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 Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on June 6th 2006
To prepare myself to write a review of AFI's second major label album, and perhaps biggest musical shift, I decided to sit down with my entire AFI back catalog and try to figure out what kind of reference points I could use to put the sheer magnitude of the changes in context. I began with the band's decidedly straightforward sophomore full-length, Very Proud of Ya, which was about the most conventional thing the band ever recorded, but featured so many great little songs: “Cult Classic,” “Modern Epic” and a sound that was decidedly rooted in Southern California melodic hardcore. At the time, AFI was a staple of skateboarding mixtapes, and I can almost guarantee that any tape we took to the park had at least one AFI, one Guttermouth, one Operation Ivy and one 88 Fingers Louie track on it.
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Sometimes I wonder, what is happening to all the good bands out there? AFI sold out, that's it. The music here is not bad, but its not punk. They went against their own ideaology for the sake of money. Dont ignore it, you know its true. I love AFI, but not this album. AFI is dead, they might as well change their name. complete crap. This is the second greatest AFI CD...(First is "Sing The Sorrow"...a true statement made by AFI expressed through AFI... Easily their worst album and really shows that they sold out. They don;t care about their true fans who were there from the get go and their new fans just plain suck they listen to anything that is on the radio. If you think this is punk then you are fucked in the head every one who dis likes this cd are FUCKING HOMOS!!!!!! YOU CAN SUCK M COCK!!!!!! AFI ROCK!!!!!!! FUCKING HOMOS New, but good. STFU haters. AFI is the most amazing band ever. They never fail at anything. FUCK YOU VERY MUCH HAVE A NICE DAY! Hey, Azzy. Shut the fuck up. OK people, here's a quote from scenepointblank's review for this album. You can find it online at Bravo AFI, great CD. If you don't have DC yet and are still undecided, just listen to it with an open mind. I'ts highly expiramental, the band rarely stuck to formula on this release.Their sound is far more advanced musicaly than most pop-emo bands resulting from 15 years of experience, and their lyrics now have poetic underlying themes (mostly about death) that are truely releveant. That is what sets them apart. Unfortunately, they don't show us the same hard, edgy, raw sarcasm and cynicism they had back in the day, and they've gone mainstream with their single "miss Murder" in high rotation, but they're still blazing new paths. One cannot expect them to remain in the past forever, the world is not the same as it was in 2000, society has changed, and AFI has responded to this with a bonfire within! Obviously there are 3 types of fans, the first generation, the undecided, and the younger, more easily influenced teens. They have been making music for the last 15 years. Puting that into perspective, that is a long time for any person, and they've done much good work in that time. Maybe their best work is behind them, so what? You coulsn't ask anymore from them, 90% bands will never make it this far, 8 CDs, that is saying something befor i thought davy havic looked like a girl.... now i know for a fact... he is a woman... and hes so pritty..... i think miss murder was ok. i watched the making the vidio(i have too mutch time) and davy havic was being a baby the whole time... This CD sounds alright. I just can't get into it knowing what dorks these guys have become. I'm not sure where the whole goth/flock of seagulls look came from, but it's getting out of hand. Now I hear they're trying to rally thier fans to vote for them for the MTV music awards. Why would you even care? The more I listen to this the more I hate it. AFI are cool-looking sometimes, and their music is pretty catchy. "anyone that says afi is not punk anymore is fucking stupid. what the fuck makes you so great that you can just state weather something is punk or not. they were punk as hell back in the day but they evolved and experemented. changed their sound. and that is punk as hell." Afi ' s cd decembers underground is so awesome!!! i love the song miss murder. Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 10, 2006 at 1:14 AM (EDT) Sing the Sorrow was brilliant, but this one just makes me think of Reggie and the Full Effect making a pastiche combining the Cure and pop punk. Reggie and the Full Effect are somewhat enjoyable due to the fact that it is half joke, half tribute. AFI seems all serious which in turn makes it kinda sad... AFI lost their way, now all they are is a modern version of a glam rock band. Ya they evolved musically, which could of been a good thing except they are using this glam image (which has slowly taken over their music) as a catalyst in their change. Black Sails was their best CD. It was all down hill after that. "if this record was released under a different band name - everyone would be super impressed by it and be listening to it all day - like i am." I really do like afi. decemberunderground....is very different than what i expected and hoped. i really miss the days of all hallows and the art of drowning. i was suprised to hear davey havok adopt the hardcore-scream (kill caustic) and throw out most of his wailing. BUT, this album isn't bad by a long shot. It is a completely different afi than from when i first started listening to them years ago, but i'm gonna give these guys a chance. And i think this album is pretty damn good. Different, but hey, who says change is always that bad. Score is for their MTV Movie Awards peformance. Who the fuck did they think they were fooling? This is a pretty good cd. Granted, i hated sing the sorrow, but this album takes on alot of the poppier elements of said cd and gives them some actual substance instrumentally. This band hasnt been hardcore for 10 years, so i really dont know what the big deal about the whole goth-punk change is all about. "sounds like the breakfast club soundtrack." i dont understand how anyone can still be a fan of AFI. Its like if pantera suddenly started playing country, would people say pantera "evolved" or would they say they fucking sold out like bitches? Plus Davey Havoc is like 30 something now, how long is he going to pretend to be a depressed teenager? sounds like the breakfast club soundtrack. Total crap. i am sick and tired of people not hearing music for what it is. if this record was released under a different band name - everyone would be super impressed by it and be listening to it all day - like i am. i mean, i would be so bummed if every AFI record sounded exactly the same. oh, wait - they dont! because they arent the same and arent meant to be the same. that would be boring. i am so happy that a band that has been around for like 15 years can grow and still write interesting songs. i love this record and you should too. well thats bollocks vvv i do agree that avenged sevenfolds new shit sucked ass. but were they punk in the first place. "anyone that says afi is not punk anymore is fucking stupid. what the fuck makes you so great that you can just state weather something is punk or not. they were punk as hell back in the day but they evolved and experemented. changed their sound. and that is punk as hell." Sting has done the exact same thing there guy below and I haven't heard anyone rushing out to call him the king of Mods recently. anyone that says afi is not punk anymore is fucking stupid. what the fuck makes you so great that you can just state weather something is punk or not. they were punk as hell back in the day but they evolved and experemented. changed their sound. and that is punk as hell. yea. this album has changed a lot. but so have all of their other ones. they are like any other band and they change. you know that if they stayed the same over all these years all of you would bitch about that to. its hard to please every one and if you dont like what they have become then dont fucking listen to it. "First off, how the fuck are you going to compare this to Danzig in any way? Second off, i thought this was punknews.org, this album is not punk in any way shape or form, its not hardcore, its not even emo. IDK what to call it but it doesnt belong on this site. The reason no one here likes this is because its NOT punk and not even generaly related to punk. I wouldnt even call most of it rock. It might be a great "concept" album or w/e, but last time i checked "concept" albums werent on punknews.org. I think this is a horrible cd, but i only say that from the point of view of a person who loves music that rocks. This most certainly does not rock." So, I just watched AFI play "Miss Murder" on the MTV Movie Awards. It was like AFI was "hitchin' a ride" on the train to horrendous Haircutville until the breakdown when Davey Havok busted out some of the most hilarious modern dance "moves" and then showed off his Marilyn Manson voice. Oh dear. It was really bad. My taint is intact. Its good but I donot like #2 but other then that SWEET! #8 was the tightest song on it so far. Not incredibly bad. Just not good. You know? this album is fucking fantastic Get it out of your head that it's AFI and it's not such a bitter pill to swallow. well, today this album finally clicked with me. what a terrible, terrible band. how anybody even listens to them i'll never understand As a huge fan of AFI for the past 7 years or so, this is probably it with me and them. The album is devoid of any soul, I feel, and the most cohesive thing throughout it all is the level of cheese that the "goth-industrial" instrumentation has put on. I don't know if I'm the only one, but Davey's vocals (besides the awful metalcore screeching) on this record are way to over the top for my tastes, and the lyrical content doesn't help me get past the image of Davey as a depressed teen who's totally misunderstood by the jocks in his school. Even