Alexisonfire : Old Crows/Young Cardinals

[Alfred]

I'm voting "Very Good".

Alexisonfire isn't going to make another Alexisonfire, or even a Watch Out. They're going to continue to make more average punk-based stuff as opposed to the fairly complex and experimental post-hardcore music that they were once known for. That said, I can't help but enjoy (almost) everything they come out with. They finally sound comfortable with their music and it shows through the maturity of this album. I still miss the days of senseless shrieking and crude, unprofessional guitar solos, but Old Crows is what it is. It's a solid release and if Alexisonfire never releases another album, their discography will feel complete.

The main thing I'm happy about with this new album is that it's better than Crisis. Crisis saw the band often unsuccessfully trying to blend their old sound with the poppy sound that they were going for, and it didn't really work. I was very happy to hear some of that scattered melodic lead guitar that I loved on their first two albums, as well as some shrieked vocals. Speaking of vocals, I think their vocal arrangement is excellent on this album, George finally is singing!

On a minor note: one of the drawbacks of this album for me personally is that some of its social commentary goes against what I believe. Bad vibes man.

[Hesher]

Originally Posted by Alfred

I'm voting "Very Good".

On a minor note: one of the drawbacks of this album for me personally is that some of its social commentary goes against what I believe. Bad vibes man.

What kind of social commentary? I'm curious.

Wouldn't mind a PM also.

[Alfred]

Originally Posted by Hesher

What kind of social commentary? I'm curious.

Not really social commentary, more anti-religious mockery, eg. The Northern. I don't like to go into detail about it rly.

[CAPTAIN CAVEMAN]

shitty album. not that i expected anything more.

Originally Posted by Alfred

Alexisonfire isn't going to make another Alexisonfire, or even a Watch Out. They're going to continue to make more average punk-based stuff as opposed to the fairly complex and experimental post-hardcore music that they were once known for.

their s/t is something of a guilty pleasure to me, but it is not really experimental.

[ChiliColdBlood]

Originally Posted by Alfred

Speaking of vocals, I think their vocal arrangement is excellent on this album, George finally is singing!

Finally! I see a ton of people online bitching about George's vocals on the album. Yeah, maybe the change was predicated by him wrecking his voice with all the screaming, but I really like what he's done on this album. A bit shocking at first, but I've given this multiple listens. It works.

I'm the first one to vote "Excellent". I think it's an improvement on Crisis, and Crisis itself was a pretty solid album. To me, my favourite album will always be the first, but these guys were only 18-19 when those songs were written. It's unfair to expect them to keep writing the same kind of post-hardcore stuff they were into back then. They've still got the energy and they've improved their song-writing many times over since those days, IMO.

"The Northern" is the standout track for me, but I think it's quite a consistent album. No stinkers, really. And despite the fact that I've been listening to "Young Cardinals" for weeks now, it keeps growing on me.