Customer Reviews

Crash Love

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Alright, for starters I have been into AFI for years and years. As most people have stated: with each new album, AFI has "progressed" or "grown" (or "sold out" or something else negative). Crash Love is nothing different. AFI sounds completely different here compared to december underground which was released a little over 3 years ago. So, let's kinda hop to this...

This cd is one that is either going to grow on you, or you'll end up absolutely hating it. I have listened entirely through a few times and there are definitely some stand out tracks.

Let it be know here and now, Davey does NOT scream on this album. For me, that was a pretty large disappointment. (I haven't kept up on the news with these guys lately, but did he screw up his vocal cords again? I knew that happened before decemberunderground and he had to change the style of screams he uses). Anyways, with that being said, I believe he was trying to prove he still has chops when it comes to singing. And he definitely does. At times though, the vox get a little tiresome and seem forced. Lyrically, well-I don't believe this is Havok's strongest album for lyrical content. For a real treat, I recommend Black Sails or else Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes for some great vocals and lyrics from Havok.

When it comes to the guitar- Jade is in his own league. I am not saying he's the next SRV,Hendrix, or Satriani or anything- but WOW. On this whole cd, really listen to the layers of guitar work here. Personally, I think his work towards this album is what kept me from giving it a 2 star rating. Really, Jade's riffs and solos on this disc are fantastic. No matter what happens to AFI, this guy should always be able to find work. Yes, the single "Medicate" has good work, but listen to the whole album. One little thing that I kinda thought was weird, on this album there is a distortion effect he uses occasionally that is very similar to the distortion The Ataris use in EVERY song (practically). I am not saying it's bad, but just listen for it, and if you have heard The Atari's you will see what I mean. (Not that this has anything to do with the review, I was just sayin.)

Drums...what can I say? This disc has Adam actually DOING MORE. I thought it was great! The beats he plays are ridiculously awesome and it shows he is able to more than previous efforts. (I was not doubting his talent before, but let's be honest-they downplayed his skill and kept his drumming less "showy" on earlier releases).

Hunter...ya know-I met him once? Really nice guy. But, all that's a story for another time. Anyways, this album disappointed me greatly because Hunter is a great bassist. Really, he's one of my fav's. Someone could tell me he knows nothing of music and I couldn't care less. The work he's done on past albums was nothing short of great. Typically, I could care less about the bass,if it were any other band. But I take my AFI like my rap, BASS UP! (That comment is weak, "bass up"? What was I thinking?) Anyways, between Black Sails, Art of Drowning, and All Hallows E.P Hunter was untouchable. But this disc, this one let me down. I feel they didnt really let him do what he does best. Change isn't always bad, but more bass and bass solos, and I would have given this disc 5 stars. No lie.

Overall, this disc is a step in a different direction again for the guys. It is not exactly a bad step by any means. But it wasn't five stars hands-down. Personally, I'm still getting a feel for it. Maybe I'll change it to a four star later. But for right now, the lyrics haven't won me over, and that bass is good, but not on par with what they used to have.

OH! Before you go, I forgot something I have to admit loving about this album and something that made me cringe. 1.) They were way less "atmospheric" on this disc. I personally wasn't a huge fan of the layers of effects on decemberunderground. 2.) It's a sad day for AFI when they throw intro's to the album out the door. Really, when it comes to the start of a new album they are KINGS! Untouchable,man. No lie. Scope Black Sails, Art of Drowning, Sing The Sorrow and Decemberunderground for a fine history of kick@$$ intro's.

If you are an AFI fanatic, go ahead, get it, absorb it like we all do!

If you're an "AFI should go back to punk rock" fan, avoid this. You will not like it. It's much less punk.

If you're a "decemberunderground was the bestest album ever" uhh, this is different, maybe you'll dig it, maybe you wont...but Black Sails was better :P

Crash Love is another step in the ever evolving AFI sound. From a musical standpoint, this album is great. Jade continues to be an amazing guitarist/musician. The guitar layering, solos and rhythm give this cd a very full melodic sound. Davey's vocals are strong and powerful (sorry, no screaming in this one kids). The bass lines and drums pull everything together giving it that special AFI sound.