the artwork on the album is subpar. I remember back when All Hallow's/AoD came out, totally loving that handcrafted feel of the album art, but it's been replaced with ... bunnies and myspace style photoshopping effects of washing out color. An as per the whole "denial of a right to grow," even the Beatles managed to bring things back to their roots with the WHite Album/Let it Be, and still managed to make killer tunes that blew their earliest period stuff out of the water. I got this yesterday and have listened to it two or three times. So far I'm really digging it. -mini-review- I was wrong...after about 6 spins on AOL, I really dig this CD. Get it out of your head that it's AFI and it's not such a bitter pill to swallow. this album is terrible. it's pure pop with cheesy teen-power lyrics, and everything that once made this band unique (including his voice) has been left behind. I'd rather listen to the new TBS album instead of this - at least they can do pop right. is it just me or does the 4th or 5th song or w/e sound a like a simple plan song "but last time i checked "concept" albums werent on punknews.org" I like this, better than i thought and anything with nick 13 and ronan harris is worth my while-oldpunker- there cover of 'head like a hole' (one of the intl. bonus tracks) is just....why? Express your violent opinions about DECEMBERUNDERGROUND on UCLARadio.com!!!! 10pm-midnight PST, AFI Listening Party. Fucking Hurricanes! I'm pretty much very bored by this album. Just doesn't doing anything for me. Gone is the AFI I once loved... this album was very very boring to me. I really miss the days of "Black Sails..." and "The Art of Drowning"... the guy below me delivers the most useless comment regarding this review yet. Ok every one stop! stop arguing there are pages and pages of useless material here, she said this he said that, what the fuck is your problem! obviously some people love it and some people hate it, so thats it, its over! get over it! Everyone here with opinions: Take this to the radio. Listen to UCLARadio.com tonight from 10pm to midnight PST - we're doing a "Decemberunderground" listening party with commentary and we want lots of people to call in with opinions and thoughts. For more information: http://www.myspace.com/uclaradioextravaganza "Why is every review on this site pretentious?" "FallOutBoy (I DARE YOU to tell me Summer Shudder doesn't sound like them)" to enjoy decemberunderground Dude, all you "THEY FUCKING CHANGED GET OVER IT" people. I'm well aware Sing The Sorrow wasn't much punk or hardcore, but you what it was? AFI. This new album? Not AFI. It doesn't even have thier signature guitar sound, and thats pathetic. This album skips anywhere from Depeche Mode(37 mm) to The Killers (Love Like Winter) to FallOutBoy (I DARE YOU to tell me Summer Shudder doesn't sound like them). I have no problem with AFI evolving, I've been applauding them for it for 9 years now, but this is stagnant contemporary pop. Why is every review on this site pretentious? I think if you take "Kill Caustic" and " Miss Murder" out this album flows pretty good. I love all of the "this album sucks play more stuff like Black Sails or Shut Your Mouth" comments after reading the Early November news, AFI should have released this as a tripple EP. Maybe the "despair" this time around is supposed to be ironic? Like, I'm actually upset about how BAD this album is? Think that's what they were going for? "Whoever said Vheissu sucked is an idiot" Whoever said Vheissu sucked is an idiot as single songs, i don't think any of them are that bad. some are kinda boring and far too long, but the really catchy songs are well written for the most part. as an album though, it isn't cohesive. an album can have different sounds and styles and still sound like a unit. this doesn't. i will probably listen to "summer shudder" "the killing lights" and "37mm" a lot, but not the whole album. Great review really, taking all the other records into acount was a nice touch. These songs are catchy as hell and thats all that matters to me in todays punkrock, period. A band like Thrice who tried to totally reinvent themselves and in my opinion has lost way more fans than AFI ever will with that piece of shit record they called Vhessui or whatever should take some notes from the all and mighty AFI, this is how its done. ''It's a sad transitional period for fans of the Black Sails/AOD era' as single songs, i don't think any of them are that bad. some are kinda boring and far too long, but the really catchy songs are well written for the most part. as an album though, it isn't cohesive. an album can have different sounds and styles and still sound like a unit. this doesn't. i will probably listen to "summer shudder" "the killing lights" and "37mm" a lot, but not the whole album. 