Editing The Afghan Whigs (section)

===Signing to Elektra and ''Gentlemen'' (1993)===
Building on the buzz that welcomed ''Congregation'', The Afghan Whigs soon signed to a major label, [[Elektra Records]], following a bidding war that resulted in a contract so lucrative, it featured a clause that allowed for the funding of a Dulli-scripted feature film that ultimately was never made.<ref name=autogenerated10>{{cite web|url=http://www.summerskiss.com/154/whigging-out/|title=Whigging Out|website=Summer's Kiss|date=May 1994|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217003516/http://www.summerskiss.com/154/whigging-out/|url-status=dead}}</ref> For their major label debut, The Afghan Whigs ensconced themselves in [[Ardent Studios]] in Memphis, where [[Big Star]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[ZZ Top]] had recorded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.summerskiss.com/150/ladies-andgentlemen/|title=Ladies and...Gentlemen|website=Summer's Kiss|date=April 1994|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101201103/http://www.summerskiss.com/150/ladies-andgentlemen/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The result of those sessions was the 1993 album ''[[Gentlemen (album)|Gentlemen]]''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

''Gentlemen'' received a positive review from ''Rolling Stone''. Critics would go on to praise it for its unflinching, self-flagellating lyrics, and a decisive stylistic break with the grunge-style epitomized by [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Mudhoney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.summerskiss.com/pressreviewsgentlemen/gentlemen_entertainment_weekly.php|title=Gentlemen Entertainment Weekly at Summer's Kiss – Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers|publisher=Summerskiss.com|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112348/http://www.summerskiss.com/pressreviewsgentlemen/gentlemen_entertainment_weekly.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv294-94.php|title=Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Mar. 1, 1994|publisher=Robertchristgau.com|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref> ''Gentlemen'' would place at No.&nbsp;17 on The ''[[Village Voice]]'''s "Pazz & Jop" critic's poll for 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/02/25/phair-is-a-big-hit-in-critics-poll/|title=Phair Is A Big Hit in Critics Poll|website=Chicago Tribune|date=25 February 1994 |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

''Gentlemen'' proved to be The Afghan Whigs' most commercially successful release, and by 1996 it had sold 130,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="Bambarger">{{cite magazine |last1=Bambarger |first1=Bradley |title=Afghan Whigs Get Passionate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_w4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=soundscan+afghan+whigs&pg=PA18|access-date=May 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 3, 1996 |page=18|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.}}</ref> The singles "Debonair" (a Modern Rock Top 20 hit) and "Gentlemen" received regular airplay on [[MTV]] and [[College Radio|college radio]]. Another album track, "Fountain and Fairfax" appeared on the television series ''[[My So-Called Life]]'' in 1994.<ref name="Stephen Thomas Erlewine"/> The lead vocals on "My Curse" were sung not by Dulli, but by singer Marcy Mays of [[Scrawl]] – allegedly because the lyrics documenting the violent dissolution of a relationship were so personal, Dulli couldn't sing it.<ref name="autogenerated12"/><ref name="autogenerated10"/>