Do certain songs make or break one of the albums for you? Are the devastating screams of Black Sails just too much for The Art of Drowning's mellower songs to handle? Or does the sonic experimentatation with songs such as The Despair Factor or Morningstar making The Art of Drowning reign supreme? Tell us your reasons.
In addition, you can vote on this matter in our new poll to the left.
Yeah this is a better idea than AOD vs StS.I voted BSITS
ReplyDeleteThe Art of Drowning was more melodic punk (The Lost Souls, Wester), but didn't ignore the hardcore (Catch a Hot One, Smile) and delicate (Morningstar, Ever and a Day) side of AFI so there was sort of a balance, and the track arrangement was perfect. Then there's The Despair Factor, which is a culmination of AFI's musical diversity...drum machine, a tempo that is completely different in the latter part of the song, and they don't feel the need to jump back into the chorus, which makes it even more powerful. The way it segues into Morningstar is perfect, and Morningstar is a perfect closer. Notice the way I'm using the word "perfect" a lot. Black Sails is a terrific album, but not perfect. Strength Through Wounding is a goofy, goth chant with cringe-inducing lyrics. Dexter's backing vocals are not necessary. I mean, these are probably my only complaints, but with that, AOD has the edge (no pun intended).
ReplyDeleteOh, gaaahhh!!!! This is freaking hard. I don't know if I can even pick...I mean, Black Sails has No Poetic Device, Narrateve of Soul Against Soul, God Called in Sick Today, and Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, while AOD has Wester, 6 to 8, A Story At Three and The Despair Factor...... Even though they're only a year apart, the sound styles are so different it makes them kinda hard to compare...... And BSITS was the second AFI CD I ever got, so it's sentimental.... it was what made me look up older stuff...I think I'll have to go with AOD, if only because favorites come easier with that album than BSITS.Gaah...I can't pick in the poll though. I keep switching the answer before I click the damn button. Haha. Failure. X <3Though in BSITS' favor, Midnight Sun kicks the hell out of Battled. At least, I think so.
ReplyDeleteI think herojuana said everything. The art of drowning is a mix of everything and black sails in the sunset is more hardcore.I love black sails in the sunset but the art of drowning is better.But for me the best AFI record is Decemberunderground.It was perfect.I mean,everything is on their own place.It looked so natural to me. With an intro like Prelude 12/21(i actually prefer miseria cantare but its still great),a powerful song like Miss Murder(yeah,im a Miss Murder addicted),a perfect sad song like The Interview,hardcore/punk songs like Kill Caustic and Affliction,eletronic stuff like Love Like Winter and 37mm(this song is amazing),and deep songs like Endlessly,She Said,The Killing lights,The Missing Frame and Summer Shudder,and of corse the strongest song in the albun Kiss and Control,and a lot of b-sides and covers.Its perfect.Sorry but i really need to talk about decemberunderground.Its AFI's bestest work for me.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, midnight sun is way better than battled. I think that might be black sails' only one up on the art of drowning. Art of drowning takes the cake
ReplyDeleteI own both, but have only been familiar with AFI, since mid-Decemberunderground...Then, I worked my way backwards.I definitely, like Sing the Sorrow, Decemberunderground, and Crash Love, better, than both of those...But, of the two given, I'd have to choose The Art of Drowning.Both albums are, for the most part, a little 'hard', for me...But, I've listened to AOD more than the other (which I may have only listened completely through once)...And, I know, and like specific tracks on it ("Ever and a Day", "Morningstar", etc.).So, though early-mid AFI music isn't my forte (no pun intended), I'd vote for The Art of Drowning.~*Kristin*
ReplyDeleteAnd, I agree, Rodrigo 12/21, that Decemberunderground is an absolutely amazing album!!! It's probably, my favorite album by anyone, ever!!! And, I really like "37mm", as well!!! Decemberunderground is great!!! But, I really like all of their stuff in this decade, for the most part...And, The Art of Drowning just falls there...And, it has some stuff that's less 'hard-core'...So, of the two, that's my choice...But, I also think that Decemberunderground rules!!! :-)~*Kristin*
ReplyDeleteBSITS is AFI's best album. It is Jade's first and most interesting writing effort to date, and boasts some of Davey's best lyrical content and vocal performances. I mean, come on. Every breakdown on this album is epic, think of Exsanguination's bass line in the breakdown and Davey crooning "Holding me down! You watched me dying, holding me down!" its beautiful in its eloquent and frentic nature. The imagery in Porphyria is amazing. The bridge of Clove Smoke Catharsis being the climax of the song, with the whoa's and Dexter harmonizing? And last but not least, God Called in Sick AND Last Kiss. Nuff said dawg. Art of Drowning is awesome, but Black Sails marked the first and best full length album of a new band called A Fire Inside...
ReplyDeleteBSITS all the way
ReplyDeleteI would go with The Art Of Drowning. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Black Sails, but I think overall AOD provides an absolute exquisite mix of gradiosity, lyrical perfection, and amazing music, whereas in my opinion Black Sails had the amazing lyrics, but AOD's music and atmosphere are superior. The Despair Factor lyrically is one of the most atmospheric songs I have ever heard- "Along the path where the stream is talking, I breathe the mist and continue walking. The wood, it whispers in a language of their own."- Gives me chills. AOD has the perfect mix of slow(er) and fast songs, and songs like Ever and a Day that are right in the middle. And Jeremy, the breakdown to Exanguination is epic every time I hear it after having that album for 9 years now. But AOD wins by a thread.
ReplyDeleteAOD, don't see the excitement for BSITS, I bought the CD and only have made it through the full album like 3 times, AOD= THOUSANDS.
ReplyDeleteHmm... this is a really tough choice. I fell in love with BSITS when I first bought it, but I think I overplayed it. I wasn't a fan of AOD originally, but it really grew on me after awhile. I know BSITS better than AOD, but I haven't listened to Black Sails in awhile...Argh. I'm going to go with AOD for now, although my answer will problem change at some point.
ReplyDeleteBSITS is more punk-ish than AOD but every one is unique is their style they both has grest songsand david as well as Hunter,Adam, and Jade sound greatthe first songs i heard from BSITS was God call in sick today so its a classic and wat about Days of the phoenix? (Adam rock this out) ....OMG i cant pick 1
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