'Kill Caustic' is a pretty rad track. The rest of the album... not so much. Scene Point Blank's 4-man review orgy: only time i've seen AFI was in 2001 i think and they were excellent I like this. Not as good as Sing the Sorrow, but still very decent. I am one of those who kind of disliked the old AFI, but enjoy their new sound. Go on and flame me, but that's the way I feel. I hear and see the total opposite of the supposed "evolution" that AFI and some of their fans claim accompanies this new album. The vocal and instrumental melodies lack substance and originality; the song forms are the same as those used in most AFI tracks: ABABCB; the lyrics are dull and cliche. Though AFI insists what they have created is a sheer display of their "art", I find it obvious that what they have done is simply a sorry attempt at pleasing the crowd. very well-written review, but i still cannot get into this album hell of a review, hell of a cd! "reviver's music", "now the world", and "synesthesia" are by far the best songs afi has written since the art of drowning. the style of those 3 songs would have been such a fucking incredibly amazing direction for the band. fuck. i think sts is slightly better because it feels more complete and whole as an album. if this album was released 1 year after sts i wouldnt mind, but 3 years? it sounds more like a compilation of different AFI records rather than a flowing complete AFI album aubin, i have got to say, you are one hell of a review writer. great job. one of the best reviews i have read in a while, and im not even too into the album (yet). Gah! What the fuck? 8? Atreyu and now this? FOR SHAME. Does anyone here know what the evolution of music is about? You guys must not because when a band puts out a new cd i want it to change and evolve into something else! Thats a natural thing amongst music! If i wanted to hear the same sounding cd re-released then what would be the point for a new album! This album is album of the year! I think "Miss Murder" and "Teh Missing Frame" should have been the benchmark for this disc. "Kill Kaustic" and "afflication" are good old AFI (with a little new AFI sprinkled in). Still there is nothing getting past "Prelude 12/21" and not thinking "BYe, BYE, BYE" by N'sync its not because this album is different that makes it suck, its that it totally lacks the energy and passion afi is so good at creating. yes, it is catchy, pretty damn catchy, but it sounds fucking hollow to me. it makes me sad. does anyone else think that the white squares that showcase some of the songs in the booklet are very obtrusive. maybe thats not the right word, but the aesthetic of the plain white square extending into the next pages artwork is kind of an eyesore. This album was tailormade to hold on to the angsty, hot-topic mascara-wearing scene girls and boys that got hooked on Sing the Sorrow. There's no track on this cd that would appeal to true AFI fans from when they actually played punk rock. better than sing the sorrow, but i still don't like it all that much. i too might have enjoyed this album if his screams werent so fucking bad. his singing is always good. the this new scream makes me cringe. AFI is a ground breaking band! The new album is simply amazing! Thus far my choice for album of the year! Regardless of how you feel about Glenn. Danzig kills this turd in every way......even his worst stuff. Talk about a band taking a trip down the WRONG road. "Black Sails" was a halfway decent album.........everything since then has stank more than Homer Simpsons under-pants. "First off, how the fuck are you going to compare this to Danzig in any way? Second off, i thought this was punknews.org, this album is not punk in any way shape or form, its not hardcore, its not even emo. IDK what to call it but it doesnt belong on this site. The reason no one here likes this is because its NOT punk and not even generaly related to punk. I wouldnt even call most of it rock. It might be a great "concept" album or w/e, but last time i checked "concept" albums werent on punknews.org. I think this is a horrible cd, but i only say that from the point of view of a person who loves music that rocks. This most certainly does not rock." Okay. So I didn't read past the first 10 comments left below me and I already know that this site is probably being flooded with all sorts of bullshit haters and lovers of this band right now, and that is to be expected. "your only into the band for the image not the passion. Peace XXX" First off, how the fuck are you going to compare this to Danzig in any way? Second off, i thought this was punknews.org, this album is not punk in any way shape or form, its not hardcore, its not even emo. IDK what to call it but it doesnt belong on this site. The reason no one here likes this is because its NOT punk and not even generaly related to punk. I wouldnt even call most of it rock. It might be a great "concept" album or w/e, but last time i checked "concept" albums werent on punknews.org. I think this is a horrible cd, but i only say that from the point of view of a person who loves music that rocks. This most certainly does not rock. First off, how the fuck are you going to compare this to Danzig in any way? Second off, i thought this was