AFI: The Art of Drowning

AFI is always one of those bands that I feel like I have to justify liking. They fall into the "but seriously!" group. As in: "But seriously, later Incubus ditched the nu-metal stuff and got pretty good!" or "but seriously, early Muse was really good!" That kind of thing.

That's how it's always been for AFI. They're a group that a lot of punk purists consider a sellout, and not without reason: they went from a hardcore '90s punk band to releasing the cash-in emo single "Miss Murder" in 2006. But that doesn't mean they are without quality work in their back catalog, which brings me to their 2000 album, The Art of Drowning.

AFI's brand of punk rock in 2000 was faced-paced and furious, with Davey Havok's unique, high voice standing out most. And liking The Art of Drowning depends a lot on whether you can tolerate his voice or not; many can't, and it's probably the deciding factor for many listeners of this album.

This album's highlights include fast-paced opener "The Lost Souls," lead single and best track "The Days of the Phoenix," and the mournful ballad "Morningstar," which is sort of a cousin of "God Called In Sick Today" from their previous album, only without the heavy chorus.

If you are a fan of '90s punk rock a la Bad Religion, The Art of Drowning is probably something you'll enjoy very much. The shame of it is that it's become hidden in the past of a band that has gone on to be far more popular, yet far less good.

Grade: B

Video: "The Days of the Phoenix"