AFI - The Art Of Drowning
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Free Music Notes for The Art Of Drowning
Free Music Review: Luckily, not the next Misfits
Hit: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the most anticipated punk albums ever. After Black Sails In The Sunset and All Hallows EP, everyone is expecting an amazing album. I was more worried about AFI staying the band it has been. What if they started the Other Misfits? Please, no. I certainly hoped that they would continue on the path they were on. I was a little worried. I bought The Art Of Drowning soon after its release date. Staring at the cover art with its Misfits nature, I began to wonder if I would hold my head in shame for owning an AFI record, or would I proudly show my AFI t-shirt to all? I don't know why I bothered worrying, because no matter what they sound like, the music is damn amazing. "Initiation," the intro track, with its plucking and following choatic sound, played as I waited anxiously for it to get going. I knew that AFI had done the right thing after listening to "The Lost Souls." Not only had they stepped away from their Misfits influence that so many people thought they would follow, they had simply improved upon their previous recordings and made it almost perfect. It sounds quite a bit like an improved, more melodic version of "Black Sails." They definitely knew what they were doing long before this was recorded, and this is AFI sounding how they're supposed to sound. Andy Ernst is very good recording this album, just as good as "Black Sails." The sound is great, the vocals perfect, the recording just rock solid. But the songs are too damn catchy, I'm worried they're the next MTV band. That will depend on whether punk fans accept them. They are not hardcore, but they are so good, they need no genre to define them. They no longer "Want A Mohawk." Much more mature. It will satisfy punk fans, Korn fans, maybe emo kids. They're gonna get better, too. If you liked the previous album, you'll like this. It really is gonna be interesting seeing how people react to this. "Days Of The Phoenix" shows how they have matured. They don't need speed. Their tempo changes will overpower you. You'll be excited to see what the song's gonna do next, and you'll like a lot of different things about each song. AFI is gonna get popular with this.Free Music Review: AFI's best
Hit: 5 Stars
This is AFI's best album, quite simply. I love Sing the Sorrow, despite the fact that some purists consider it a sell-out. Hey, just because they got more melodic and prog does NOT mean they are a sell-out! They are exploring and expanding their style, always a good thing! (except to the purists)
Actually I love virtually everything AFI has ever done. I love their early hardcore punk stuff, and I love STS. But, The Art of Drowning is the cd I reach for the most. I just never get tired of it. It is raw, high-energy, and punk, with a lush, beautiful, magnificent layer of raw, exquisite emotion superimposed over Jade's fast, compelling guitarwork.
Most importantly, Davey Havok's vocals are the most emotionally intense of anyone I've ever heard, next to the mighty Master of emotion, Peter Gabriel (do not, I repeat, no NOT write off Peter Gabriel based on Sledgehammer - do yourself a favor and go listen to his early Genesis albums, most especially 'Genesis Live' and 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' and I assure you that you will have a renewed appreciation for the person who was the FIRST, original Goth, the FIRST to stage dive or crowd surf, the FIRST to be emotionally intense, etc.) Oops, this is an AFI review, NOT a Peter Gabrial review...sorry! They are in the same league in my mind so sometimes I mix them up...please forgive me.
Anyway, getting back to TAOD - this is the transition album, with all the elements you love from the punk era as well as the more polished STS era - it is truly a masterpiece and gets better with every listen. Every song is strong - you will NOT skip over any!
Whether you are in a melancholy mood, depressed and need upliftment, or want something fast to work out to, TAOD is a good fit. You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT, stay depressed, or still, while listening to TAOD.
Your feet will dance and your heart will sing, guaranteed!
(Davey, I am still waiting for a reply from you about those Peter Gabriel dvds I sent you.)
Free Music Review: Greatest CD ever made!
