Wow.
This is it. The best CD created by anyone anywhere ever. It's kinda hard to wtite a review for an album that pretty much became your bible after the first time you listened to it, but i'll do my best. I started listening to AFI in the summer of 2000 when i bought the All Hallows E.P.. Being a huge Misfits fan, i bought that cd for the cover of Halloween, but that four song cd ended up changing my life. I picked up The Art Of Drowning the day it came out and it blew me away. I never thought one band could put together everything i like about music and roll it all up into 15 incredible songs. All the dark, mysterious, gloomy, halloween-ish things i could ever think of come to mind when listening to this cd. No one can write or sing like Davey Havok, his lyrics are so haunting and poetic it will give you chills. It's hard to pick the best tracks off of here because they're all great in their own way.
Wester, Of Greeting And Goodbyes, The Lost Souls, Days Of The Phoenix, The Despair Factor, Sacrifice Theory, and A Story At Three are all fast paced, dark, chilling, melodic songs that you can listen to a thousand times (especially if you like the Misfits and Samhain) without them losing their edge. Ever And A Day, 6 To 8, and Morningstar are slower, more somber and mysterious tracks, and the remaining songs (The Nephilim, Smile, Catch A Hot One, and the hidden track Battled) are just great, heavy songs that can be appreciated by just about anyone who likes punk or metal. All in all this is the best CD I've ever heard. If you don't already own it i recommend that you go out and buy it this second. And if you're still having doubts, the booklet alone is worth the fifteen bucks, with a bunch of great scary pictures drawn by Alan Forbes.
Landmark.
I'm not really sure how to classify this album, seeing as how it encompasses just about every modern rock genre, but dammit, go buy it anyway. Hardcore, Post-hardcore, Punk, Alternative, and maybe even a little; *gasp* Emo? Well, maybe not emo persay, but AFI is one of the only bands today that is capable of putting out an almost emo-esque vibe, without actually writing emo songs. To reiterate, this album has everything. For those already familiar with AFI, lead singer Davey Havok's vocals are showcased a little more on this album, although his half-scream, half-sing, vocal compromise is still present, as it was on the previous album, Black Sails in the Sunset. Songs like Ever and a Day, The Despair Faction, 6 to 8, Morningstar and Wester are written so beautifully, you can almost become almost euphoric listening to them, while other numbers such as Smile, and Catch a Hot One, are capable of impressing even the most diligent hardcore fan. The Art of Drowning may be viewed as the equilibrium between AFI's previous hardcore albums, and their newest release, Sing the Sorrow. This is the only true five star album to ever grace my stereo. Buy this album.
wow
i heard this album like in nov of 2001 very very good. This was when i was getting into punk. I loved this cd so much that i bought another copy when my friend lost the first one... AWESOME ALBUM!!!
Not AFI's best, but a decent album
To be honest, I was slightly dissapointed with this album. The lyrics were really well written, though. The lyrics on this album are also the darkest they have ever been. The playing was good, but could have been better. The album was not very "polished". But overall, this was a good, solid rock album.
AFI's best CD
OK, this is the best AFI CD ever! You must buy it!
"Initiation" Very good intro-10/10
"The Lost Souls" this flows in well with the intro, the a very energetic song (as is an energetic CD)- 10/10
"The Nephilim" This is one of the best songs lyrically- 10/10
"Ever And a Day" I like how this song starts out fast, then slows down once Davey starts singing, then gets faster. It's great-10/10
"Sacrifice Theory" This is a very energetic, fast, short song. It rocks1-10/10"Of Greetings and Goodbyes" I really like the beat and lyrics in this song-10/10
"Smile" Another short song, one of the best short songs I've ever heard-10/10
"A Story At Three" I really like the chorus, this song is fantastic-10/10
"Days of the Phoenix" This is the song that made me buy this CD. This was the radio single, but I don't remember hearing it much. Still a great song-10/10
"Catch a Hot One" It takes a little while to understand what is being said at first, but it's good-10/10
"Wester"- This song is so wonderful, I think it's somewhat beautiful-10/10
"6 to 8" This is a slow song, but a very good slow song that can make me cry-10/10
"The Despiar Factor" If I had to pick a favorite song off this album (that would be hard), it would be this song. "My whole life is a dark room. One big dark room" I love that part!-10/10
"Morningstar" This is another slow song, but it's beautiful-10/10
This CD has got the most awesome lyrics and the booklet has got wonderful artwork. This album is worth so much!
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
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.
