Search - A.F.I. :: Decemberunderground

Progression Doesn't Necessarily Mean Downfall

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 06/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to AFI, I'm very touchy about my opinions. As someone who's been listening to this band for years now, I have to say that even I have had my skepticisms about their transitions through the years. I was one of the fans who initially dismissed "Sing The Sorrow" as the horrid "sellout" album, but with time it eventually grew on me and I realized the true beauty in its nature. And "Decemberunderground" is no different from that album in any respect. Is this the best record they've ever written? Absolutely not. Does that mean that it's not good? Absolutely not. Just how I learned to expand my tastes and take new ideas into account with "Sing The Sorrow", most fans will have to with "Decemberunderground". While it's not at all perfect, it's definitely a nice stepping stone in the ever-evolving AFI sound, and something that fans who want the band to continue to grow and mature should appreciate.



First of all I was not expecting another "Black Sails In The Sunset" (commonly agreed upon as their best record) or "Art Of Drowning" when I popped "Decemberunderground" into my cd player. If you do, you're just going to be turned off immediately. Instead I just decided to let AFI take me to where they wanted to. And while it's true that they've dabbled further into experimental forms of music (there's tons of 80's influence in here), the core of what makes AFI special is still in tact. It's not going to redeem them as the saviors of music or anything like that, but "Decemberunderground" definitely has some things going for it.



The lead single "Miss Murder" at first seemed just like a "Girl's Not Grey" pt 2, in that it had its melodic, catchy chorus, and easily identifiable music. As much as I didn't really care for it at first, it has really grown on me now. There's been cries that the band has gone "emo", because of experimental pieces in "37mm" (which sounds like straight new wave) and "Love Like Winter" (which is full of synths and dance beats). However just because the band is experimenting doesn't mean these songs are bad. Part of the thing I began to love about "Sing The Sorrow" was the way AFI could throw curveballs at us, and still make them work. "Decemberunderground" is no different. "Miss Murder" and "Summer Shudder" are upbeat, poppier pieces, which are destined to be the record's singles. For the older fans, "Kill Caustic" and "Affliction" are old-school tinged rockers that are sure to get the blood flowing. "The Interview" and "The Missing Frame" are two slower pieces that rely more on melody and atmosphere to attract the listener, rather than sheer force. And the album closer "Endlessly, She Said" (however cheesy the title may sound) is simply a great way to end the record.



Musically this is probably one of the most multi-talented bands in any musical genre. How many other bands do you know which can throw out hardcore pieces one second, then instantly transform into upbeat rockers and then to slow experimental works following that? I can probably count them on one hand. Davey's voice hasn't really gotten any better or worse, but it does sound a little different this time around. Maybe due to the production. However I love the screaming he experiments with on some of the songs. It brings back the memories of "Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes". Jade's guitar playing once again takes the cake. He proves how influential he has been in shaping the band ever since he officially joined up on "Black Sails In The Sunset". Adam and Hunter continue to be a solid backing section, and Hunter's bass playing has never been so fully showcased as it is on this record.



"Decemberunderground" is probably going to take time for most listeners to appreciate. Like I said you can't go in expecting any of their previous records, because as it's been shown, AFI has never made the same record twice. While it's definitely different from anything the band has done in the past, and it's a little rough around the edges, this is a bold record that proves AFI will continue to grow and expand their sound. And in almost all cases they will do it successfully. If you're an AFI fan, at least give this a listen before writing it off. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely not as bad as most are making it out to be. As it's been already evidenced, AFI are no longer "in the shadows, growing wings"; Now they're out flying high."

Just a rant, really

Theresa R. Cavey | Forest Hill, MD United States | 08/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm beginning to wonder about all the people who say that they're "hardcore AFI fans" before trashing this album.



I've been a fan since 2002; I was introduced via Black Sails in the Sunset and Art of Drowning. I love Very Proud of Ya, Shut Your Mouth, and Answer That for the punky aspects, I love Black Sails for the raw energy it has, I love Art of Drowning for the exceptional lyrics, I love Sing the Sorrow for the beauty of the music, and I love Decemberunderground because someone finally got the 'modernizing the 80s' sound right.



