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}} ''Congregation'' is the third studio album by American alternative rock band The Afghan Whigs, released on January 31, 1992, by Sub Pop. After touring for two years in support of their 1990 album ''Up in It'', the band received $15,000 advance from Sub Pop to record a follow-up album. It was primarily recorded at Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville and Buzz's Kitchen in Los Angeles during July to August 1991. The band's frontman Greg Dulli produced the album entirely with audio engineer Ross Ian Stein. The album's production and release were hindered by Sub Pop's financial difficulties, which were eventually resolved by the massive commercial success of Nirvana's 1991 album ''Nevermind''. Expanding on the aggressive sound of the band's previous work, ''Congregation'' has more refined musical details and slower songs such as ballads. Its music also incorporates R&B, soul, and funk influences. The album's cover depicts a nude black woman holding a white baby in her arms and alludes comically to the band's African-American music influences. The songs have themes of pleasure and guilt, and deal with topics such as dysfunctional relationships and sexual deviancy. Conceived during the burgeoning grunge scene, the album has been viewed by music writers as stylistically distinct from other Sub Pop and grunge music. Upon its release, ''Congregation'' was very well received by music critics, who praised its musical quality, stylistic elements, and emotional content. It was promoted with two singles, "Turn On the Water" and "Conjure Me", and The Afghan Whigs' extensive touring in the United States and Europe. Although it did not chart, the album helped the band attain a cult following and receive offers from major record labels, leading to their signing to Elektra Records. Since its initial reception, ''Congregation'' has been viewed by writers as the band's breakthrough album and a significant release in rock music during the 1990s. == Background == After forming in 1986 in Cincinnati, The Afghan Whigs—vocalist and rhythm guitarist Greg Dulli, bassist John Curley, lead guitarist Rick McCollum, and drummer Steve Earle—released their 1988 debut album ''Big Top Halloween'' on an independent record label and gained the attention of Seattle-based label Sub Pop. With their second album ''Up in It'' (1990) released on the label, the band toured regularly in the United States for two years and occasionally in Europe before recording ''Congregation''.〔 Sub Pop gave the band a $15,000 advance to record the album, which Dulli later said was a "then-unheard-of" and "bloated" amount.〔Yarm (2011), p. 307.〕 The album's cover shows a nude black woman sitting on a blanket with a white baby held in her arms.〔Cilìa (1999), p. 23.〕 It serves as a comical reference to the band's African-American music roots. Along with a collective interest in classic rock, band members had other individual tastes in music, including McCollum's interest in free jazz, experimental, and Indian music, and Dulli's love of hip hop, soul, and funk, particularly Motown artists and Prince.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Congregation (album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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