Decemberunderground, AFI Review by: Amy Rating Options

[Andres]

AFI

Decemberunderground

Review By: Amy

(IMG:http://www.greendayauthority.com/reviews/images/afi_december_lg.jpg)

'Decemberunderground' is the 7th album from Californian goth-punk band, AFI. The band, made up of singer/songwriter; Davey Havok, guitarist; Jade Puget, bassist; Hunter and drummer; Adam Carson, was first formed in 1991 and released their first album, 'Answer That and Stay Fashionable' in 1995. Over the years their sound has changed somewhat, which is particularly noticeable in albums such as 'Sing the Sorrow and their latest, 'Decemberunderground'.

'Decemberunderground', the eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2003's 'Sing the Sorrow'. After waiting for three long years for this album I decided to buy it as soon as possible. Needless to say, I was in no way disappointed.


The album cannot really compare to any of AFI's other albums. It contains elements of their different sounds, from their punk rock sound on their earlier albums such as 'Answer That and Stay Fashionable' and 'Very Proud of Ya' to their goth punk sound on their later albums such as 'The Art of Drowning' and more noticeably, 'Sing the Sorrow'.

The album opens up with a short song called 'Prelude 12/21'. It reminds me of 'Miseria Cantare' from their last album, 'Sing the Sorrow' in the way it has powerful lyrics and drum beat.

'Miss Murder', the band's latest single is a very catchy pop punk song with a chorus that is easy to sing along to. It sounds very different to the rest of the album, or in fact, most of AFI's work.

My personal favorite on this album would have to be track number four, 'Summer Shudder'. It has a slightly dark, depressing feel to it, mainly from the lyrics but at the same time, has a catchy chorus. It is a beautiful song and is one of those songs you hear once and instantly fall in love with.

Unlike the closing tracks on their last three albums, 'Endlessly, She Said' is slow, but picks up the pace at the chorus and pre-chorus. This is a beautiful love song and a good way to end the album although I think they could have done better by using a softer, slower track as they did on their last three albums.

'Decemberunderground' is a varied album with a lot of different sounds and one look at the lyrics will assure you Davey is not wasting his songwriting talents. This is an album worth getting, especially if you enjoyed 'Sing the Sorrow' - and although it is arguable that it may not be their best album, it was worth the three year wait. The songs have meaning, feeling and are written in the most beautiful way. AFI are arguably one of the best bands around at the moment and judging by the popularity of 'Miss Murder' this album will be huge. This is definitely a must-own album.  

[WalkingContradic...]

I just found out about AFI about a year and a bit ago from my best friend (who is obsessed with them), but I don't know much about their albums before Sing The Sorrow. I must say though, that Decemberunderground is an awesome album and AFI has sort of changed their sound for it. There are more parts where people can sing along to, and personally, I love it. Totally worth buying!!

[greenday=love]

(IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif) Thats what I say. I just started listening to AFI recently and I really like them. My best friend is really into them and she showed me them. I have never heared any of their other albums but hopefully I will get a chance to. Decemberunderground is an awesome album. I love the miss.murder song. It's really catchy. But theirs lots of other good songs to. It's an awesome album and I can't wait to check out their older albums. (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif)

[randomness]

^you don't need so many smileys (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/smile.gif) and December Underground is a fucking awesome album! but for those of you who haven't heard anything before Sing The Sorrow, their music is very different. it's alot faster, more 'punk' if you will, and Davey's voice is alot more raw. the further back you go the more different they sound. if you listen to their first couple of albums and then most recent album if you didn't know of them you wouldn't think they were the same band. but i like variety, a band should have variety and progress throughout their career and the listener be able to hear that progression.

[nirvanaXparanoid]

decemberunderground is awsome, but still...i can't help but think, a lot of the songs on there sound the same. almost like...a hawthorne heights vibe...i do love AFI, but still.

[mclaren]

my friends listen to a lot of afi but i don't care for them much. i remember hearing sing the sorrow and thinking how clean the production sounded for a punk band. after hearing how produced decemberundergroud was, i heard sing the sorrow and all of a sudden it sounded lo-fi. i hesitate to say that decemeberunderground is over-produced, since i think the cleaner production really uncovers a lot of the melodies, which definitely bring out the better in them, but i really wonder how they're going to tour any of this new material.

