A.F.I. - Sing the Sorrow
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Free Music Notes for Sing the Sorrow
Free Music Review: Awesome....buy this CD!
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of AFI for about 3 years now when I first heard Total Immortal(which is on the All Hallow's EP btw), and in that time they've become one of my 3 favorite bands. I first read in Alternative Press about a year ago that they were working on a new album and I've been salivating over it since then. And usually when something is prolonged and hyped up like this, it turns out to be a disappointment. That is SO not the case here. With their new album, they do not disappoint. If you've heard their older material, the first thing you notice about Sing the Sorrow is that it's not as hard. So what? You can't expect every album to sound the same. You get older, your perspective on life changes. The way you do things changes. This is an excellent step in the band's evolution. There's not a single song on here that I don't like. From the haunting intro, the album grabs you and doesn't let go, taking you on a rollercoaster ride full of emotional highs and lows. My personal favorite songs on this CD are "This Celluloid Dream", "Girls Not Grey", "The Leaving Song pt. II", "The Great Disappointment" and "This Time Imperfect". That's like half the CD right there. In the past 12 months, this is one of 5 rock albums that stands apart from the rest in my mind. And of those 5, this album sits on top of the other 4. This feels like the start of bigger things for this band. I'm glad that I now see MTV giving exposure to this talented band, because I really want as many people as possible to listen to this band. Cynics and naysayers have a tendency to scream "sell out" when bands start getting exposure by mainstream media, and in some cases it's true. Not with AFI. I don't see any hint of so called "selling out." They stay true to the musical quality of their past, naturally taking it up several notches since this a major label release, and Davey Havok's lyrics are as artful as ever. You can't call it selling out just because more people are taking notice of a band that so rightfully deserves the attention. All in all, this is a major success and you need to buy this album. And if you ever get a chance, I recommend watching this band live in concert. The don't disappoint. And if you like Sing the Sorrow, I also recommend picking up their older material. Black Sails in the Sunset is a good place to start. And please don't download it. I'm sure they worked hard on the album and it's worth the money you'll drop on it. How would you feel if you worked hard at your job and didn't get paid for it? MindtricK
~The 5th Column~
Free Music Review: AFI..now the world
Hit: 5 Stars
A.F.I.Sing the Sorrow
Davey Havok (vocals)
Jade Puget (guitar)
Hunter (bass)
Adam Carson (drums)
The long awaited Dreamworks release from A.F.I. (A Fire Inside) rocked the shelves on March 11 with anticipation of what would come of a hardcore punk band on a major label. Sing the Sorrow starts out with a pounding chant with eerie guitars and synthesizers that foreshadow the darkness and progression of this album and the band. The power that has been felt in the past albums is still present and more refined than ever before. Screaming guitars and pounding drums start off the album in anticipation of front man Davey Havok's unmistakable vocals. The mix of east bay hardcore and rock and roll come together with an evil and deep mood that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Nirvana's producer, Butch Vig, and Jerry Finn manning the board combined to refine the sheer energy and melodic hardcore from the depths of the heart and soul of A.F.I. Pounding guitars and sing-a-long chorus's join together with deep, hardcore, verses that feed from the lyrical genius of Havok. Each song goes deeper into the dark and fiery depths of Havok's mind, pulling thoughts of misery and rejoices in a painful bliss. Pounding bass riffs direct melodic harmonies that juxtapose themselves in the sheer power that releases itself with the combination of Havok's vocals, screaming guitars, and foreboding drums. The sound beckons every listener to dance and shout along. There is notable progression in this album, with the darkness of evil glam-rock and the newly added touch of pure rock and roll guitars. Even though there is a noticeable radio friendly song, "Girls Not Grey", it does not take away from the integrity of the album. "Girls Not Grey" proves to be more than your normal MTV-friendly song with a much deeper and underground sound that does not find its way to the mainstream to often. The main difference that will set this album apart from its competition will be the carnage and lyrical mastery that has come together in a dark and powerful combination.
The fact that A.F.I. has moved out of the underground and joined the ranks of Papa Roach on their new label, Dreamworks, should not disappoint anyone once they have given the album a listen. A truly masterful work of art that I fear will not receive the respect it undauntedly deserves in an age that I feel is not ready for the sheer, morbid, perfection that is captured on Sing the Sorrow.
Free Music Review: This is amazing, but don't try to categorize it
Hit: 5 Stars
Is it punk? Is it goth? Alternative? Metal? Play this CD for 10 different people and I bet few of them will agree on how to categorize it. And that's one of the things that makes it great. If you were an AFI fan from their early days of three-chord songs on Answer That and Stay Fashionable, then this likely wouldn't appeal to you. This is not punk in the sense that their earlier CDs were (and yes, I have heard them). But the punk influence is still there, particularly in the vocals on "but home is nowhere" and "Bleed Black." To someone who only listens to pop on the radio, they would think this is punk. To someone who thinks Crass is real punk, they obviously wouldn't. If you look through the one-star reviews, a lot of them are from people who are mad that AFI "sold out" to sign to a major label and no longer sounds like they did when they were writing about breakfast cereal. Nor is this goth, per se, but if you only read the lyric sheet and looked at a photo of the band in this era, you might assume they are goth.
