Finally! The new AFI album, after three more long years of waiting. As with STS and the disgruntled fans due to musical changes and evolution in afis music and lyrics, Decemberunderground turns a few heads and has probably caused a good number of fans to simply question, "What the hell?"
I got the CD on June 6th, release date, and have been listening to it almost non stop. Ill admit i was shocked at first. What is this? It grew on me rather quickly though. Ill do a track by track analysis of the songs, and what I think of them, so bear with me if you will.
Prelude 21/12-Another traditional AFI intro. Not as resoundingly powerful, no call to arms, like many of us are used to. Infectious non the less i think. YES it sounds like a hip hop beat, but I think daveys lyrics here are wonderful, and the light "ahh" ing in the background is a nice effect. Its odd, but it sets the mood for the album. Cold. Hallow....December...underground.
Kill Caustic-One of my faovirte tracks. One of the more controversial tracks ive seen. Daveys scream has changed indeed, and to some its a horrible thing. I like the guitar work, especialy in the breakdown, and the chant along chorus is another great thing. Its one of the heavier tracks on the album, of course it wont do you much good, if your strongly opposed to the scream changes. Intresting, i would say. I love the new scream.
Miss Murder-Great song. Haunting. It makes me want to dance. Odd coming from AFI. The whole CD is odd. Warning you. Awesome bass courtesy of Hunter again.
Summer Shudder-Probably the first instance of the synthpoppyelectronica AFI heard on this album. The verse and chorus varying sounds great, and the small acapella part during the breakdown. The first of many risky song choices, testing the will of the fanbase. This song is bound to get stuck in your head regardless.
The Interveiw-Slow. Yeah, its slow. Its quiet, there isnt much volume change from verse to chorus. Listen to the lyrics. Daveys always been very lyrically captivating and commanding, no exceptions here.
Love Like Winter-Love this song. Especialy its chorus. Many people will tolerate the sheer poppy emoness of it, while others will be abhorred. It sounds good either way. Though that is my opinion isnt it? Listen close for a woman like voice right before the band kicks in in the beggining, tell me it doesnt send chills up your spine. Beautiful song.
Affliction-Heres another screamer. (Uh oh). Nice lyrics. Well not nice..but i like them. Suicidal? Depressing? Yes the whole album is. Its titled Decemberunderground..what did you expect.? Again AFIs amazing basslines stick out, as in most songs, daveys voice shines during the bridge-So stay sweetly numb-
The Missing Frame-Another poppy chorus. But the lyrics are, as always, impeccable, and seep into your skin like no other. Great line, will the flood behind me put out the fire inside me?
Kiss and Control-Probably my faovirte song from this album. Great building action to the chorus, wich is the most powerful one in the song. Still loving that scream. The spoken breakdown is cool, eerie.
The Killing Lights-Im not a huge fan of this song, but i cant help not enjoying every AFI song Ive heard. This is probably going to be a biased reveiw, and ill get flamed for it, but whatever. Daveys vocals are great again. People argue how empty and emotinless they are...this song alone should settle those ideas.
37mm-Horribly, horribly depressing. The saddest song on the album in my mind. Again, here is were people gather material to bash afi for being emo and mainstream. (what can i say, theyre getting big) guess they just wnated to try some new things. I still enjoy this song, an enourmous amount. If you havent enjoyed the synth pop electric stuff so far, you wont feel any different here.
Endlessly,She Said-A good choice to end the album. Its lyrical content and powerful chorus, haunting spoken outro, give the album more of the hollow, desolate, depressed feeling i believe it to be going for.
Well thats that. Sorry if i was vague. Feel free to question my opinions. I thouroughly enjoyed the CD, if you didtn i can only assume you have no tolerance for any emo ish music. Im no fan of it, but to me this sounds like a new form of AFI, like every CD has been, so i love it. We all know AFI isnt a CD Rehashing band, and i understand some of you being unimpressed by the new album, not what we expected after three years, right? I gave it a 3.5 because, it was new, so manyt new aspects, and it just fits me at the moment, so i attribute that to some of my love for the album. Its a depressing, hollow album, but listen close, pay attention to detail, and you can appreciate it a lot. Its worth a listen or two nonetheless. Maybe itll grow on you. If not, go see them in concert. Its bound to cheer you up.
Wonder what theyll sound like next.
Enjoy the reveiw.