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD is freaking amazing! If you like great punk/emo/hard rock type of music, than do yourself a favor and buy this CD! Davey Havok is amazing, this CD is way better than Sing the Sorrow, and i wish AFI does not change there way's more than they have already.Track layout:
1 - 10 Rating
1.) Initiation - A simple intro nothing too fancy (8/10)
2.) Lost Souls - Davey Havok brings it from the beginning, this song rocks! (10/10)
3.) Nephilim - Another great song, with great writing. Swings moods a bit from hard to soft...bad a$$! "In shadows growing wings" (9/10)
4.) Ever and a Day - A song that is "ok". The lyrics are great, but it is just a bit too soft for me. Never the less amazing though. (8/10)
5.) Sacrifice Theory - I like how they transition from Ever and a Day to this song...great little pulp fiction type of bass line going on here in the beginning, amazing song! (10/10)
6.) Of Greetings and Goodbyes - My favorite from the whole CD, this song is just too damn amazing! (12/10)
7.) Smile - I first did not like this song, but i started to get used to it, and man it kicks ass! PURE AFI (10/10)
8.) Story at Three - The first time i heard the chorus part of this song it gave me the chills! "sing to me" amazing. (10/10)
9.) Days of the Phoenix - One of there more popular songs from the CD, cool song. (9/10)
10.) Catch a Hot One - Another song just like # 7 PURE AFI (10/10)
11.) Wester - This song is a close second to Of Greetings and Goodbyes, this song lyrically is just amazing, and the tempo rocks! (11/10)
12.) 6 to 8 - A good slower paced song, the chorus really catches you. (8/10)
13.) Despair Factor - Great song, love the beginning beat. Lyrics are amazing. (10/10)
14.) Morningstar - First time i heard this song it gave me massive chills. Davey Havok really shines in this slow paced ballad! (10/10).
15.) Battled - Flat out great song! (9/10)
SERIOUSLY PLEASE BUY THIS CD, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
Free Music Review: Grows on you
Hit: 5 Stars
The Art of Drowning seems to be the most frequently hailed AFI album, and with good reason. However, you may not realize this for quite some time. Black Sails in the Sunset was always my favorite, followed by Shut Your Mouth, Sing the Sorrow, the Art of Drowning and then the other two. However, The Art of Drowning has climbed up my list to be tied with Black Sails as my favorite AFI album. For maybe the first 5 or even 10 listens, the songs will seem good, with a few great ones, but you might feel like the album is mediocre (by AFI standards). It's songs like The Nephilim, Smile, A Story at Three, Morningstar, The Despair Factor and Sacrifice Theory that, given the necessary time to sink in, will become some of your more enjoyable AFI songs. Quality of songs aside, Art of Drowning also contains the most dynamic set of material, ranging from slow ballads (Morningstar, Ever and a Day) to more traditional hardcore (Catch a Hot One, Battled) and just about everything in-between. This could be part of the reason why fans aren't always immediately taken aback by it. While most of the other albums have a more tangible, "obvious" motif, whether it be the blistering goth-punk of Black Sails, or the churning hardcore of Shut Your Mouth, The Art of Drowning is a lost soul (pardon the pun) in the AFI realm. It marks the "true" departure from hardcore, into more experimentation. Sure, both Black Sails and Shut Your Mouth showed signs of AFI molting their "East-Bay Hardcore" sound, both of them were still relying on the band's roots for security. Here, AFI let go, and allowed themselves to create something very unique.
Though this isn't their best, (in my opinion) it's pretty damned close, and deserves most of the recognition that it receives. Many fans consider the time of this album's release to be AFI's finest hour.
Free Music Review: Some of the best melodic punk in years
Hit: 5 Stars
If you're interested in getting into punk, or even if you're already familiar with it, AFI is pretty much a must-have band. This is arguably their best disc (my personal favorite is still "Black Sails", though). From the very beginning, you're treated to a high energy and surprisingly creative punk album.
The production is a far cry from the raw, lo-fi days of bands like Discharge, but it's also pretty far from being over-produced (a trap too many modern punk groups fall into). It's a nice balance of clear and high quality sound, with just enough warmth to make it feel like a well-produced garage practice session. Basically, this is the sound all of today's punk bands should go for.
The music is about as creative as a band can get with three chords. They alternate between surprisingly explosive, aggressive tracks ("Smile" is still one of the fiercest songs they've ever recorded) and intensely emotional ballads (the amazingly beautiful "Morningstar"). AFI are one of those rare bands where all the lyrics are catchy, not just the choruses (although nearly all have a catchy chorus that is destined to be stuck in your head). One thing this album isn't lacking in is passion and urgency; Davey's vocals often crack under stress, the group frantically shouts out backing vocals, and the music is nearly constantly at high speed. They do a nice job of rounding out those emotions with some more tender moments, a few of which are some of the most memorable songs the band's ever recorded (check out the end of "A Story at Three", which breaks down the song almost completely to Davey's wailing and then builds it right back up, even more powerful than before).
If you're even remotely interested in this band or style, you'll probably love this disc. Even the haters could probably find something to like.