punknews.org, this album is not punk in any way shape or form, its not hardcore, its not even emo. IDK what to call it but it doesnt belong on this site. The reason no one here likes this is because its NOT punk and not even generaly related to punk. I wouldnt even call most of it rock. It might be a great "concept" album or w/e, but last time i checked "concept" albums werent on punknews.org. I think this is a horrible cd, but i only say that from the point of view of a person who loves music that rocks. This most certainly does not rock. Aubin with the safest review I've ever read. Jesus, imaposeryouraposer, a bit touchy? People have a right to talk about the evolution of a band. Your logic is flawed, to say the least. You can be a fan of a band and not like every one of their records. You can not like a band, but think that one album out of their catalogue is worthwhile. When I first heard this, my immediate reaction was "holy shit, it's 'Pay Attention' by MMB". MMB was (and still is) my favorite band, but man did I hate that album. imaposeryouraposer is the latest joke account? imaposeryouraposer is the latest joke account? "if you like this you'll like this" paint it black-CVA? Come on!! You're fucking kidding me! With all the cure and depeche comode references in this review??? Paint it black!?!?? Afi sucks, keep your drugs outta my baseball and your make up outta my rock'nroll... unless you happen to be KISS... then the make up can stay. fuck you afi, you used to be good. "What is with those fucking bunnies on the cover?" Show me a band with consistency. And yeah you buy their 1st album and start there. Please stop asking stupid questions. What is with those fucking bunnies on the cover? A tad too wimpy and girly, what the fuck went wrong with this band? Oh and as ignorant as I may sound, SCREW opinions cause your either a fan from day one until now through thick and thin or get the F*CK OUT! Haha, oh man, I think I may give you the Retard of the Day award instead of the other guy. This shit is hilarious. Oh and as ignorant as I may sound, SCREW opinions cause your either a fan from day one until now through thick and thin or get the F*CK OUT! I got this CD today. I'm listening to it now. I downloaded a few tracks from it before it came out. The first AFI album I ever heard was Sing The Sorrow. It affected me so much that even though I have two other AFI albums (AOD, BSITS), I only listen to that one! You people are sad, bored, lonely and pathetic to rant on about whether a band is not the same anymore or hate the direction they are going in. Do something about it then, go and write the "perfect" song so that I at least can agree with your stupid rants, until then SHUT UP, half you people here probably don't even know music theory, let alone play good music or in a "good band" themselves. PROVE IT, then RANT. These bands are here to entertain us and give us something to listen to. All you stupid kids who say "oh I'm a original hardcore fan, you don't know shit/oh this band saved my life" please you kids are such attention seekers SHUT UP, you are boring, people trying to talk about credibility or whether a fan is poser or not and etc, etc. it's getting old...really is. Also anyone or anybody that buys any bands 1st album and later decides that the band "SOLD OUT" or whatever, you yourselves are the biggest posers and by no means a true "FAN". I mean Pearl Jam sucks right now, but I still go out of my way to buy their albums(yes I'm a fan of their music) Go learn an instrument or something and stop wasting people's times. Really this generation of kids(2006 and beyond) are a sad sad bunch....internet has really killed everything. "Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes « Very Proud of Ya" affliction coud be on AOD, summer shudder sounds like the slower AOD, kill caustic like you said hahah WHAT?!? this album blows. I don't remember any point where AOD contained over produced, stadium goth/electronica rock. Honestly, the only song that sounds anything like an AOD track is Kill Caustic, and even that sounds like it could be a b-side from those sessions, if it weren't for Davey's suddenly shit screaming. this album IS a return to pre sts for the most part. This album has nothing to do with Sony, so go ahead and do whatever you want. This first album of sony that i have since all of the scandal of copyright and spyware, will this mess up my computer if imported with itunes? "This album is class and shows what AFI can really do its just a shame that all the so-called scene kids cant see past their more hardcore past!!!. Music is an open book and for true AFI fans this will be the years most important album buy it and listen to it for the music. And i would say their is loads of parts that are similar to AOD the way jade plays guitar and the way the band interacts its all their just more textures. THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING AWESOME.... any AFI fan that disagrees your only into the band for the image not the