# Random Desire

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***Random Desire*** is the debut studio album by American singer [Greg Dulli](/source/Greg_Dulli), lead singer of the bands [the Afghan Whigs](/source/The_Afghan_Whigs) and [the Twilight Singers](/source/The_Twilight_Singers). It was released on February 21, 2020, by Royal Cream and [BMG Rights Management](/source/BMG_Rights_Management).

## Background

Dulli's band the Afghan Whigs had reformed in 2012 for a reunion tour,[1] and released two albums, *[Do to the Beast](/source/Do_to_the_Beast)* (2014) and *[In Spades](/source/In_Spades)* (2017).[2][3] In the past, Dulli had released solo material away from the Afghan Whigs and his other musical acts, the Twilight Singers and [the Gutter Twins](/source/The_Gutter_Twins). In 2005, Dulli released *[Amber Headlights](/source/Amber_Headlights)*, an album compiling solo sessions written in 2001,[4] and a live album released in 2008 featuring content he had recorded at [The Triple Door](/source/The_Triple_Door) in Seattle for the *A Drink for the Kids* fundraising effort by [The Vera Project](/source/The_Vera_Project).[5] Since 2009, Dulli had released solo cover tracks, such as covers of the [Eddie Hinton](/source/Eddie_Hinton) tracks "Hard Luck Guy" and "Cover Me" in 2009,[6] and covers of [Leonard Cohen](/source/Leonard_Cohen), [Sharon Van Etten](/source/Sharon_Van_Etten) and [David Bowie](/source/David_Bowie).[7][8][9]

## Writing and recording

After the release of the Afghan Whigs' eighth studio album *In Spades* and the death of Afghan Whigs' guitarist [Dave Rosser](/source/Dave_Rosser) in 2017, Dulli began to work on *Random Desire*.[10] The album became a solo project when Dulli realized that many of his Afghan Whigs bandmates would be unavailable in the upcoming months: drummer [Patrick Keeler](/source/Patrick_Keeler) would be on tour with his band [The Raconteurs](/source/The_Raconteurs), and bassist [John Curley](/source/John_Curley_(musician)) had decided to go back to college.[11][12] After a burst of inspiration in February 2019, the album was primarily written and recorded between then and July 2019, at sessions in [Joshua Tree National Park](/source/Joshua_Tree_National_Park), Dulli's home in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) and [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans).[11]

The album, took influence from [Prince](/source/Prince_(musician)) and [Todd Rundgren](/source/Todd_Rundgren)'s methods of writing and performing almost every instrument on their records.[3] Dulli wrote and arranged the album entirely by himself along with playing the bulk of the instruments, but brought in supporting musicians to add accents to the songs.[3] These musicians included [Queens of the Stone Age](/source/Queens_of_the_Stone_Age) drummer [Jon Theodore](/source/Jon_Theodore), singer [Camille](/source/Camille_(American_singer)), and Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers band members Rick Nelson, Jon Skibic, Mark McGuire and Mathias Schneeberger.[13]

## Promotion

The album was announced on December 4, 2019, the same day that the leading single "Pantomima" was released to streaming services.[10] The songs "It Falls Apart" and "A Ghost" were released in the month leading up to the album's release.[14][11] The final promotional single for the album was "Lockless" which was released on December 1, 2020. It was accompanied by a video directed by Bailey Smith featuring footage of New Orleans during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. Dulli stated that "the song itself suggests a loneliness and I felt the marriage between the song and these images [of a deserted New Orleans] was too perfect not to explore".[15]

### Tour

Dulli originally planned an international tour held from March to May 2020 performing with Afghan Whigs members Jon Skibic and Rick Nelson;[11] however, due to the effects of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) this tour was postponed.[16] On August 1, Dulli held two pay-per-view livestream events streamed from Gold-Diggers Sound in Hollywood: one solo performance, and one joined by his [general practitioner](/source/General_practitioner) and contrabass/pedal steel guitar player Steven Patt.[16]

## Critical reception

At [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, *Random Desire* has an average score of 76 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17] Album of the Year collected 13 reviews and calculated an average of 75 out of 100.[18] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album 7.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[19]

## Personnel

Credits adapted from the [liner notes](/source/Liner_notes) of *Random Desire*.[13]