I'm not just an AFI fan, I'm a music fan. If you box yourself into one category (punk, goth, whatever; most of you think labels are stupid anyway), you're going to miss out on a lot of stuff this band has to offer. If you're really that one-dimsenional, where you only like one certain type of music, then you're not going to like AFI. Period. They change as people as life progresses, so their music changes to reflect that. You like their old stuff better? That's great, but don't say you want another Black Sails, or another Very Proud of Ya, or whatever. Bands that can't evolve don't make it. If Davey and the rest of the guys were still singing about not being able to get mohawks or how people don't understand them, you'd hate it, and I'd hate it. That's like Blink 182 still bitching about high school on their last album when they should be going to their high school reunions and taking care of their kids.



Miss Murder is definitely catchy, and gets me pumped up like only Days of the Phoenix could do. Prelude 12/21 is beautiful, and really shows that Davey knows how to control his voice to get the sound he wants. The Missing Frame is definitely full of that 80s pop sound I love (you know you like it, too, don't deny it), and Affliction is fun to (try to) scream along to, not to mention the last minute or so of it really shows a different side of AFI. 37mm, musically, reminds me that Davey is into NIN, but is still obviously AFI. Love Like Winter is possibly my favorite song on the album, and I can't wait to see the video for it. The only song I don't love is Kill Caustic, and that's only because I can't scream to sing along with it.



So yes. Five stars for Decemberunderground. All you "hardcore punks" or whatever need to get over yourselves and grow up, because AFI isn't going to slow down and stagnate for your sake."

I'm still an AFI fan

J. Finzel | 06/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As a longtime AFI fan, I get really annoyed at people who claim that if you do not like this album, you never were an AFI fan or you are not a true AFI fan. That is ridiculous. You people would like anything that AFI put out no matter how terrible (not that this is terrible).



That said, I also was not expecting the same sound from AFI with this album. Every album up to this one I have really liked. I really liked STS, with my favorite being Black Sails followed by Art of Drowning. These three albums sound completely different so it's ridiculous to claim that people like me want to hear the same thing over and over. I knew it was going to be slower with maybe a few faster songs put in. And there is a lot of slow music that I really like.



With that said, I just have to say that most of the songs are not good, even for the kind of music they are. What they lack is originality and an interesting sound and passion (in general), which is what has always made AFI's music so good in the past (classics such as 6 to 8 and This Time Imperfect come to mind). The instrumentals/singing are not rockin' like they are in Black Sails and Art of Drowing, but even in the songs meant to be slower, they are not interesting to listen to (with rare exceptions) or passionate.



I think "Affliction" is just terrible (though the breakdown is pretty good). It is fast and harder, sure, but it does not sound good at all. The screaming makes me reach for the button to skip to the next track. It does not have the passion that was present in the screaming of "Death of Seasons" or anything on Black Sails.



A song isn't good just because it is hard and from AFI. Hard AFI songs that were awesome are songs like Death of Seasons, The Last Kiss, ...but Home is Nowhere, The Lost Souls, Porphyria, etc. Affliction or Kill Caustic are just not written that well. They do not sound good. The songs do not flow and the singing is just not very interesting or powerful. Even on the slower songs, the singing has nothing like the passion found on This Time Imperfect or Morningstar.



Even on the slower songs, I just hear too many other bands in what AFI is doing. Their originality that marked all of their previous albums is almost completely absent. Most of their songs sound pretty good, but not compared to anything they have released before. By "pretty good", I mean it is okay to listen to when filling the time, but I find myself wanting to move on to another album when I listen to Decemberunderground frequently.



There are exceptions to all this criticism. Notably, the end of Endlessly, She Said and towards the end of Kiss and Control, the singing gives me chills. The Missing Frame also is a good song. I actually do like a lot of the songs, but few (if any) of them are *amazing songs* which so many on their previous records are filled with. From previous albums, examples of amazing songs are God Called in Sick Today and The Last Kiss (BS), Days of the Phoenix and Morningstar (AOD), and But Home is Nowhere and This Time Imperfect (STS). The closest Decemberundeground comes is Kiss and Control and Missing Frame. Unfortunately, even these songs are not amazing taken as a whole. Kiss and Control has an amazing breakdown, I'll admit. I love the song but as a whole it cannot compare to AFI's best.



This album is also not "better than most other music out there today". While that is probably true within the mainstream, there is plenty of really good music that is not heard on the radio that is way better music than Decemberunderground. Check out Sonata Arctica for an amazing band. And the fact remains that this album pales in comparison to AFI's best, even considering it within its own style.



Lastly, I don't think the lyrics, however depressing and cool they are, can save this album. I am reviewing music, not poetry. Maybe Decemberunderground is good poetry, but it is not very good music."