The Art of Drowning

A.F.I.

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nitro Records
• ASIN: B00004XSTC
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,393 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Emo
  #46 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Hardcore
  #82 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk Revival

Track Listings

1. Initiation

2. Lost Souls

3. Nephilim

4. Ever and a Day

5. Sacrifice Theory

6. Of Greetings and Goodbyes

7. Smile

8. Story at Three

9. Days of the Phoenix

10. Catch a Hot One

11. Wester

12. 6 to 8

13. Despair Factor

14. Morningstar

15. Battled

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

You want music that is loud, fast, and heavy? The Art of Drowning delivers on all three fronts. Songs like "Ever and a Day" and "The Days of the Phoenix" sound like a crunchy, no-nonsense cross between the joyful minimalism of the Vandals and heavier hardcore outfits such as Sick of It All and the Cro-Mags. Davey Havok's vocals are impassioned, focused, and undeniably sincere. Newest members Hunter (The Force) and Jade Puget (ex-Redemption 87), meanwhile, contribute to the album's dark intensity. The Art of Drowning is harder than Black Sails in the Sunset (1999), and all the better for it. --Jerry Thackray

Product Description

This is the 2000 release from the reigning kings of the East Bay hardcore scene. 15 punk gems including 'Days Of The Phoenix', 'Ever And A Day', 'Catch A Hot One', (hidden track 'Battled') and more. Nitro Records release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic punk, March 5, 2005

By	Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best punk (goth hardcore metal emo?) band since the 80s., January 8, 2001

By	Jebus (Kutztown PA) - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect!, December 10, 2004

By	M. Harrison "beautiful_freak_87" (louisiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!