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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
No singing in sorrow this time, October 7, 2009
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.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AFI fans..., December 24, 2009
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.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fine Follow-up to decemberunderground, October 11, 2009
Unfortunately for rock band AFI, this time around they don't have a hit single the likes of "Miss Murder" to propel Crash Love. The album bows at only #12, a far cry from the surprise #1 bow of Decemberunderground. Despite this, 'Crash Love' proves to be a great album nonetheless with no outright filler. Sure, lead vocalist Davey Havok's constant 'oh's' and odd vocal nuances grow annoying at times, but overall Crash Love is well rounded.
"Torch Song",in g# minor, proves to be a fine opener, filled with an angst-filled, energized vocal performance from Havok and grand background vocals making "Torch Song" sound more like a 'rock-opera' track as opposed to just another rock & roll number. The guitars sound dark and foreboding, giving "Torch Song" a dreary, yet exciting and exhilarating timbre. The minor key translates over (this time it's f# minor) to "Beautiful Thieves", another standout in which the only semblance of major-key comes during the powerful refrain where once again a chilling chorus of background voices appear. Another well written song, "End Transmission" begins with a subdued, but fast rhythmic drum groove that shifts into an f-minor centered 'ditty'. Havok again sounds great and the band continues to show their chops. The hook is among the catchiest of the entire album, again shifting to the relative major key. So far 'Crash Love' bats 1000, despite commercial adversity.
"Too Shy To Scream" proves to be another energized track, filled with big, heavy guitar riffs. Easily a standout, a catchy chorus helps to make this one of 'Crash Love's' best. Furthermore, with a brief duration of under three minutes, it shows the advantage of the brief, but exceptionally written song. "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" isn't the same kind of 'catchy' as "Too Shy To Scream", but it still is addictive nonetheless. Perhaps best about "Veronica" is the fact that the track keeps the album on an upswing as far as being 'uptempo'.
"Okay, I Feel Better Now" brings the tempo down slightly, but does so without convolution of the overall intensity of the album. As always, Havok sounds great evoking a 'goth-rock' sensibility. "Okay I Feel Better Now" isn't as fun as earlier tracks, but it does slow the pace and breaks up the 'adrenaline' of 'Crash Love'. The ending, is certainly exciting with the overzealous guitar work and Havok's signature 'oh's'. "Medicate", the single of 'Crash Love' hasn't been a Billboard Hot 100 staple like "Miss Murder", but that doesn't make it any less exciting to listen to. After the mid-tempo antics of "Okay, I Feel Better Now", the upswing of "Medicate" is welcome. Filled with bluesy guitar looks, jagged rhythmic punctuations, and savvy lead vocals, "Medicate" is one fun listen. Additionally, a shift in timbre and tempo, almost ala "Stairway to Heaven" (as far as sound) makes "Medicate" one of the small masterpieces here.
"I Am Trying Very Hard To Be Here" lays as well as everything else so far while "Sacrilege" accelerates the tempo even more, again residing in a minor-key setting (B-flat minor). "Darling, I Want To Destroy You" deviates from the dark quality that pervades the first portion of 'Crash Love'. Here, accompanied by vocal effects, Havok sings in a major key for once. Musically, the sounds are quite nicely put together and give off a nice effect. Penultimate track "Cold Hands" arrives with pounding, 'middle-fingers raised' guitars, providing some of the best guitar work of the entire album. "It Was Mine" starts out rather subdued, particularly given that it is AFI, but evolves into a more fiery track. While it doesn't quite possess the same spark as "Torch Song", it does close the album good.
Overall sales don't compensate for the quality of 'Crash Love'. However, the album is consistent with no true filler. Sure, some tracks are better than others, but nothing is outright terrible. 4 stars.
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