Having established himself as a dark, gritty songwriter and charismatic presence in Afghan Whigs, Greg Dulli's follow-up band, Twilight Singers, conceived shortly before the Whigs' 2001 dissolution, showcases all this with slightly smoother edges. With atmospheric production and a more soulful, bluesy bent, Dulli surrounds himself with an eclectic array of collaborators (Mark Lanegan, Apollonia ) and doesn't back off from experimentation (a slow jam of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," anyone?). The consistent thread is Dulli's sultry voice and fearless lyrical exploration of the dark side of human relationships.