AFI - Black Sails In The Sunset

I have been a big fan of AFI's earlier work for quite some time now, and this disk is by far the best effort by this band to date. In fact, I would have to say that this was probably their last great release. While "Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes" was a clear hint that the group's early skate-punk days had come to a close, this album sealed the deal and forever let the world know that AFI was a force to be reckoned with in the realm of dark, gothic-influenced punk.

I remember the very first time that I heard this album. My best friend at the time had just bought it and popped it into his car's CD player. We were both heavily into the punk scene at the time, and when we first heard the opening track, we both kind of looked at each other with disappointing looks on our faces. Where had the AFI that we knew and loved so well gone? As soon as those cymbal hits at the beginning of 'Porphyria' ended, however, we both pounded our fists into the air and knew right then that the money spent had not gone to waste. Not that it mattered too much to me, seeing as how I wasn't the one who bought it.

All in all, this is probably the only album that old fans and new fans alike can both enjoy. I will not say that AFI has 'sold-out' in recent years, because the pursuit of wealth is what drives innovation, but their sound has definitely changed, for better or worse.

OK, enough economics, just go and buy the damn album.