I’ve never been a huge AFI fan. Back in my early teens when I seemed to think that I was “hardcore,” I listened to their major label debut Sing The Sorrow, mainly because they looked punk rock. Then again, I also listened to Good Charlotte in my early teens, so I wasn’t necessarily thinking straight. But now, after growing up hearing AFI evolve, I realize that back then, I had the right idea listening to them when I did.
It’s been three years since 2006’s Decemberunderground, which received mixed reviews, however strictly musical sources had a shared attitude of “meh.” The only songs I can remember from Decemberunderground were “Miss Murder” and “Love Like Winter” because by that time, I’d come out of my punk rock, black nail polish stage. Decemberunderground had a much different feel than Sing the Sorrow, and AFI’s newest album, Crash Love, has a far different feel than both of its predecessors – better than Decemberunderground, but not as good as Sing the Sorrow.
AFI’s sound seems to be going in the same pattern as front man Davey Havok’s hairstyle. First is was long, dark, lush and wavy, like Sing the Sorrow, then sharp, smooth and highlighted like Decemberunderground, and now it’s a commercial-friendly bouffant-like coif.
Not to say that all of Crash Love is bad. We do get to hear Havok’s strong vocal layering more prominently here than on Decemberunderground, which could have been attributed to the heavy synth influences on that record. Lyrically, this album is still dark like we expect AFI to be, but musically, Havok and co. appear to have gone soft. The first three tracks on the album, “Torch Song,” “Beautiful Thieves,” and “End Transmission” are three of the best the album has to offer, as well as the short 2:39-long “I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here.” “Torch Song” sounds just familiar enough to please the diehard fans without throwing off new fans, with the heavy goth rock undertones and the irrefutably AFI lyrics, “I saw you / left, so pail and weak / when I look through / you and I, decline to speak.” The first single, “Medicate” was a good choice, as it has just enough mass and fan appeal to do well on the radio without annoying people. Guitarist Jade Puget’s driving guitar riffs make up the strength of the song, even if Puget’s guitar isn’t as prominent on the rest of the album.
But other than those songs, the rest of the album sounds kind of like filler, scrapped b-sides from Sing the Sorrow, or CW-friendly background tracks for teen dramas. Specifically “Veronica Sawyer Smokes,” and “Darling I Want To Destroy You” sound so watered down, you almost expect to hear them on actual commercials. Crash Love desperately needs original hooks and more of Havok’s shouting. It’s just too bad b-side “Fainting Spells” only made it on the deluxe edition, because everyone should hear it. It doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album, but it’s amazing nonetheless. It’s online, so go and listen to it. Now.
Vocally, and musically, Crash Love blends in too much to the rest of today’s pop punk fair. And what sucks the most is that AFI wasn’t originally classified as pop punk. They’ve just slowly slipped into that direction. AFI fans don’t want AFI to blend in. That was the majority of their appeal in the early days. I’m all for change and progression, but this didn’t seem like the right direction for men in their 30s to move towards.
AFI’s Crash Love is available September 29th on Interscope.
Tracklisting:
01. Torch Song
02. Beautiful Thieves
03. End Transmission
04. Too Shy to Scream
05. Veronica Sawyer Smokes
06. OK, I Feel Better Now
07. Medicate
08. I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here
09. Sacrilege
10. Darling, I Want to Destroy You
11. Cold Hands
12. It Was Mine
This is a good review. I pretty much feel the same. It’s not ‘baadd’ but it’s not very AFI. Its kinda boring and for some reason every other song I listen to on this album sounds just like some other (not AFI) song. There is nothing really excited about this album. Kinda a waste of time. I really do LOOOVEE this band buuutt…….
**exciting