Customer Reviews

The Art Of Drowning

5 star:		(145)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

AFI are my current favourite punk band, although that phrase doesn't even begin to encapsulate them. Their sound mixes that of hardcore and punk with certain goth and metal aspects, and some absolutely killer lyrics. And None of their CDs exemplify this better than The Art Of Drowning...it's the best indie CD of the year, and, in my opinion, the greatest, and most artisitic punk album ever. Better than the Descendents ALL, better than the Dead Kennedys FrankenChrist...holy... Davey is a supreme lyricist and vocalist...not on par with Maynard James Keenan, but...on sort of a different level...beautiful and sad...Maynard is worth mentioning because it's obvious that he has influenced davey's lyrics due to a common thread of mysticism in their musical souls. Jade Errol Puget is the best guitar player punk has seen. EVER. He fills up the sound that two Bad Religion Guitarists do, and is more creative than either of those in the aforementioned band. His riffs pack huge punch, and always come with crazed pick scratches. Hunter Burgan is a wild bassist, with the stage persona of a serial killer and the talent of Matt from Rancid. Truly all over the place, and very, very wild. You can see it in his eyes. Adam Carson is the band's backbone, and a very sturdy one at that. his drum lines are pulverizing and he seems intent on destroying his drums. Adam is the man. There aren't too many bands that you can compare AFI to, with the exception of the Misfits, Samhain, Danzig, and, somehow, a lot of the emo bands...there's something commoin from all of these groups in AFI, and they present themselves so they don't come off as pretentiuous (they aren't) but sincere and talented (They are.) They inspire me as the singer of a punk rock band, and I hope to someday be as qualified to make rocking punk as Davey and the gang are.

Let me start this review with a personal note: I'm not a punk. In fact, as a married 26-year old with a white-collar job and two cats, I'm not even close. Most punk, even from the more highly regarded bands in the genre (to say nothing of unspeakably awful poseur bands like Good Charlotte) bores me. Three-chord guitars and monotonous shouts just don't measure up in my book to the awesome power of metal bands like Meshuggah and Neurosis, or the creativity and musicianship of such alternative acts as Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo. Sure, many punk bands (Minor Threat, the Clash, and the Dwarves come to mind) have had their moments, but I'll take (real) metal or alternative any day of the week.

Another personal note: I had heard of (and heard) AFI before they were getting major radio airplay and selling records like hotcakes, thanks to a friend of mine who said I had to check out this great album called The Art of Drowning a few years ago. I gave it a couple listens, thought something along the lines of "eh, these guys ain't bad" and then forgot about it, but a while ago some reviews I read on this site piqued my interest, and I decided to give these guys another shot. Anyway, long story short, I'm glad I decided to look beyond my first impression, because the Art of Drowning is one mighty impressive album. It's not quite London Calling, or Refused's The Shape of Punk To Come (in this writer's opinion the best album released under the punk label, hands down), but it's an effort that shows a considerable amount of range and musicianship in a genre where those two qualities are often sorely lacking.

Mainstream (read: boring) radio stations and publications may be all atwitter over that insipid and overrated new Green Day album (hey, tired leftist dogma! *That's* different!), but this is the real deal-a legitimately professional and diverse punk album. Since the raw, and rather juvenile, punk of their debut Answer That and Stay Fashionable (admittedly, the only other AFI album I've heard), these guys have evolved into a band that's clearly comfortable injecting some musicality and decidedly non-punk influences into their sound. After the brief intro of Initiation, we're treated to a roller coaster ride of complex arrangements (for a punk album, anyway), gargantuan hooks, and fierce call-and-response vocals-and that's just the next track, Lost Souls. There's also a nice little melodic break thrown in for good measure, including one of the few good guitar solos you'll ever hear on a punk album.

