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Product Description
Review
It’s mandatory for a band to openly state during pre-release promotional interviews that this album is the biggest, boldest, bestest thing they’ve done in their career. They have given everything to this. When AFI say it, it’s always that bit more believable.
While idle comparisons to other punks-turned-alt-rockers Green Day will surely abound once again, it’s important to note that these Californian four-piece have always focussed heavily on the alternative side of their sound. Overblown drama and sorrow-laden theatre has always been massive parts of what they do and why they do it, and overblown and sorrow-laden is exactly what Crash Love is.
With 2006’s Decemberunderground, AFI (aka A Fire Inside) reached the height of their powers as their seventh album hit the top spot in America and entered the Top 20 in the UK. And where does a band go from there? Well, the quartet has opted to sand their more abrasive corners down for a gentler, more melodic approach. With characteristically cascading guitars and deep moans from Davey Havok, it’s still unmistakeably AFI, but it’s just different enough.
The comfort of familiarity has gone from Crash Love. Whereas both band and fans usually enjoy that comfort in equal measure, the quartet now leans toward a sound much closer to The Cure and The Smiths than ever before, and while this is still within their fans’ remit, it might take a little bit of getting used to. The rewards, however, are there for the taking.
Veronica Sawyer Smokes is a song plucked from the Mancunian hit parade of the 1980s and OK, I Feel Better Now should be accompanied by a wig similar to one of Robert Smith’s more extravagant hair days – just to help exude the mood. Saying that, the production on both of these songs – however much they might ape their influences – is magnificent. If there ever was a time to describe an album as expansive, it is now.
The lolloping thumps of Medicate hark back to pastimes in the AFI catalogue, but there’s no need to dwell on them because the band has moved onto yet another chapter of their fantastic career. Take some time to appreciate this. --Raziq Rauf
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like many others, I have been an AFI fan for many years; just so you get an idea, my favorite AFI cd to date has been 'The Art of Drowning' and to be perfectly honest I found 'Decemberunderground' to be the worst. HOWEVER, in my opinion this new album is better than than the latter. Despite the album title, which like 'Decemberunderground' makes me cringe slightly, it is a cd well worth buying, especially the deluxe edition.
There are 16 songs in total and most of them are amazing. What I mean by this is the general beat of the cd, with enough fast paced songs and some slower, powerful ones too.
With the first listen, none of the songs made much of an impression but once I heard it again, I started to get to know them and found them to be addictive-they get stuck in your head a lot.
I was disappointed with 2 things which is why I didn't give it 5 stars:
-The album art-work (I prefered the albums with horror-punk undertones and especially the Alan Forbes graphics)
-The lyrics (usually very deep, mysterious and with many possible interpretations)
This cd had mediocre designs, nothing horror/Misfits style at all.
The lyrics are merely ok, some songs slightly better than others. Usually Davey writes such beautiful lyrics; to describe the ones here I would say it is as if he has dampened them down and made them more widely accessible and 'understandable'.
Another change, found in DU too, was the lack of a hidden/secret song, plus lack of those hidden words on the vertical section of the cd. It's small details like this that disappoint me.
I think that "hardcore" AFI fans will like this cd, if they keep an open mind; it is better than DU for sure, less emo, less whiny, if anything it is more like 'Sing the Sorrow'. My favorite song of all is 'Where we used to play' which is actually found on the extra cd. I hope I have helped you to understand what this cd is about, and I hope you enjoy it if you do decide to buy it.
There are 16 songs in total and most of them are amazing. What I mean by this is the general beat of the cd, with enough fast paced songs and some slower, powerful ones too.
With the first listen, none of the songs made much of an impression but once I heard it again, I started to get to know them and found them to be addictive-they get stuck in your head a lot.
I was disappointed with 2 things which is why I didn't give it 5 stars:
-The album art-work (I prefered the albums with horror-punk undertones and especially the Alan Forbes graphics)
-The lyrics (usually very deep, mysterious and with many possible interpretations)
This cd had mediocre designs, nothing horror/Misfits style at all.