Okay, on with the review: this CD is amazing. I grew up listening to old punk and goth, and yet my days of wanting to listen to those exclusively are mostly over. Life has gotten too complicated for me to invest time and energy into being concerned with categorization or "selling out." AFI appeals to that part of me that liked those styles of music, because I can still hear those influences. My favorite songs on this CD vary almost by the day, and I love each of them best at different times. From the atmospheric call to arms of "Miseria Cantare" to the incredibly energizing and almost bouncy "This Celluloid Dream," there's enough variety here to keep it interesting. It's not like listening to the same song over and over. "...but home is nowhere" is positively epic. The lyrics are worthwhile to read and commit to memory, dark and almost poetic at times. If, like me, you grew up listening to The Cure, Bauhaus, Joy Division, etc. you might just love this CD. Davey Havok and the guys in AFI are combining varied influences in an interesting, complex way. The passion in this music is undeniable. After I got this CD, it was almost three weeks before I even wanted to listen to anything else, just because I kept discovering something new with subsequent listens. All of AFI's CDs have something to offer, and I really like all of them for different reasons. But this one is a true masterpiece and a great introduction for anyone considering checking out AFI.
Free Music Review: Not "old" AFI, as I'm told...
Hit: 5 Stars
Let's get this straight. I am not an AFI "fan". I am merely a bystander. I bought this CD because I heard "Girl's Not Grey" and "The Leaving Song Part 2" on the radio, and I liked both songs a great deal. I realize this is not what old AFI was like, and I realize that some people feel they have sold out with their record company switch. So I review this CD without any comparison to old AFI, or any other punk band for that matter.This is not true punk, or so I am told. So if that's what your looking for, keep looking. <Sing the Sorrow> definately has its punk roots, but the majority of the songs on <Sorrow> are heavier than what I hear is true punk. I'll break each song down here:
1. Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)- More of an intro than a true song. Interesting lyrics. Still, very cool. (4/5)
2. The Leaving Song Part 2 - One of the best on the album. Very cool lyrics. It's also one of the heavier songs on <Sorrow>. (5/5)
3. Bleed Black - Fast, catchy song. I didn't like it the first couple times I heard it, but it grows on you. (4/5)
4. Silver and Cold - Slower. Not bad. (4/5)
5. Dancing Through Sunday - Rapid, catchy tune. Poppy chorus, yes, but a great song, regardless. I love it. (5/5)
6. Girl's Not Grey - You've heard this song. Played on the radio heavily. Somehow, though, it hasn't lost its edge on me. I like it, a lot. A bit poppy. (4.5/5)
7. Death of Seasons - The only song on the CD I don't really like. It's mostly Davey screaming. There's also some techno put into it, but it actually sounds kind of cool. Still...(3/5)
8. The Great Disappointment - Slow, but very, very cool. Absolutely beautiful lyrics. One of my favorites. (5/5)
9. Paper Airplanes (Makeshift Wings) - Interesting song. Catchy, upbeat music. Used to be my favorite on the album, until I played it too much. (4.5/5)
10. This Celluloid Dream - My favorite song on <Sorrow>. Inspiring lyrics and fast-paced music. Splendid. (5/5)
11. The Leaving Song - Slowest song on the album. Somehow, though, it doesn't seem to fit with the rest of <Sorrow>. Still ok. (4/5)
12. ...But Home Is Nowhere - Starts out slow, but quickly picks up pace. A great song. (4/5)
13. This Time Imperfect (Bonus) - Medium pace all the way through. Not my favorite, but a wonderful closing song. (4.5/5)
Overall, <Sing the Sorrow> is a CD for those who like alternative, not for people who are into the punk scene. A great buy, one of the best alternative albums I own.
Free Music Review: Don't try to define them....
Hit: 5 Stars
...you'll just end up confusing yourself and missing the point. And the point is that this album rocks. I'm not a big music connosieur, so I'm not going to try to dress up what I'm saying. I've been listening to AFI for about two years, and this is totally different from anything they've ever done, in a totally awesome way. It blends all of their strengths as a band into a one hour cd that, personally, left me wanting to hear more. Not every AFI fan will LOVE it, but those who respect them as artists, and respect their right to evolve as artists will.Sing the Sorrow seems to me like an extension of The Art of Drowning, not musically, but conceptually. I believe that the songs represent a descent or a drowning in sorrow, and The Art of Drowning was the progression into that. Anyways, enough of my theories... About the album...
This album is just phenomenal. There are parts of it that made me want to get up and dance, and other parts where it moved me to tears (especially the poem following "...but home is nowhere" and the not so secret song "This Time Imperfect.") There is NOTHING pop about this album, and especially nothing pop-punk. It is a complete departure from any definable genre of music, which is, in part, what I think makes it so amazing. There are some songs like "Silver and Cold" and "The Leaving Song" that are softer and more melodic, but by no means pop. And then there are songs like "Death of Seasons" and "Dancing Through Sunday" that are heavier and crunchier. I would not say that if you enjoy "Girls Not Grey" to buy this album, because all the songs aren't necessarily like that, though I can say I consider this album to be one that can be listened to from start to finish.
I had really high expectations of this album, especially after hearing AFI say that they think it is one of their finest works as of yet. It not only blew me away, but exceeded my expectations. I have not stopped listening to it since this past Tuesday, and I don't forsee myself stopping anytime soon.
If you are turned off by the single or their move to a major record label or what have you... you should at least sit down and listen to it this album in its entirity. You might just change your mind. WOW. Just wow. I really don't know what else to say... Except maybe a huge thank you to AFI for the most amazing and moving listening experience of my entire life...