The rest of the album only continues in this eclectic fashion. Naturally, there's plenty here to satisfy the hardcore punkers, as about half the songs on this album are blasts of pure speed and aggression, propelled by frenetic drumbeats and the signature in-your-face shouts of Davey Havok. However, they've obviously learned the value of slowing down as well, as tracks like Ever and a Day, Days of the Phoenix, and 6 to 8 see AFI going in a less aggressive direction, featuring big melodies, clean guitar playing, and emotive singing. Davey's singing voice leaves a bit to be desired, but it does provide a nice foil for the vitriolic shouting that's more often on display.

Still, though, these guys are at their best when they're going full speed ahead. The guitars on this album are generally fast and hard enough to induce whiplash, and few bands can write an anthemic, fist-pumping chorus like AFI (Story at Three and Nephilim are probably exhibits A and B, but there have been plenty of others bouncing around my head over the past few days). Even the rhythm section's work is distinctly above average; just check out the tricky rhythms that pop up on Sacrifice Theory and Wester and you'll see what I mean. It's rare to see a punk band inject some melodic elements into their sound without going the "pop-punk" route (a path fraught with danger if ever there was one), but these guys manage to accomplish the trick seamlessly. Ultimately, the Art of Drowning is sure to appeal to just about anyone with even a passing interest in the punk genre.

I've had this album for awhile now and I've come to realize that it is truely amazing. I would give every track a five star rating. The Art of Drowning is in fact my personal favorite album that AFI has released.
If you're a fan of fast punky music with a slight gothic twist, you are sure to enjoy this album as much as i have. If you're just getting into AFI, i recommend you start with this one. Davey's vocals are absolutely beautiful, and the bands amazing talent shines the whole way through.
Each track on here has its own unique sound and they are all quite catchy. The songs at the beginning of the CD are louder and faster, then they sort of mellow out near the end. I could listen to this album over and over and never grow tired of it.Please, do yourself a favor and buy this album today. You won't regret it!

Yep... the title said it all. The beginning of my AFI experience.

Prior to this release, I hardly listened to punk (I still don't to this day), but a friend of mine wanted me to burn a copy of this CD for him. I said okay. As I put it on, it grabbed my attention.

"The Art of Drowning" was a hardrocking anthemic punk album, and it's a damn fine album. From the moment I heard "The Lost Souls" (yeah, I know it's not the first track... the very first track didn't grab my attention), I was like, "Whoa." But unlike the punk bands that I had heard at the time (Rancid, Clash, Misfits, etc...), there was something different about AFI: the lyrics. Unlike hearing simple screaming lyrics that talked of defying authority or something of that matter, I heard poetry. Poetry? In a punk band? With loud, heavy, and fast music? Whoa! This is something completely different for me. Though you may not notice it in the first few songs, "Ever and a Day" clearly showed that for me (maybe that track foreshadowed what would be featured in their next album, "Sing the Sorrow").

As much as I appreciated the album, I wasn't too fond of Davey's vocals. Though he's got amazing range, I found myself not understanding what he's saying most of the time. But for some of the songs that I kinda understood, I still enjoyed it. Excellent fast-paced punk music that'll get you riveted and blood rushing. And for some of the band's more "softer" moments, like the awesome "A Story at Three" or final track "Morningstar," you're in for a treat. "The Days of the Phoenix" is supposedly the biggest highlight of the album, though I see nothing too special about it *awaits for angry replies*.

Above all: a solid punk album with some surprising, well-thought out poetic lyrics. But don't be fooled because I said "poetic lyrics." There's a lot of fast-paced punk music that'll make you bang your head.

