Review Summary: December never felt so god **** cold.
AFI. Either you love them, or you hate them. In my case, I love them, but I am trying to give this album a review I would give to any other album out there. Despite my biased, I'm still judging this album fairly...At least I think so.
People have had mixed opinions of AFI's 2nd mainstream album. STS (Sing the Sorrow) was a big success with endless tunes such as Girl's Not Grey, Silver and Cold, and Leaving Song pt.2. The whole CD was an onslaught of what I would call "Awesome". Many call it their best album yet. I agree.
This review is about Decemberunderground. The album has 12 tracks on it, and I will review all the songs off of it. I will jot down my review of the song as I listen to it.
If you want to see how I think this album stacks up against other AFI albums, just go to the end of the review.
Track 1 : Prelude 12/21
Rating : 4/5
Crescendos of light noises, they fade as Davey sings one of the albums great lyrics. He repeats the lyrics throughout the song a few times. This was a good way to start off the album. As AFI fans know, all AFI albums start with an intro.
Track 2 : Kill Caustic
4/5
You're thrown right into the action of a mosh-pit favorite. A catchy chorus makes the song. As well as the interesting guitars. Cool breakdown before the last chorus, as they build up towards the last chorus.
Track 3 : Miss Murder
Rating 5/5
What can I say about this song. Mainstream gargantuan song. I've seen the video so many times, it's engrained into my brain. A pretty simple, but very catchy chorus. The verses have decent guitar lines. The "Fall Children-esque" guitar riff before the screaming is an AFI fan favorite. Another buildup to the final chorus. Fantastic song.
Track 4 : Summer Shudder
Rating 4.5/5
Summer Shudder is an AFI fan song. Meaning that most AFI fans will love the heck out of it. But I'm pretty sure anyone could enjoy it. This song has great lyrics and everything you would expect out of an AFI song. Group Chorus, and good guitars. December Classic.
Track 5 : The Interview
Rating 4.5
Yet another AFI fan song. It starts as a quiet and mellow guitar duo with a very simple riff with Davey's beautiful voice above it all. Even though this is probably the most quiet song on the CD, it is still up to par with most AFI work. It gets a bit louder as the song progresses, with a louder chorus including what sounds like a piano. This is a song you listen to in the morning, when you get up. In the end, the band members exchange lyrics with soft voices, as an organ sounds off in the distance. Right into...
Track 6 : Love Like Winter
Rating 5/5
Definetely not a typical AFI song. Originally, LLW was a Blaqk Audio song, but they found rock elements in it. Being their 2nd single, and not really sounding like an AFI song is quite peculiar. They pulled it off. In my opinion, the catchiest song on the CD. However it is a bit short. When you listen to this song, you get the feeling of snow, and the cold. They hit the jackpot with the music video too. This is one of the albums high points. At least for Mainstream AFI Fans.
Track 7 : Affliction
Rating 4/5
This is one of only a few louder songs on the CD, and I have to say the guitars are pretty good. Oddly, the chorus is softer than the rest of the song. In between chorus and verse, one can hear the great bass work of Hunter, with an always riveting Jade riff. An unforgettable soft buildup to the last chorus. And a Chorus ending.
Track 8 : The Missing Frame
Rating 5/5
A great piece of work, that I would've wanted to be a single. Oh well. Yes, it is an AFI fan song, but it is truly a masterpiece of writing, especially the chorus. The best part of the song is before the final chorus. I won't ruin the great lyrics for you. It is the most epic part of Decemberunderground. No joke.
Track 9 : Kiss and Control
Rating 5/5
My favorite song on the CD. One could say this could have been a STS song. It combines light/acoustic instruments with Davey's whispering voice with heavy distorted instruments with Davey's screams during the chorus. It almost feels like a story. Very creative guitar parts by Jade in the majority of the song. An epic song, on all proportions. Track 10 : The Killing Lights
Rating 3.5/5
Overall, this is a good song. A similar beginning to "The Interview". Quiet guitars playing the same riff over and over. A "less than awesome" chorus follows. However, it is an upbeat song. Jade inserts again a decent amount of "Awesome" on guitar. A peculiar buildup towards the final chorus. By all means, it's not a bad song. It just lacked an AFI element.
Track 11 : 37mm
Rating 4/5
Starts as a pretty creepy sound effect leads to Davey whisper-singing a very catchy verse. Ahhh, there's the AFI Group Chorus. Another moderately quiet song. A nice buildup (again) to the final chorus. An odd ending, but overall a good AFI classic.
Track 12 : Endlessly, She Said
Rating 5/5
Great beginning filled with winter-ish sounds. Fantastic work on guitar, bass, vocals and drums. This song shows off everyone's individual abilities, but also their ability as a band. A fan favorite, but it could've had mainstream success as a song. Epic buildup...blabla...you know the whole jig.
HA. Two Extra Tracks for you. These are tracks either not released in the US, or a B-Side to the album.
Track 13 : On the Arrow
Rating 4.5/5
Starts out similar to Kiss and Control. It sounds a lot like Leaving Song as well. A song that can cause tears. Oh yeah. It's acoustic the entire song, with a few added sound effects at the end, which was a fantastic addition.
Track 14 : Rabbits Are Roadkill On Rt. 37
Rating 5/5
Adam drums alone at the beginning quite crisply, with harmonics on the guitars being played. The bass playing it's distinctive line. A sweet riff by Jade in between Chorus and Verse. A song that for me, defines what Decemberunderground is. (Along with Kiss and Control) A nice Breakdown, that ends with Davey holding out a note while the band plays a cool sequence leading to Davey singing alone only with the Jade riff with him, which turns into the chorus. Group Ending.
Decemberunderground, even though criticized, is an album worth getting. I just wish fans would understand that AFI had to change sometime. They couldn't do punk for 17 years, that wouldn't be AFI. This is AFI. Accept it, or **** off. Davey's voice would die if they would've been punk forever. It was damaged from the countless years of hardcore music. And don't get me wrong, I absolutely love their old albums. I have them all, and it is very hard to rank them. I'll try right now...
1. STS
2. Black Sails
3. Shut Your Mouth
4. Very Proud of Ya
5. DU
6. Answer That
7. Art of Drowning
I need to listen to AOD more i think...
Well, to the people who label AFI as "sell-outs", I have this to say. Their music did not change for **** because of being on a major record label. It's what they wanted to write. Just think about it. They produce their own music as well. It's no mistake that DU sounds like it does. The term "sell-out", is a ****ty term. Just because the band wants to be a bit richer and wants to make a big name for themselves, doesn't mean they "suck" now. I don't know if you heard, but DU was what...number one?! How is that sucky?
I'll leave you with a last comment of what I thought of DU overall.
Decemberunderground is AFI's most successful album. Even though it may not be considered the best, it is still their biggest album to date. No one can deny that. And as AFI gets ready for album number 8, people are getting nervous and excited. It will be different than DU. Trust me. ALL of AFI's albums are different from one another, except maybe VPOY and ATASF...AFI will continue it's take over of the world, and no matter what they do, their fans will be right behind them. I will be there as well...
Except if they go Country. Then I'm out.
Cheers
