This is AFI's first major label release. With it they sought to broaden their sound and spent a lot more time in the studio than previously to hone these achievements. They managed to do this, but created a diverse array of songs rather than developping the sound for which they are known (in so much as they are known). As much as it may seem otherwise from what I am about to write, I like AFI and I really do hope that you like this album. It will be released on March 10th in the UK and 11th in America.
01. Miseria cantare (The beginning): Contrary to any writing credits, AFI did not write this song. It is the 'Terminator' theme music with added words. These words happen to be "the spiderman comes on candystripe legs" style Robert Smith lyrics.
02. The leaving song pt. 2: This song is very similar to 'Black sails' but with a different manner of recording, such that the listener gets the impression of observing rather than being surrounded by the music and its imagery. This builds further than it did on 'Black sails' though, to an almost industrial crescendo.
03. Bleed black: This song is far too feelgood, seeking to maintain its dark nature from its extended outro declining into recycling lyrics and meter from the post-solo breakdown of Marilyn Manson's 'Fundamentally loathesome'. The overall effect is that of Murder City Devils, so it is still good and arguably merely a progression for AFI.
04. Silver and cold: This song opens with a faltering music box / electric piano intro before a boucy bassline draws the song to a slightly forced sung-in-unison stadium rock chorus. Don't forget your lighters.
05. Dancing through Sunday: This begins with the spat vocals and knifeslide guitars of earlier AFI albums and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult but then this too feels the need to introduce choral backing vocals akin to Alvin & The Chipmunks. This is broken up when Jade takes the spotlight for a wannabe-Slash pentatonic tapping solo, though it would be unfair to say I did not enjoy this.
06. Girls not grey: When I heard the low bitrate stream e-mailed to all and sundry, I thought this song had been overly emo-ed for the radio audience, but it pleasantlyly suprised me as the proper version has several delicate guitar overlays that were previously inaudible. It still sounds like it was written by 'artistic' college students though.
07. Death of seasons: This song starts hardc0re then decends through the VNV Nation interlude to conclude with the frailties of Hell's torments. It is effectively a fairly full reworking of 2000's 'Morningstar'.
08. The great disappointment: Beginning exactly like 'Strength through wounding', AFI play with their new sustain pedals before playing fashionable arpegiated indie/emo/post-emo like current flavour-of-the-month Bright Eyes.
09. Paper airplanes (makeshift wings): This is fairly non-descript album filler that has growly vocals and stuttering palm-mute guitar paving way for the 'I want it that way' anthemic teen boyband strobe-light screaming fan closing. The song will get them many new fans.
10. This celluloid dream: When this song began, I thought that Davey's Michael Jackson "Heugh!" vocalisation at the start would be my enduring memory of this song. This was proven untrue about a minute later when the unfortunate vocoder backing vocals kicked in. It is like a demo from 'Black Sails' to 'Art of drowning' transition period AFI with added Butch Vig production techniques just to make sure that it dates quickly.
11. The leaving song: I don't like this song. It sounds like your friendly local scout troop playing acoustic, acapella covers of your favourite 80s hits. The guitar is electric but incredibly tinny, with the treble turned right up. Maybe Evan Dando could pull this off but AFI cannot.
12. ...But home is nowhere: This is an auditory Bronte sisters novel. Davey howels his vocals across the windswept moors to a backing of threepart harmony from his fellow travellers. Bells sonorate from nearby townships. He sings something about deathstars and the loss thereof. Dischordant minor chords deminstrate his pain, then angel-like the high pitched Davey we know and love resolves matters by deeming it "unnatural".