From a song standpoint, the lyrics are (as you would expect from AFI) amazing. Davey continues to provide words which paint a vivid picture in your mind throughout each song. The songs themselves range from fist pumping, to heart string pulling. There is really a wide range of experiences with each song.


Bottom Line
*If you like Sing The Sorrow, and December Underground you will most likely enjoy this album.
*This is Rock, not punk. (I don't mean that in a negative light, I mean from a musical perspective)
*If you want hard, fast, punch you in the face punk rock, you will probably be disappointed.

Additional Note:
The cd doesn't do these songs justice in my opinion. I saw them perform many of these live recently, and the power from a live show really makes these songs stand out.

So, AFI has done it again. They're taken a step in another direction with their latest work. While this step my be slightly backwards, it is in no way back to the year 2003. As a relatively new "fan" of AFI, I came to know the band via "Girl's Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold" but it wasn't until "Miss Murder" that I outright had to buy what they were selling. Therefore, unlike most people who have an opinion of AFI that is chronologically past to present, mine is a bit more present to past. After exposure to DecemberUnderground's... 'uniqueness', I had to see what else the California quartet was offering. Weeks after buying DecemberUnderground, I bought AFI's Sing the Sorrow [STS] and found musical euphoria. Hard hitting guitar riffs, overly epic choruses, and an atmospheric intensity unlike no other, Sing the Sorrow was magical. From there, I chronologically worked my way backwards all the way to Answer that and stay Fashionable. Along the way, I became fond of Black Sails in the Sunset[BSITS] (possibly my second favorite AFI release) and The Art of Drowning. More than once, on long car rides from college to home, I'd listen to AFI from Answer That to DecemberUnderground [DU], trying to figure out the evolution and understand how they went from "I want a Mohawk (But mom won't let me get one)" to "The Interview", two completely different songs. Although I do enjoy some of their earlier work, I began to feel at home somewhere between "Clove Smoke Catharsis" and "Now the World". With that being said (and my credibility verified), I can now review Crash Love.

I liked parts of DU, "Miss Murder", "Kiss and Control", the fantastic "Summer Shudder", and even the song most often labled as the abomination of DU, "Kill Caustic". "Love Like Winter" was great too and "Endlessly, She Said" was intense. Overall DU was a solid release and the same can be said for Crash Love.
The first noticeable difference between Crash Love and DU is the apparent lack of extra (dare I say 'electronica') effects. This is by no means some kind of dance party pop fest. Everything is more of a straightforward instrument-driven affair. I liked it. Jade Puget plays some outstanding guitar while Adam and Hunter do what they do. Davey's voice is greatness (as always) and stays consistent.
Problem 1. No screams. I miss those intense screams. Not so much the DU screams (I didn't want to put down "Kill Caustic" but yes, those weren't the great screams I want) but more so the STS screams. "Death of Seasons", "The Leaving Song Pt. 2" and somewhat in "Dancing Through Sunday". Those intense moments just kind of empowered the songs. It doesn't happen with Crash Love. Davey doesn't even give you one of those half-screams aka "Bleed Black" - And ground them all to dust! -. Besides that, from start to finish, Davey's voice is excellent.
Crash Love features solid songs from start to finish. "Torch Song" is good starter. "Beautiful Thieves" I decided was beautiful indeed, after a couple of listens. "Too Shy to Scream" is possibly my favorite, although its already being criticized left and right as being a lame attempt at something upbeat, sucky, etc. I like it. "Medicate" is clearly the "Miss Murder" of Crash Love, being catchy, sing-alongy, and most of all, sellable. From there, "Sacrilege" takes us back to the Art of Drowning days, "Darling, I want to Destroy You" is awesome and my recent favorite "It was mine" closes it out. The other tracks I didn't mention are all solid. Trust Me.