passion. Peace XXX" Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes « Very Proud of Ya ive had this a while and its ok better than sts but nowhere near black sails or aod. but for a major label punk record a triumph. how come hunter or carson dont put a stop to daveys rotting "your only into the band for the image not the passion. Peace XXX" Miss Murder just keeps on being the same ol' jibber jabber, repeating the lines over and over again. I don't mind a lot of this, but I don't know why people would listen to it OVER other stuff. This album is alright. The direction they took isn't really my cup of tea, but it's not horrible. I've heard much worse. i honestly think if they opened the album with any of the preludes from sts, drowning, or black sails, instead of the one they did use, more people would like this album. i think i've only heard about three songs from this band, none memorable. i loved the review I might have enjoyed this more if his screams weren't so god awful. This album is class and shows what AFI can really do its just a shame that all the so-called scene kids cant see past their more hardcore past!!!. Music is an open book and for true AFI fans this will be the years most important album buy it and listen to it for the music. And i would say their is loads of parts that are similar to AOD the way jade plays guitar and the way the band interacts its all their just more textures. THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING AWESOME.... any AFI fan that disagrees your only into the band for the image not the passion. Peace XXX I've really enjoyed the songs I've heard so far. I'll have to give it more time later though. I think "The Interview" could be awsome to hear live. Can someone post the link to that super high-res pic of the Decemberunderground album cover? I know it was in like three comment sections from previous AFI news, but I've been hunting for a half an hour and can't for the life of me find it. Plus, I find it hard to compare any part of this album to AOD, which would be my favourite album by them. There's precious few hardcore elememts in this record, far less than in AOD. Pfft, I'm disgruntled, but not for the reasons you expect. Great review Aubin. Deadpan- Is that "from odd science fiction plots" phrase a jab at Ludo? Because that album is about 80 times better than this one! Nicely written review. My copy of the album should be here today or tomorrow, can't wait. Plus, I'd hardly call this evolution. In many ways, this album is full of regression. Instead of carving out a definitive style, they rely on stealing sounds of bands from 20-odd years ago. Some bits sound like the cure. Some bits sound like any generic synth/goth band. The screams are bland growls. From the s/t EP through the Art of Drowning, this is one of my all-time favorite bands. Sing the Sorrow had its moments, but neither that record this record makes my heart ache like Black Sails and the Art of Drowning did. I could recite every lyric to every song on those albums. This is basically what I think of Decemberunderground (copied and pasted from the AFI board cos I'm lazy): Glittering praise for such a mediocre cd. I've been trashing the fuck out of this cd just because they didn't follow up the evolution the way they should have. I for one really liked sing the sorrow (and all the prior) material and I could see some really good potential with this cd. Instead they dial back everything that made them cool in the first place. Its slow. Its boring. Its dull. Its over produced. Its retero. Its shit. I listened to some of the stream and hated it. But then again I hated the Art of Drowning and Sing the Sorrow when I first heard them, but after a few weeks I came to love the former and appreciate the latter. Maybe I'll pick this up for those couple places where my brain says, "Hey, that's AFI, these guys are good." This is the best pop album i've heard all year. Is that "from odd science fiction plots" phrase a jab at Ludo? Because that album is about 80 times better than this one! Glenn Danzig influence in GNG, i dont think so. Its all over the All Hallows EP but nowhere on STS. A very well written review, Aubin. And not just because I agree with all your points. But mostly because of that... AFI has alwasy been trash. I cannot for a single second stand the way I feel about this album. to the dude a few posts down I think this was a very good review, and very fair. you guys are crazy, girls not grey has a big danzig feel, listen to the beginning again, if the song never sped up, it would be a danzig song cantsitstill, do these guys play anything off of the first three albums when they tour? just wondering. saw them after "shut your mouth" came out and they tore the fucking club down. one of the best shows i've ever seen. don't really dig the new goth AFI that much, though. .litterally GAY band. I'm one of the few people that loved "Very Proud..." better than "Shut Your Mouth..." Really good review. NIN, New Order and the Cure, for sure. |