[green_day_girl_1...]

i like the song miss murder off that cd

[soundbarrier4]

Decemberunderground is one of my personal favorite albums of all time.

I can listen to the whole CD without switching tracks.

Very very good album. (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif)

[Watoosh]

butttt plays this a lot when i'm in the computer room. it's actually not bad though. i wouldnt go out and buy it or anything, but i dont mind listening to it.

[filburt]

i like so much afi i like the song of miss murder

[Angel Andres]

my friends listen to a lot of afi but i don't care for them much. i remember hearing sing the sorrow and thinking how clean the production sounded for a punk band. after hearing how produced decemberundergroud was, i heard sing the sorrow and all of a sudden it sounded lo-fi. i hesitate to say that decemeberunderground is over-produced, since i think the cleaner production really uncovers a lot of the melodies, which definitely bring out the better in them, but i really wonder how they're going to tour any of this new material. (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/smile.gif)

[filburt]

my friends listen to a lot of afi but i don't care for them much. i remember hearing sing the sorrow and thinking how clean the production sounded for a punk band. after hearing how produced decemberundergroud was, i heard sing the sorrow and all of a sudden it sounded lo-fi. i hesitate to say that decemeberunderground is over-produced, since i think the cleaner production really uncovers a lot of the melodies, which definitely bring out the better in them, but i really wonder how they're going to tour any of this new material. (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/smile.gif)

i am sorry angel but green day afi is better thannyour panda panda sucks an is a cpier of songs.Panda copy two song of green day and they put the letter of the song in spanish.

[Kleptomaniac]

Best album review
I love this band but sad to say this is the only album I own (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/confused.gif) but I think the first song I heard by them was Girls not Grey

[katie]

i love love love afi
but i don't like decemberunderground as muchh =/

[clusterbomb]

dont really like afi, but in there new single there is a really good guitar part with the tremelo effect. what is the new single called?

[Peter.]

dont really like afi, but in there new single there is a really good guitar part with the tremelo effect. what is the new single called?

I Don't really know much about AFI but it might be Miss murder, don't know if it's new or not...Don't think it has any Tremolopart in it either..

[ChicaBonita]

Love like winter?

[Peter.]

Love like winter?

ah yeah you're probably right, that one has the Tremolo effect he was talking about..

[clusterbomb]

ye lol.
i heard it again today and the tremolo thing lost its novelty. and i heard the full song. and i dont like it lol.

[Vincent_the_Ange...]

decemberunderground in my opinion is better than Sing the Sorrow. it's a good album. i like Miss Murder.

also, Adam the drummer got a "once in a lifetime" oppertunity for that album. lucky little guy.

[greenday519]

I love that album. (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/wub.gif)
Love like Winter it's my favourite song on it. I think then it's better than the others.

[GreenDay-Idiot]

I like this album. I haven't had the chance to hear front to back but the songs I've heard are pretty good though my favorite AFI's song I think will always be Silver and Cold.

[my GREEN pen]

I just bought that yesterday and I wish that I had found this thread then (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/confused.gif) I like it ok but it's not exactly my favorite (IMG:style_emoticons/dark/confused.gif)

[123]

Amazing album. I'm more into Very Proud Of Ya, All Hallow's era of AFI, but they are such a great band.

[katie]

there is no way that decemberunderground is better than sing the sorrow

[randomness]

Decemberunderground is one of my favourite albums

[Mauri]

I like this album more than any other AFI album... the mixture of different elements is really cool...

[Ziplin]

great album. im not gonna say its my fav but i dont have a fav AFI album. Decemberunderground, Sing the Sorrow, and Black sails in the sunset are all great.

[brain_stew]

i like 'shut your mouth' and 'sing the sorrow' the most.
decemberunderground wasn't nearly as good as i anticipated, but i guess it takes a bit of getting used to: their style's changing so much nowadays, there's a lot of difference between each album.

[punk_rockr]

decemberunderground is the worst album AFI's ever made.. after black sails in sunset they just went to hell with their music.. I miss the real clean punksound, I don't wanna hear some gothic HIM EMO shit or what the hell they are doing right now.. it pisses me off