10-24-2009, 11:23 AM
Every so often, an album comes around that one can listen to all the way through multiple times without coming to any major conclusions about any single song. By the time one has listened to the album about ten times all the way through, it becomes clear that the reason no single track really stands out is because the whole album is solidly superb. A.F.I.'s "Crash Love" is one of those albums.
1. Torch Song: 10/10. This is probably the best opener ever to an A.F.I. album, though the competition really isn’t that fierce. For one thing, this is an actual song. It’s a good one, great opening song pace.
2. Beautiful Thieves: 9/10. It’s catchier and more memorable than “Torch Song” and a great second track. I’m deducting one point because it lags toward the end.
3. End Transmission: 8/10. The lyrics are quite striking here, not sure if they’re intended to be sexual, but they’re memorable. The music portion isn’t quite as strong though.
4. Too Shy to Scream: 8/10. The synth clapping here is very catchy without being overdone, another well produced song.
5. Veronica Sawyer Smokes: 6/10. This is probably one of the weaker tracks, doesn’t hold together so well melodically. I do appreciate the lyrics, how girlfriends/boyfriends can get you smoking when you wouldn’t otherwise, fits in perfectly with the theme of the album.
6. Okay, I Feel Better Now: 10/10. This is probably my favorite song on the album. Everything about this song is great, very dark and heavy.
7. Medicate: 9/10. This is one of the more memorable tracks, simple and catchy chorus that epitomizes the album’s theme. It loses a point for cutting itself off in the middle, kind of jarring.
8. I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here: 7/10. This one is too poppy for my taste, sounds too much like Fallout Boy, but not bad otherwise.
9. Sacrilege: 6/10. This is probably the most forgettable song on the album. It’s not that I dislike it, but it feels like filler.
10. Darling, I Want to Destroy You: 8/10. This one took a while to grow on me. I still don’t like the distortion on the vocals, but it doesn’t ruin the song.
11. Cold Hands: 10/10. Here’s another song that works really well, a really complex one with a lot to offer on repeated listens. The backing music and vocals change slightly throughout.
12. It Was Mine: 10/10. This song is everything “Endlessly, She Said” could’ve been. It’s similar in structure, but it’s actually good, very good, also the best song to close the album.
Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc Tracks
1. Fainting Spells: 8/10. Here’s a unique one. The verses are slow and acoustic, but the chorus is shouting and fierce. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
2. We’ve Got the Knife: 8/10. I’m not sure exactly why this song is so likeable, but it is. It’s mischievous.
3. Where We Used to Play: 10/10. This is a great mood song that would fit on “The Art of Drowning” or “Sing the Sorrow.” It’s great to hear it here.
4. 100 Words: 6/10. This one drags a lot and doesn’t hold together very well. It’s pretty clear why it was a B-side.
It’s a common creed among fans that no single A.F.I. album sounds quite like the last, and this one is no exception. For the first time, A.F.I. has truly pulled off a concept album, and it’s one heck of a unique and unexpected concept: the many ways in which relationships drive us to destruction. The lyrics on this album are probably better (or more mature) than those on any previous album. Davey’s vocals and Jade Puget’s guitar don’t sound as impressive as they have on previous albums, but the songs hold together better. They don’t sound like they’re fighting for the audience’s attention. I’d still call this my second favorite to “The Art of Drowning,” or possibly third favorite, but it’s a very good album for its own reasons.
1. Torch Song: 10/10. This is probably the best opener ever to an A.F.I. album, though the competition really isn’t that fierce. For one thing, this is an actual song. It’s a good one, great opening song pace.
2. Beautiful Thieves: 9/10. It’s catchier and more memorable than “Torch Song” and a great second track. I’m deducting one point because it lags toward the end.
3. End Transmission: 8/10. The lyrics are quite striking here, not sure if they’re intended to be sexual, but they’re memorable. The music portion isn’t quite as strong though.
4. Too Shy to Scream: 8/10. The synth clapping here is very catchy without being overdone, another well produced song.
5. Veronica Sawyer Smokes: 6/10. This is probably one of the weaker tracks, doesn’t hold together so well melodically. I do appreciate the lyrics, how girlfriends/boyfriends can get you smoking when you wouldn’t otherwise, fits in perfectly with the theme of the album.
6. Okay, I Feel Better Now: 10/10. This is probably my favorite song on the album. Everything about this song is great, very dark and heavy.
7. Medicate: 9/10. This is one of the more memorable tracks, simple and catchy chorus that epitomizes the album’s theme. It loses a point for cutting itself off in the middle, kind of jarring.
8. I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here: 7/10. This one is too poppy for my taste, sounds too much like Fallout Boy, but not bad otherwise.
9. Sacrilege: 6/10. This is probably the most forgettable song on the album. It’s not that I dislike it, but it feels like filler.
10. Darling, I Want to Destroy You: 8/10. This one took a while to grow on me. I still don’t like the distortion on the vocals, but it doesn’t ruin the song.
11. Cold Hands: 10/10. Here’s another song that works really well, a really complex one with a lot to offer on repeated listens. The backing music and vocals change slightly throughout.
12. It Was Mine: 10/10. This song is everything “Endlessly, She Said” could’ve been. It’s similar in structure, but it’s actually good, very good, also the best song to close the album.
Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc Tracks
1. Fainting Spells: 8/10. Here’s a unique one. The verses are slow and acoustic, but the chorus is shouting and fierce. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
2. We’ve Got the Knife: 8/10. I’m not sure exactly why this song is so likeable, but it is. It’s mischievous.
3. Where We Used to Play: 10/10. This is a great mood song that would fit on “The Art of Drowning” or “Sing the Sorrow.” It’s great to hear it here.
4. 100 Words: 6/10. This one drags a lot and doesn’t hold together very well. It’s pretty clear why it was a B-side.
It’s a common creed among fans that no single A.F.I. album sounds quite like the last, and this one is no exception. For the first time, A.F.I. has truly pulled off a concept album, and it’s one heck of a unique and unexpected concept: the many ways in which relationships drive us to destruction. The lyrics on this album are probably better (or more mature) than those on any previous album. Davey’s vocals and Jade Puget’s guitar don’t sound as impressive as they have on previous albums, but the songs hold together better. They don’t sound like they’re fighting for the audience’s attention. I’d still call this my second favorite to “The Art of Drowning,” or possibly third favorite, but it’s a very good album for its own reasons.