Problem 2? Crash Love almost has no clear stand-out track. They're all good. I mean like, the worst song in my opinion is "End Transmission" and it would still be a top 20 song on the charts if it was released as a single. If it wasn't for the weird effect added to Davey's voice in "Darling, I want to destroy you", it would clearly be the best. Besides that, "Beautiful Thieves" sits well next to "Torch Song" and "Too Shy to Scream" fits perfectly before "Veronica Sawyer Smokes". Maybe I'm picky but I'd like to see atleast two definitive 'best songs'. Something magical, something like STS's "Silver and Cold"/"Girls Not Grey". Recently, "It Was Mine" has become this song for me, the one I can play over and over, yet it lacks the epic-ness that would make it truly great. This brings us to a third problem.

Problem 3? Crash Love doesn't have the overly epic ender, the conclusion that makes you think - I just listened to something brilliant -. Lets recall the last few enders since Jade Pugets permanent arrival, "God Called In Sick Today/Midnight Sun" closed out BSITS. It was greatness. "God Called In Sick Today" is one of my all time favorite songs ever, not just an AFI favorite. I rank it up there with some legendary pieces like "Black Hole Sun" [Soundgarden], "Smells Like Teen Spirit" [Nirvana], and "Jeremy" [Pearl Jam]. The Art of Drowning brought "Morningstar/Battled", another epic closer. Sing the Sorrow (US Version) ended with "...But Home is Nowhere/This Time Imperfect". As if "...but Home is Nowhere" wasn't already a perfect end to one of the best albums of all time, the hidden song "This Time Imperfect" just magnified its glory. DecemberUnderground didn't follow the closer/hidden song closer formula but it still finished strong with the significantly epic "Endlessly, She Said". I don't think that song receives enough credit. Crash Love closes out with "It Was Mine". I believe the lack of some powerful scream toward the song's end (aka "Endlessly, She Said" and "...But Home Is Nowhere) or just a roaring emotional waterfall of a bridge ("This Time Imperfect"), "It Was Mine" just falls a tad short. I noticed it the first time I listened to Crash Love and, although it is not as apparent anymore, it is still slightly noticeable. None-the-less, a good close.

All in all, Crash Love is full of sing-along chorus lines - Will you pause to break my heart? ["Too Shy to Scream"] - saw you while you shared that cigarette ["Veronica Sawyer Smokes"] - strong epic chorus bits - I'd tear out my eyes for you my dear ["Torch Song"]- and just plain catchy tunes. Crash Love may not satisfy that DU itch, or that STS thirst, or that BSITS/ArtOD rash, but it touches upon them. "Sacrilege" shows some BSITS/AOD. "Torch Song" and "Cold Hands" scratch the surface of STS, mostly from a guitar perspective. "Okay, I Feel Better Now" and even more so "Darling, I Want to Destroy You" could have been DU pieces with a few more effects. "It Was Mine" can pass as a weak version of "Endlessly, She Said". Maybe from our view, the ones just sitting back and buying their music, the worst part about Crash Love is what it doesn't sound enough like. It doesn't sound enough like STS. For some it may not sound enough like DU. For others, it doesn't sound enough like BSITS or AoD. But, what we should appreciate is what Davey, Jade, Hunter, and Adam probably appreciate- Crash Love DOESN'T sound like their other stuff, it sounds unique. It sounds different. It is a step in another direction, slightly back, but like back and to the left. Maybe we'll never get another "Love Like Winter" or "Miss Murder" but we will get something AFI. Something new. I've come to realize that AFI will never impress me like they did with STS but I'm sticking with them because I know they'll always have good stuff. Crash Love is a definite buy. For those who hated DU, they won't be singing in sorrow this time.

