Decemberunderground

A.F.I. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B000FFJ85I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (260 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,721 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Hardcore
  • #23 in Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial > Goth
  • #42 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Emo

Track Listings

1. Prelude 12/21

2. Kill Caustic

3. Miss Murder

4. Summer Shudder

5. The Interview

6. Love Like Winter

7. Affliction

8. The Missing Frame

9. Kiss And Control

10. The Killing Lights

11. 37 MM

12. Endlessly, She Said

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As AFI rode onto mainstream radio playlists with their gleaming major label debut, Sing the Sorrow, the rumble of disenchanted fans nearly drowned out that of their dark-hued music. But the heavily-tattooed San Francisco band aren't looking back on Decemberunderground, a slickly-produced, MTV-friendly disc brimming with sinister pop charms. The opening "Prelude 12/21" sets the upbeat tone with handclaps, strings, and a cheeky glam-rock stomp. AFI might still operate in that distinct area where punk, goth, and frightening stadium rock come together, only now they seem intent on crashing the retro '80s party attended by the likes of Franz Ferdinand and the Killers, with flashy tracks such as "Miss Muder" and the synth-heavy "Love Like Winter." "The Interview," meanwhile, is the closest Davey Havok has ever come to crooning a lighter-waving epic. Despite the odd lapse into the Cookie Monster metal territory of their early days ("Kill Caustic," "Affliction"), Decemberunderground is even more ambitious than its predecessor. First comes the backlash, then comes the platinum. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Decemberunderground is the long awaited follow up to 2003's platinum breakthrough album Sing the Sorrow. With each new release since their 1991 debut, AFI has delivered the unexpected and have once again defied predictability by infusing new elements into their already uniquely powerful sound. Decemberunderground, produced by Jerry Finn (Green Day, blink-182), is the end result of some two years of hard work by a band determined to reclaim their position as modern rock's preeminent innovators and shows a depth, scope and passion all to uncommon in most contemporary efforts. As one of the most popular groups to emerge from traditional hardcore roots AFI have amassed a die-hard fan base, The Despair Faction, which is nothing short of cult-like and the anticipation they feel for this album reverberates for anyone who is eager to know where rock music is heading. A groundbreaking release, an incendiary live show, a fanatical following. Decemberunderground is here.

See all Editorial Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just a rant, really August 20, 2006

By Ashley Cavey

Format:Audio CD

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.

91 of 108 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Progression Doesn't Necessarily Mean Downfall June 10, 2006

By LeftManOut

Format:Audio CD

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Older Brother's AFI Album June 12, 2006

By Apollo Vesuvius

Format:Audio CD

It's the Lebron James problem. The guy can go out and have a 30 point, 10 rebound game and can get picked on for too many turnovers, or for lack of aggression. Greatness can be a burden, especially if you sustain said greatness for such a long period of time that your critics evaluate you with a whole separate set of criteria.

These poor AFI guys put out three flawless albums in a row, follow it up with a great album, and get nitpicked on for throwing in a few mediocre tracks (37mm and The Interview come to mind). All AFI has done is go from genre to genre effortlessly reinventing the craft of music. This time they take on nouveau-80's britpop and arena rock, and somehow make beauty out of them. Classics like "The Missing Frame," "Love Like Winter," and "Summer Shudder" stand up to "Bleed Black" and "This Celluloid Dream" in originality in composition, even if they aren't revolutionary like "Days of the Phoenix." (For those that pre-ordered the album and got the two bonus tracks) We are truly seeing a shocking change in AFI when they can take "The Smiths" Jack the Ripper and create a remake to stand with the original. DU deals more with an inner turmoil less than it does with a world-gone-wrong.

What's most interesting to me is that the stand-offish uber-gothy radicalism that so distinguished the band from their blander contemporaries has been softened to make room for a much more personal sound. Is it only me that is touched by the lyrics "Will the flood behind me put out the fire inside me?" The album doesn't scream so much as it cries.

If you are a true AFI fan, you know that there is no one AFI sound that DECEMBERUNDERGROUND can betray; AFI is a musical journey that requires us to stick with the band and rethink them with every new release. If you do it one more time with DU you will not be disappointed, even if it doesn't equal the last few releases.

It's the Lebron James problem. But wouldn't we all like to be a witness to greatness?