AFI - Crash Love
Rating
RIYL
Tiger ArmyAlkaline Trio
Bad Religion
Release Date
09/29/2009
Label
InterscopeTracklist
1. Torch Song2. Beautiful Thieves
3. End Transmission
4. Too Shy To Scream
5. Veronica Sawyer Smokes
6. Okay, I Feel Better Now
7. Medicate
8. I Am Trying Very Hard To Be Here
9. Sacrilege
10. Darling, I Want To Destroy You
11. Cold Hands
12. It Was Mine
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Ever since their surprising leap into fame with the single “Girl’s Not Grey”, AFI has been dividing fans endlessly and picking up new ones along the way. They’ve certainly toned down since their inception back in 1991, but they’ve also managed to refine their music to a more accessible sound. It’s easy to see why this may upset some of their more hardcore fans, but it’s also easy to see why they’ve grown so much in popularity. Their latest release, Crash Love, probably won’t end the divide between the angered diehards and those new to the party, but it will serve as the final piece of evidence needed to show what they’ve become.
Crash Love starts off strong with "Torch Song" and quickly progresses into a finely-tuned experience that’s equal parts grandiose and catchy pop. While the album falls short on a few occasions, which will be discussed later, it generally holds an impressive amount of consistency throughout. "Cold Hands" is arguably one of the greatest songs written by the band since their Sing the Sorrow days, and "Beautiful Thieves" is bursting at the seams with radio potential. In many ways, the album feels like an embrace of 80s goth/alternative music. It’s unsurprising, though, given Davey’s openness about being fans of bands like The Cure and The Cult.
Instrumentally, AFI has been at the top of their game for quite a while now. Crash Love is no exception, as they’ve dropped the electronic influence so prevalent in Decemberunderground, trading it in for a more organic sound. AFI fans disagree on a lot of things, but this is one thing I think most can agree is a step in the right direction for them. They’ve certainly scaled back their energy, but have still allowed themselves plenty of opportunity to flaunt their talents. Jade’s alluring guitar work allows for some truly transcendent moments on the album, particularly the solo in “Okay, I Feel Better Now”.
Davey is a talented lyricist, but he's well-known for occasionally delving a bit too deep in the realm of cheesiness. Unfortunately, a good deal of Crash Love seems to suffer from that weakness. Songs like “Veronica Sawyer Smokes” and “Medicate” are testaments to a low point of sorts in Davey’s writing. Thankfully, his vocal work here more than makes up for it.
AFI has never been a band to cling to a particular sound any longer than a few albums, which is a pretty risky move for a band founded in the punk scene to make. Crash Love is certainly a new sound for them, but once Davey chimes in with his trademark "oh!” there's no denying who you're listening to. No matter what kind of album they released, it was going to be a risk. They could have embraced their sound from the salad days of punk rock, they could have released another Decemberunderground, or they could have ignored it all and released an album like Crash Love. All things considered, the album is a bit of a one-track road. Thankfully, the direction it heads is a rewarding one.
--Dant Rambo
Comments
Minnesota
Better than Decemberunderground, but nothing super special. It's very listenable, however, so I can see myself spinning it a bunch.
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Dubuque
Favorite track on the record is "I Am Trying Very Hard To Be Here". Catchy chorus.
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Minnesota
I actually got sucked in by "Medicate".
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Lehigh Valley, PA
I am very nervous about listening to this.
Milwaukee, WI
I agree with Rick, there isn't anything that is going to blow your mind away. But it's very listenable and it has some really catchy chorouses. I really love Torch Song.
Fort Bragg, CA
I think of all the directions they could have taken, this was probably the best for them. I didn't mind Decemberunderground but it was such a strange leap.