I've only been listening to AFI for about three years, but I've gone back and picked up the old stuff. Now, even though I'm new to AFI, I'm certainly no newcomer to rock music. I've noticed something pretty unique about AFI fans though... they are the most name-dropping, nit-picking, tight-wound bunch of music consumers in the game. Some other bands' fans are that way sometimes, but AFI fans, WHOA! Seriously, try an experiment. Scan all the other reviews for this album and the previous two, and see how many reviews you find that DON'T (1) rank AFI's whole catalog, (2) directly compare each song on this album with a "counterpart" song on another, and (3) try and justify the similarities or lack thereof with either selling out or maturing.

Hey AFI fans: GIVE IT A REST.

What kind of service are you offering the band with this kind of behavior? If I were a member of AFI, I'd be a basket case after reading a page of Amazon reviews. The guys have made the clearest statement you could ask for, and they've made it repeatedly: "Every album they make is different than the others." Why is that so hard? If you hate this album, just keep spinning your preferred album and stop poisoning the well for everybody else.

Crash Love is, without any comparison to another album, a very good listen. I was lukewarm to it on my first pass, but after a few more times the intricacies began to show, and I could appreciate how each song is finely crafted and carefully detailed. Each track is strong, and there's a wide variety of moods and energies. Any fan of rock music can find plenty to enjoy here.

If you're a stranger to AFI and you're put off by the schizophrenic rambling in these reviews, just ignore them and listen to the album without all the baggage. I promise you can like AFI and not have to engage in all this.

So, as with any aging rock/punk band, they sound different now than a decade (or more) ago. But that is not a bad thing. Crash Love is catchy and witty (and better than Decemberunderground). No, it is no Sing the Sorrow, Answer That..., or anything in between, but do we really expect or want repetition? I am still a devoted fan with the new album.

Hey everybody you all seem to have forgotten that this album was for the fans that won the contest to sing with AFI on Crash Love.I must admit it was a little different hearing backup vocals on an AfI song, it took me some time to get used to it.While I dont think it compares to December Underground AFI,s best album it still not bad but I miss Davey screaming. There are a couple of pop songs on the cd that i dont like much but the rest of the cd is pretty good. My best advise is to listen to it at least 5 times with the volume turned up it worked for me!!

I thought that this was a triumph for AFI because it let themselves express themselves in so many perspectives, it is amazing. Best song----- WHERE WE USED TO PLAY --------!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crash Love is a very good album, it's pure AFI for sure. However, the polish it gains makes it drift away from Sing the Sorrow. Take the difference between Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground, and apply it to Decemberunderground to get an idea about how Crash Love sounds!

It's new, it's AFI, it doesn't suck. If you are an AFI fan I think you will love this new album.

If you're new to AFI this is something I would recommend checking out.

Get the deluxe edition if you buy MP3, same price with four extra songs. If you are buying the CD I would still recommend the Deluxe edition. Torch Song, Beautiful Thieves, End Transmission are all good songs, to name a few.

Worth the money in my eyes.

I'll cut straight to the point. Based soley on their previous albums this is something else entirely. Many times I thought I was listening to a bunch of 80's bands, such as Echo & the Bunnymen, or The Church, there seemed to be some Psychodellic Furs in there too.. It has this sort of progressive rock pop sound that is well honed and brilliantly crafted. I think it's what they wanted though, and we as fans know that they'll probably never recreate their old sound again, it would be pointless for them as artists.. So if you crave old AFI, just pop in the old albums and I guarentee you that they will light you up again. I know I gave it a 'meh' score, but in all honestly I find the album completely addictive and catchy. I love most of the tracks here, and I'm glad to see them constantly redefining themselves.. It's just not their best work overall.. I mean it feels very cohesive and it's like they finally made a solid rock pop album, and left out their electronic influences. Arguably Veronica Sawyer Smokes is the catchiest song on the album, it would fit nicely on a Robert Smith album. Bottom line here is an album that will show all it's cards years from now, either it'll keep on giving or else it'll be forgotten, lost and broken.