The lyrics are merely ok, some songs slightly better than others. Usually Davey writes such beautiful lyrics; to describe the ones here I would say it is as if he has dampened them down and made them more widely accessible and 'understandable'.
Another change, found in DU too, was the lack of a hidden/secret song, plus lack of those hidden words on the vertical section of the cd. It's small details like this that disappoint me.
I think that "hardcore" AFI fans will like this cd, if they keep an open mind; it is better than DU for sure, less emo, less whiny, if anything it is more like 'Sing the Sorrow'. My favorite song of all is 'Where we used to play' which is actually found on the extra cd. I hope I have helped you to understand what this cd is about, and I hope you enjoy it if you do decide to buy it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
AFI are hands down my favourite band and I was worried that this album wouldn't live up to my expectations. I loved Decemberunderground, but I was worried that Crash Love would have an even more electronic sound like Blaqk Audio. Luckily, I was wrong. Despite AFI changing their sound on nearly every album, they still sound retain their identity, and Crash Love is no different. I'd say it's more similar to Sing the Sorrow than any of their other albums style wise, but they've moved forward as they always do.
In short, I absolutely love this album. Davey doesn't scream, but his voice is perfect, the lyrics are beautiful as always and the music is powerful. The songs sound complete and are also catchy as hell.
I'm sure it will attract new fans, but older fans should love it too as this is truly a wonderful album.
In short, I absolutely love this album. Davey doesn't scream, but his voice is perfect, the lyrics are beautiful as always and the music is powerful. The songs sound complete and are also catchy as hell.
I'm sure it will attract new fans, but older fans should love it too as this is truly a wonderful album.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Music is a love it or hate it world of opposing forces.
I love this band, the music on this album is different from the rest of their albums but still enjoyable
bonus tracks only sweeten the deal
I love this band, the music on this album is different from the rest of their albums but still enjoyable
bonus tracks only sweeten the deal
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Recognizably AFI, but not quite as memorable
Despite the overall feel/sound of Crash Love differing from the last two AFI albums, I actually really like it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by AW
Took two listens before I grudingly fell in love
I've been a massive fan of AFI since my early teens. Starting with The Art of Drowning, I've enjoyed the difference in their albums (but may have struggled a bit with... Read more
Published 24 months ago by S. Kimber
terrible
i have enjoyed all A.F.I.'s albums so far, apart from this one. it is a change and a bad one at that. it seems they've decided to try go mainstream and failed, epically. Read more
Published on 10 May 2010 by Thomas Wood
Afi living backwards?
It seems afi are one of the rare breed of bands who get better with age.Their earlier stuff seems quite kinder punk to me,enjoyable in the way a puppy may chase it's tail,but from... Read more
Published on 12 April 2010 by D. L. Wilkinson
Pretty decent
Being relatively new to AFI I don't really feel the disappointment that seems to be echoing round some circles. Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Bertie
Different, but just as good
Just so you know it, I'm not a fan of their new stuff only. I am a fan of all the things AFI has done. I listen to all of their albums. Read more
Published on 5 April 2010 by Hanne-Marie B. Christensen
Another step forward
To anyone worried that Crash Love may not live up to expectation - take a sigh of relief, and take comfort in the fact that AFI have unleashed another handsome bat out of their... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2010 by Mr. T. Richards
GREAT CD
I cant stop playing this cd, better than AFI last album and i cant wait to see them play these songs live!
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by G. B. Holland
Not quite as good as the last two
I've been a fan of AFI since they polished their style and made Sing the Sorrows (I was a bit take it or leave it before then - yes smite me for the blasphemy). Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by lasthopeofhumanity
they came,they saw,they conquered again hey
Even when my fellow reviewers have found bones to pick at with this album,the main being a less sense of anger,they have still rated the album well so the sense is that this is... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2009 by sean paul mccann
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