynical ilk, you're likely to dig this. It's serious stuff, for sure, best listened to late at night, with a glass (or bottle...) of whiskey at hand, or during a long drive in the dark. Just check out the ominous opener 'The Stations' for proof, or the dirty rock-out of 'Idle Hands' (built around a hulking riff that simply could not have been written for anyone other than Lanegan) or even the Dulli-led, shamelessly covetous closer, 'Front Porch' ("if she's fine as your missus, then she's fine enough for me").
It's weighty stuff throughout, but Saturnalia stops well short of being depressing, thanks to the simplicity of the compositions, the lushness of their arrangements and the conviction of their delivery. There is also a surprising lightness of touch - most notably on the Lanegan-sung 'Who Will Lead Us?' - that you just don't get with the majority of today's bands, which elevates this album further into the realms of genius. These two guys - regardless of what you know of them or their previous incarnations - are once again proving to be masters of their craft and the whole of this album reeks of quality and class.
Matt Pucci
Saturnalia - the first complete album of collaborations between Greg Dulli (ex-Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers) and Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age) - is a dark and moody affair; blues of the blackest kind from two of music's great survivors. While it's difficult to decipher the exact details of the experiences that inform this set of songs, it's pretty safe to say that these guys have "seen some stuff" in their time, and so if you're of the introspective, heart-broken, love-lorn, or occasionally cynical ilk, you're likely to dig this. It's serious stuff, for sure, best listened to late at night, with a glass (or bottle...) of whiskey at hand, or during a long drive in the dark. Just check out the ominous opener 'The Stations' for proof, or the dirty rock-out of 'Idle Hands' (built around a hulking riff that simply could not have been written for anyone other than Lanegan) or even the Dulli-led, shamelessly covetous closer, 'Front Porch' ("if she's fine as your missus, then she's fine enough for me").
It's weighty stuff throughout, but Saturnalia stops well short of being depressing, thanks to the simplicity of the compositions, the lushness of their arrangements and the conviction of their delivery. There is also a surprising lightness of touch - most notably on the Lanegan-sung 'Who Will Lead Us?' - that you just don't get with the majority of today's bands, which elevates this album further into the realms of genius. These two guys - regardless of what you know of them or their previous incarnations - are once again proving to be masters of their craft and the whole of this album reeks of quality and class.
Matt Pucci
Format:Audio CD
Dark, brooding with undertones of menace. Saturnalia is a gothic delight right from the start. Put on a black trenchcoat and black eye-liner and take a trip to the dark side.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Exactly what you'd expect from these two...
This is an excellent collaboration from a couple of blokes you'd rightly describe as grunge/post-grunge 'nobility'. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by S. Wooldridge
Powerful Stuff
This album hits you in all the right places. It contains rocking melodies, beautifully crafted creations and easy listening tunes. Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by Mr. R. Eggar
Mark + Greg = ?
Pains me to say this, because I normally slobber in an undignified and unbiased fashion over everything Greg Dulli does, but- this album really didn't reach me. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2009 by sonny
Dulli and Lanegan Stutter in the Gutter
This album does not represent the best of either Dulli or Lanegan and shouldn't be the first port of call if you are looking to investigate either artist. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2009 by Man Without a Soul
Stunning, dark and a little twisted...
This is the first thing I've ever owned by either of the artists, and I love it. It's been playing constantly since I got it a week ago, and the range of styles makes it constantly... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2008 by C. Hopkins
THE album of 2008
I'm amazed that this record has gotten some poor reviews on Amazon. It's far and away the best record of the year. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2008 by Auntie Beryl
New (Lanegan)solo work please
Compared to the worst Lanegan album this album is ten times worse.Even after giving it more then 10 chances I don't like it. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2008 by E. Keek
Suprisingly excellent
Some superb reviews here, not much more you can add really. A fine album, and so much more than "Idle Hands", which as a single is quite misleading as to how rest of the album... Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2008 by Jonesworth
Sympathy for the devil
As always with these two masters of American Gothic, the sacred and the secular entwine like two sides of the same coin. Read more
Published on 4 May 2008 by C. O'Brien
5 star dreadful twins
This cd is awful. Its a eclectic mix of nothing, and instantly regrettable. Thanks are warmly extended to those who recommended it....don't give up the day job!!!!!!
Published on 24 April 2008 by 01ferret
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