AFI – Self-Titled

I was never a fan of AFI. Although I knew that it was an acronym for A Fire Inside, and my old band did play a few of their songs as covers. I was aware of them and their songs did sometimes end up in my head, I still was never a fan of theirs, never bought an album or went to a show, never sung along to their song on the radio. But still I knew there was something special about them that went beyond the mass of kids claiming them as their icons and molding their own looks after Davey Havok‘s. There was something in the music and something in his voice that made AFI worth listening to, but I never pursued it. But now Nitro Records are here presenting the world with AFI before they made their way to the mainstream world. A fifteen song collection that is impressive to say the least. A collection that has made an impression on me, a non-fan.

The album runs in reverse chronological order of release, from the first track The Lost Souls which appeared on their 2000 release The Art Of Drowning to the last tracks from 1996’s Very Proud Of Ya. The collection even includes some rare vinyl only songs appearing for the first time on compact disc. For people who only know AFI from their recent fame on radio and television and are wondering why there aren’t any songs from Sing The Sorrow on here, it’s because this is a Nitro Records release showcasing the early years, plus their latest record was put out my a different label. You may even be asking about the existent of AFI before Sing The Sorrow, being completely ignorant to their early career. If you are one of these people, the ones who are in love with AFI now but haven’t heard the old songs, It’s pretty obvious that you should go out and get this album. It’s definitely a cheaper and easier way to get to know the material and see how they’ve changed rather than going out and buying their entire catalogue (though maybe you will do that once you hear these songs).

My personal favorites from this collection are God Called In Sick Today, Totalimmortal and The Days Of The Phoenix. The three of these songs appear on three different records, which shows you that this is a band that stays consistent over time, continuing to make good music. While listening to this I finally start to see what the hype is all about. It’s not as if there is complete and utter originality within the songs themselves, but they’re incredibly well put together and entertaining to listen to. What I always considered to be generic rock with nothing behind it I am now seeing as solid music worth my time. They aren’t a one song, or even a one album, band. They are a band for all time, who have continued to make good songs time after time.

I’m not sure exactly where I stand with this band, but one thing I am sure of is this collection has made me see that there is definitely something worth listening to in AFI. For fans of the band this is a great package of great songs, and the booklet is very well thought out, including pictures relating to each of the old album covers. For new fans within the recent years or even people who have never listened to the band but have the interest, I recommend you pick this up and maybe it’ll have the same affect on you. Maybe you’ll begin to see that AFI is worth your attention.