Aesop Rock
Integrated Tech Solutions
Rhymesayers (2023)
Aesop Rock seems to be the rare artist who gets better with age. I enjoyed his early work with Blockhead, but it felt like things started to take off when he took over self-production, steadily growing and hitting what felt like peak when Spirit World Field Guide came out in 2020 (followed by Garbology in ’21). Luckily for all of us, he’s maintaining his trajectory … Read more
Aesop Rock
None Shall Pass
Definitive Jux (2007)
Aesop Rock could be considered the resident Dadaist of the hip-hop community. Many consider him a hyper literate linguist (despite the fact he admits that he doesn't read much), blending modern pop culture phrasings with slang of the last ten years to create complex rhymes that actively reflective on the modern world. Others argue just the opposite; despite his ability … Read more
Aesop Rock
Skelethon
Rhymesayers (2012)
The big complaint since Aesop Rock’s breakthrough, Labor Days, seems to be that he hasn’t had the memorable singles. At this point, it should be clear that Aesop Rock writes albums, not hits. Skelethon is his sixth release, and first with powerhouse label Rhymesayers Entertainment. While None Shall Pass (2007) had its moments, I’ve long felt Aesop Rock’s best work … Read more
Aesop Rock
Spirit World Field Guide
Rhymesayers (2020)
Spirit World Field Guide is Aesop Rock’s first full-length in a few years. He’s been busy in the meantime, working on Malibu Ken and other projects, but Spirit World Field Guide has been a slow-building project. And it’s just that: a project.At 21 tracks in total, this is a psychedelic hip-hop adventure that takes the listener to new lands. It’s filled with dense imagery, new … Read more
Affector
Harmagedon
Inside Out (2012)
The multinational progressive metal act Affector certainly made a startling entrance to the prog metal scene last year. Their debut, Harmagedon, told the story of the literal Biblical apocalypse, and several prolific musicians lent their talent to the release to muster up some interest. It made quite a splash--but the substance didn't quite live up to the promise, sadly.Affector want to … Read more
Afgrund
Vid Helvetets Grindar
Willowtip (2009)
Grindcore is tough genre to single most bands out of. There are standouts like Napalm Death and heirs to the throne like Misery Index (I know not just a grind band). Still beyond the few acts that truly stick themselves out above the scum there is little definition within the ranks. So in a way this makes any band doing … Read more
AFI
AFI
Nitro (2004)
Perhaps this is a bit of a stretch, but I've always found the careers of both AFI and the Flaming Lips to be rather similar in numerous respects. Both started off as bands long before their time of popularity and mainstream attention, both have a rabid (as well as strongly divided) fan base, and both bands sound a lot better … Read more
AFI
AFI (The Blood Album)
Concord Music Group (2017)
Album number ten for the ever-evolving Californian four piece, whose shift in sound from skate punk to hardcore to "goth punk" to pop-influenced radio rock to... whatever 2009's Crash Love was... is well documented. And now here we are, after the gritty, aggressive Burials: a self-titled album also known as "The Blood Album".At first listen it's not too dissimilar from … Read more
AFI
AFI (The Blood Album)
Concord Music Group (2017)
AFI's trajectory over the last twenty and more years has been one that emulates growth and experimentation and the quartet that once sang about not being allowed a mohawk is now one that that sings about much darker, twisted subjects (although in more obvious terms than they once did). Still led by the effervescent Davey Havok, AFI are a band … Read more
AFI
Burials
Republic (2013)
As a zine built on the foundation of loving AFI, it would clearly be remiss not to talk about their new record. We try to pretend that Decemberunderground and Crash Love never happened - the first rule of AFI fandom is.... - but it would be silly to think that AFI made it to Burials without having to go through those two terrible albums. OK, I'll … Read more
AFI
Crash Love
Interscope (2009)
Album number eight from the band now renowned for their genre-shifting and reinvention. Three years in the making, three producers in the studio, and twelve tracks long (given the band's penchant for Lost-esque symbolism, there's probably some deep significance to these numbers). What new style will be unveiled with Crash Love? Nothing too thrilling, is the answer. Opener "Torch Song" … Read more
AFI
Decemberunderground
Interscope (2006)
The precursor to Decemberunderground was that it was a change from what AFI have offered before. Of course, all that is to be expected. The AFI paradigm has some inbuilt concept that they must always change and evolve. Antecedents of more electronic elements, with VNV Nation's Ronan Harris drafted in to help, even more epics and some threat or other … Read more
AFI
Decemberunderground
Interscope (2006)
For AFI, the name of the game has always been about evolution. About "out-doing" themselves one time after another. I can't say that they haven't, because each record has had it's own significant changes, some more noticeable than others, but they still retain part of their roots. Decemberunderground retains the (usually) well-placed aggression and excellent pop sensibilities that were present … Read more
AFI
Decemberunderground
Interscope (2006)
AFI managed to write over 100 songs for this album. That's an amazing feat for a band, right? But anyone can write a catchy song. If a band has to write a hundred songs and then choose the best ones, think of all the crap that had to be weeded out, or maybe it was quite the contrary. "Reivers Music" … Read more
AFI
Decemberunderground
Interscope (2006)
There are certain phrases that seem to be ever-present in AFI reviews across the music journalism world, suggesting either a lack of originality on the writer's part, or merely a convenient pigeon-hole that the band fall easily into. Either way, let's get some of them out of the way now:goth-punkdark popgloomycatharticThe CureThe MisfitsgothRobert Smithgoth-rock"that girly singer" Okay, now those are … Read more
AFI
Sing the Sorrow
Dreamworks (2003)
I picture AFI as a scale that must be kept even at all times. If you take a checker from one side, you better take one away from the other. On this album, they have gained something, but also lost something else. No more are the bouncy 'whoa-oh' charged anthems, instead they have been replaced with a bit more intelligent … Read more
AFI
Sing the Sorrow
Dreamworks (2003)
AFI's newest full length. Since everyone who works on this site has been a member of the AFI community at one time or another, you'd think it'd score 10's. Seems to not be the case so far. I can't say I'll be an exception but that is not to say this record is bad at all. On the contrary actually. … Read more
AFI
Sing the Sorrow
Dreamworks (2003)
"Oh my God, my God this can't be happening! AFI has signed to a major!" Is an example of a popular reaction to the announcement last year that that AFI would be releasing their sixth full-length, Sing the Sorrow, on Dreamworks records. Anybody without a huge bias towards the record before it was even released, however, will soon realize that … Read more