A.F.I is one of the greatest punk bands out there now. They are definitely different than the happy-sounding pop punk of MXPX and Blink-182. Davey Havok, the lead singer, is hard to understand, but when you open the lyric sheets of any of the albums, he writes some pretty incredible lyrics. Whenever I listen to this album, I listen to it all the way through because it's so rad. Davey Havok's vocals are great, and the rest of the band's back-ups (Adam Carson - drums, Jade Puget (guitar), and Hunter (bass) ) add to it. Two of the greatest tracks on this are "The Lost Souls" and "Ever and a Day", if you have never heard any of A.F.I's albums, you should go out and buy Black Sails The Sunset, because there are some of the rawest punk tracks on that record, and the bass line in "At A Glance" is amazing. A.F.I is on tour with Rancid now, I've never seen them live, but I'm definitely going to, because I've heard it's an experience.

right to the songs:
initiation: not too great for an opening afi track. Nothing compared to strength through wounding but really is a good start into lost souls. 5/10
lost souls: amazing, although was the best the first time i heard it. it'll wear on you eventually. 7/10
nephilim: this track's chorus will really get you into the rest of the album. the lyrics are all short and sweet and it truly deserves a 10/10
ever and a day: a beautiful song with completely amazing guitar parts and the lyrics are beautiful and in daveys voice this track takes you away and when you come to you'll be dancing in your room while the neighbors look at you like a freak. 10/10
sacrifice theory: not bad, but seems like it was writen in 15 minutes. 5/10
of greetings & goodbyes: my favorite song on the album. vocals that beat all, bass that is creative and has a vibe that can make you follow it all the way through the song. 10/10
smile: just didn't get it. it's that simple. 5/10
a story at three: beautiful interlude in the middle that highlights the song. although the chorus is still amazing. 10/10
days of the phoenix: fall into fantasy, the lyrics speak for the song. 10/10
catch a hot one: a solid effort but fell alittle short. sounds too much like a story at three or even wester. 8/10
wester: nothing to say about it. it can speak for itself. 9/10
6 to 8: very emotional and reflective. can make you take a look in the mirror or make you turn inward. is definately better when listening to despair factor next. 10/10
despair factor: one... big... dark... room... depressing and invigorating at the same time. 10/10
morningstar: amazing, emotional, beautiful, best vocals and lyrics on the album. may be the best song on the album. 10/10

1) Initiation - This is an interesting opening track, which has no real melody or structure. It's just an interesting way to build-up to the incredible Lost Souls.

2) The Lost Souls - One of my all-time favorite songs by AFI, this epitomizes all of the band's talents. It has a great drum-introduction, some nice, melodic guitar, and extremely catchy chorus, and a heartfelt mid-section/bridge. It's on-par with Totalimmortal, Days of the Phoenix and God Called in Sick Today as one of their best. (10/10)

3) The Nephilim - While not as good as The Lost Souls, this song is still catchy and fun to listen to. I think it deserved more than one verse, but oh well. Nice sing-along chorus. (8/10)

4) Ever and a Day - Another one of AFI's top 5, for me. It took me while to realize how much I like this song, but it's truly amazing when given the chance. It's slow and mellow compared to the previous tracks, but it has an amazing amount of power and emotion, plus some great songwriting. I especially like the first minute. (10/10)

5) Sacrifice Theory - Here's a fast, short, driving song that is good even upon first listen. The lyrics are cool, and the bridge section meets the usual AFI standard. It definitely gets better the more you listen to it. (9/10)

6) Of Greetings and Goodbyes - Great lyrics and chorus. I especially like the psychadelic-sounding guitars strewn throughout, and the tribal drumming-based bridge section. "Go kill the lights, we'll glow till morning comes." Very catchy, heartfelt chorus. (8.5/10)

7) Smile - This is one of my least favorite songs on the album, but it's still not bad. Very fast and very energetic, but doesn't have much to say for itself other than that. Clocking in at only a minute and a half, this one won't need to hold your attention for long. (7.5/10)

8) A Story at Three - A unique song to the album, boasting both an interesting structure with slow bridge section, fast, hard verses, and a catchy punk chorus. Lars from Rancid even recites one line during the bridge ("Oh, they sing to me"). An extremely enjoyable song to listen to, due in large part to the powerful bridge. (9/10)

