Powder Burns

As leader of 120 Minutes stalwarts the Afghan Whigs, Greg Dulli regularly ravaged his vocal cords to punctuate misanthropic tales of love and lust in the ’90s. The alt-rock sadomasochist has relied on a smoother, R&B-inflected croon with his current group, but on The Twilight Singers’ fourth album Powder Burns he once again lets it rip. Adorned with swirling strings and sensuous background vocals, zealous raptures like ”There’s Been an Accident” and the walloping title track crest with Dulli’s guitar and throat throwing white-hot flames.