- Bryan Brown – percussion (2), castanets (7), bells (7), [vibraphone](/source/Vibraphone) (7)
- [Camille](/source/Camille_(American_singer)) – vocals (5)
- Charles Copley – guitar (6)
- [Greg Dulli](/source/Greg_Dulli) – production, vocals (1–10), bass (1, 5, 9), guitar (1–4, 6–9), drums (1, 4–5, 7–8), [mellotron](/source/Mellotron) (1, 5–9), piano (2, 4–6, 10), percussion (2), organ (3, 10), vibraphone (3)
- Scott Frock – trumpet (8)
- Avtar Khalsa – backing vocals (3)
- Mark McGuire – guitar (5)
- Rick Nelson – cello (4), contrabass (4, 7), violin (4, 7)
- Steven "Doc" Patt – contrabass (3, 10), pedal steel guitar (3, 7–8, 10)
- Jon Ramm – trombone (8)
- Matt Schluessler – bass (6)
- Mathias Schneeberger – synthesizer (1), guitar (4, 8), bass (4, 8–9), drums (9)
- Jon Skibic – guitar (1, 2–6, 9–10), bass (2)
- [Jon Theodore](/source/Jon_Theodore) – drums (2, 6)
- Christopher Thorn – production, mixing
- Brad Walker – saxophone (8)
- Meg Webb – harp (10)
- [Howie Weinberg](/source/Howie_Weinberg) – mastering

## Release history

Release dates and formats for Random Desire Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref. Various February 21, 2020 CD · digital download · streaming · vinyl Royal Cream, BMG [20]

## References

1. Nishimoto, Rei (May 15, 2012). ["The Afghan Whigs Announce Summer 2012 Reunion Tour Dates"](https://music.mxdwn.com/2012/05/15/news/the-afghan-whigs-announce-summer-2012-reunion-tour-dates/). *MXDWN*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Grow, Kory (January 27, 2014). ["Afghan Whigs Plan 'Beast' of a New Record, First in 16 Years"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/afghan-whigs-plan-beast-of-a-new-record-first-in-16-years-176420/). *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Thomas, Fred (2020). ["Artist Biography"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/greg-dulli-mn0000159583/biography). *Allmusic*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. McMahan, Tim (November 5, 2003). ["The Twilight Singer's Greg Dulli: Remembering Teddy"](http://www.timmcmahan.com/twilight.htm). *Lazy-i*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["Gutter Twins' man live album on the way"](https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-gutter-twins-3-13301771). *NME*. October 14, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Varias, Chris (April 2009). "Hard Luck Guy". *Cincinnati*

1. Coplanon, Chris (January 26, 2012). ["Video: Greg Dulli covers Leonard Cohen's "Paper Thin Hotel""](https://consequence.net/2012/01/video-greg-dulli-covers-leonard-cohens-paper-thin-hotel/). *Consequence of Sound*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli announces intimate solo tour"](http://www.cristinarocks.com/2015/10/afghan-whigs-greg-dulli-announces.html). *Cristina Rocks*. October 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Geslanion, Michelle (January 20, 2016). ["The Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli covers David Bowie's "Modern Love" — listen"](https://consequence.net/2016/01/the-afghan-whigs-greg-dulli-covers-david-bowies-modern-love-listen/). *Consequence of Sound*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Bacioron, Robin (December 4, 2019). ["The Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli announces debut solo album Random Desire, shares "Pantomima": Stream"](https://consequence.net/2019/12/the-afghan-whigs-greg-dulli-random-desire-pantomima-stream/). *Consequence of Sound*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Pearis, Bill (February 18, 2020). ["Greg Dulli talks solo album 'Random Desire' and its influences in BV interview"](https://www.brooklynvegan.com/greg-dulli-talks-solo-album-random-desire-and-its-influences-in-bv-interview/). *Brooklyn Vegan*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Uitti, Jacob (February 24, 2020). ["Greg Dulli on "Random Desire""](http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/greg_dulli_on_random_desire). *Under the Radar Mag*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. *Random Desire* (booklet). Royal Cream. 2020.

1. Kayeon, Ben (January 31, 2020). ["The Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli shares the Origins of new single "It Falls Apart": Stream"](https://consequence.net/2020/01/greg-dulli-origins-it-falls-apart-stream/). *Consequence of Sound*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. Leiber, Sarah Jae (December 1, 2020). ["Greg Dulli Releases Video For "Lockless": Stream"](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Greg-Dulli-Releases-Video-For-Lockless-20201201/). *Broadway World*. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

1. Spera, Keith (July 29, 2020). ["Greg Dulli can't tour and his New Orleans bars are closed, so he'll livestream a solo show"](https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_83b5ecb0-d067-11ea-af1b-13fe4c6f72e9.html). *Nola*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["*Random Desire* by Greg Dulli"](https://www.metacritic.com/music/random-desire/greg-dulli). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [CBS Interactive](/source/CBS_Interactive). Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["Greg Dulli - *Random Desire*"](https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/196152-greg-dulli-random-desire.php). *Album of the Year*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["Greg Dulli - *Random Desire*"](http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/11277/Greg-Dulli-Random-Desire.aspx). *AnyDecentMusic?*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["Random Desire"](https://www.amazon.com/Random-Desire-Greg-Dulli/dp/B082BWRGG8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Greg+Dulli&qid=1597361036&sr=8-1). *Amazon*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Random Desire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_Desire) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_Desire?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.