9) Days of the Phoenix - This is probably my favorite song on the album, as it is simply great in every way. Though it isn't as hard as The Lost Souls or Sacrifice Theory, it has great melody and atmosphere. It's catchy and has a certain quality that no other AFI song posesses. Davey's voice doesn't even sound especially unique here, but somehow, the song is just incredible. (10/10)

10) Catch a Hot One - Along with Smile and Battled, this one of the hardest tracks on the album. However, I find it more listenable than Smile, probably because it has a catchy, melodic chorus strewn throughout to offer a break from the screaming verses. The lyrics are especially dark, even for AFI. ("Let's tap your heart so we can paint the walls and see if anyone likes the tone or the pain." (8/10)

11) Wester - This features one of the catchiest choruses of any AFI song, which is saying a lot. Full of pulsing guitars, and Davey's signature vocals. It's fast and fun to listen to, especially with the extremely well-written finale, piling Davey's powerful bellows over Hunter and Jade's calling background vocals. It makes for a very nice effect. (8.5/10)

12) 6 to 8 - The longest song on the album, and also one of the slowest. Does get off to a somewhat slow start, but the chorus is very anthemic and emotional. The closing guitar solo is also amazing, as it sounds like Jade's guitar is singing. That moment alone is one of my favorite parts to any AFI song. (8.5/10)

13) The Despair Factor - One of the hidden gems on the album, The Despair Factor reaches classic status by giving us 2 minutes of straightforward, catchy punk, and then slowing things down for the second half of the song, building to an amazing climax. This is one of my favorite songs by AFI, due in large part to the incredible dynamic polarity the song presents. (9.5/10)

14) Morningstar - The slowest song on the album, with an extremely intense climax. The song alone would be incredible, if it weren't for the all-out finale, with Davey screaming the chorus to Jade's supercharged guitar riffs. This is a very sad, moving song that compares to God Called in Sick Today. A great exit to The Art of Drowning. (9/10)

15) Battled (Hidden Track) - About ten minutes after Morningstar is over, you'll be presented with a somewhat silly little generic punk song. Definitely not the wonder "Midnight Sun" from Black Sails was, but nevertheless a kind of fun little surprise. The worst song the album, but I guess there's a reason it's hidden. (7/10)

16) Dream of Waking (Vinyl Only) - Though this song can only be found on the vinyl of The Art of Drowning, it fits together superbly with the rest of this album, and I'd strongly recommend all fans of AFI listen to it one way or another (whether through download or purchasing of the vinyl). It has a very interesting style to it, while also being one of the hardest, darkest tracks on the album. The lyrics are amazing as well. (9/10)

This is it. The best CD created by anyone anywhere ever. It's kinda hard to wtite a review for an album that pretty much became your bible after the first time you listened to it, but i'll do my best. I started listening to AFI in the summer of 2000 when i bought the All Hallows E.P.. Being a huge Misfits fan, i bought that cd for the cover of Halloween, but that four song cd ended up changing my life. I picked up The Art Of Drowning the day it came out and it blew me away. I never thought one band could put together everything i like about music and roll it all up into 15 incredible songs. All the dark, mysterious, gloomy, halloween-ish things i could ever think of come to mind when listening to this cd. No one can write or sing like Davey Havok, his lyrics are so haunting and poetic it will give you chills. It's hard to pick the best tracks off of here because they're all great in their own way.
Wester, Of Greeting And Goodbyes, The Lost Souls, Days Of The Phoenix, The Despair Factor, Sacrifice Theory, and A Story At Three are all fast paced, dark, chilling, melodic songs that you can listen to a thousand times (especially if you like the Misfits and Samhain) without them losing their edge. Ever And A Day, 6 To 8, and Morningstar are slower, more somber and mysterious tracks, and the remaining songs (The Nephilim, Smile, Catch A Hot One, and the hidden track Battled) are just great, heavy songs that can be appreciated by just about anyone who likes punk or metal. All in all this is the best CD I've ever heard. If you don't already own it i recommend that you go out and buy it this second. And if you're still having doubts, the booklet alone is worth the fifteen bucks, with a bunch of great scary pictures drawn by Alan Forbes.

This has to be one of the most anticipated punk albums ever. After Black Sails In The Sunset and All Hallows EP, everyone is expecting an amazing album. I was more worried about AFI staying the band it has been. What if they started the Other Misfits? Please, no. I certainly hoped that they would continue on the path they were on. I was a little worried. I bought The Art Of Drowning soon after its release date. Staring at the cover art with its Misfits nature, I began to wonder if I would hold my head in shame for owning an AFI record, or would I proudly show my AFI t-shirt to all? I don't know why I bothered worrying, because no matter what they sound like, the music is damn amazing. "Initiation," the intro track, with its plucking and following choatic sound, played as I waited anxiously for it to get going. I knew that AFI had done the right thing after listening to "The Lost Souls." Not only had they stepped away from their Misfits influence that so many people thought they would follow, they had simply improved upon their previous recordings and made it almost perfect. It sounds quite a bit like an improved, more melodic version of "Black Sails." They definitely knew what they were doing long before this was recorded, and this is AFI sounding how they're supposed to sound. Andy Ernst is very good recording this album, just as good as "Black Sails." The sound is great, the vocals perfect, the recording just rock solid. But the songs are too damn catchy, I'm worried they're the next MTV band. That will depend on whether punk fans accept them. They are not hardcore, but they are so good, they need no genre to define them. They no longer "Want A Mohawk." Much more mature. It will satisfy punk fans, Korn fans, maybe emo kids. They're gonna get better, too. If you liked the previous album, you'll like this. It really is gonna be interesting seeing how people react to this. "Days Of The Phoenix" shows how they have matured. They don't need speed. Their tempo changes will overpower you. You'll be excited to see what the song's gonna do next, and you'll like a lot of different things about each song. AFI is gonna get popular with this.

AFI is justly starting to gain the popularity and attention they deserve, thanks in large part to this album. For those that have followed the band from the beginning, a clear transition can be seen, from the upstart melodies of Answer That... and Very Proud Of Ya to the darker, harder sounds of Black Sails and AOD. AOD seems to be almost a refining of Black Sails. Although Black Sails was darker and more brooding, AOD has more poetic lyrics and more polished vocals from davey havok. One of the best parts about this album is the unifying mood carried throughout. However, this does not mean that the songs sound a lot alike. Anyway, here's the breakdown:

1. Initiation - just an introduction; no vocals
2. Lost Souls - a fast paced song, one of the best
3. Nephilim - a perfect example of the incresingly poetic lyrics that davey has written. Follow along with the lyrics in the booklet for all of the songs, but especially this one.
4. ever and a day - a change of pace, this song is slower. Of all the songs, this one took me the longest to truly get into.
5. Sacrifice Theory - By a thin margin, this is the best song on the cd, though it is less than 2 minutes long. Dark, but almost upbeat at the same time.
6. of Greetings and Goodbyes - like ever and a day, it is slower paced than the others
7. Smile - this almost sounds like a throwback to Shut Your Mouth
8. A Story At Three - there's no particular defining characteristic of this song that separates it from the others, but it's still excellent overall
9. Days of the Phoenix - This is one of the most emotional songs; very powerful
10. Catch a Hot One - This song is overshadowed by others, but it is one of the angrier songs; pumps me up.
11. Wester - A close second place for Best Song, also the most emotional (arguable). The solo just rips my heart out every time I hear it.
12. 6 To 8 - a slow song, and probably my least favorite on AOD (not to say that i dislike it)
13. The Deaspair Factor - It took awhile for this one to sink in, but it's still good.
14. Morningstar - also emotional and slower, this song incorporates a viola to emphasize this

There's an excellent chance you'll love AOD as well if you like tiger army or older stuff by the offspring. Buy today!