Alexisonfire : Old Crows/Young Cardinals

Alfred · 06-17-2009, 06:27 PM

Alexisonfire "Old Crows/Young Cardinals"

Old Crows
Young Cardinals
Sons of Privilege
Born and Raised
No Rest
The Northern
Midnight Regulations
Emerald Street
Heading for the Sun
Accept Crime
Burial

Alfred · 06-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Early opinion: it's better than Crisis but unless they stop "moving in the right direction" they are never going to top their first two albums, in my opinion. It's not album of the year material and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to hear better music from Maylene and He Is Legend on June 23. That said, it's still a good album and definitely an improvement from Crisis. But the raw emotion is gone and I think that they've decided they just want to make heavy, polished rock music now. Good for their popularity, bad for my love of their early music.

keith! · 06-18-2009, 07:46 PM

Haven't listened to it much yet.
In fact, only listened to Young Cardinals... but that is a great track.

Alfred, I recall you once telling me that you though Crisis was better then Watch Out!
or did I make that up in my head at some time.

Alfred · 06-18-2009, 08:06 PM

I once said that, but I don't feel that way anymore. I love Watch Out. Crisis is accessible, but Watch Out has way more artistic merit, and even a few hooks courtesy of Dallas Green that all the scene kids seem to love these days.

FaSho · 06-18-2009, 08:08 PM

Pm?

Alfred · 06-18-2009, 08:09 PM

Sure thing.

keith! · 06-18-2009, 08:22 PM

question,
should I actually listen to this tonight once I finish up with The Bends again?

Alfred · 06-18-2009, 08:24 PM

You should stop listening to Radiohead right now. Get on this.

keith! · 06-18-2009, 08:27 PM

oh kiss my bum.

I will listen to it tonight, promise.

Alfred · 06-18-2009, 09:33 PM

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.

View Poll Results: Rate and discuss Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire
Excellent	2	20.00%
Very Good	3	30.00%
Average	4	40.00%
Poor	0	0%
Awful	1	10.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

06-17-2009, 06:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Alexisonfire : Old Crows/Young Cardinals Alexisonfire "Old Crows/Young Cardinals" Old Crows Young Cardinals Sons of Privilege Born and Raised No Rest The Northern Midnight Regulations Emerald Street Heading for the Sun Accept Crime Burial

06-18-2009, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Early opinion: it's better than Crisis but unless they stop "moving in the right direction" they are never going to top their first two albums, in my opinion. It's not album of the year material and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to hear better music from Maylene and He Is Legend on June 23. That said, it's still a good album and definitely an improvement from Crisis. But the raw emotion is gone and I think that they've decided they just want to make heavy, polished rock music now. Good for their popularity, bad for my love of their early music. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

06-18-2009, 08:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	I once said that, but I don't feel that way anymore. I love Watch Out. Crisis is accessible, but Watch Out has way more artistic merit, and even a few hooks courtesy of Dallas Green that all the scene kids seem to love these days. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

06-18-2009, 08:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Sure thing. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

06-18-2009, 07:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
keith! Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 287	Haven't listened to it much yet. In fact, only listened to Young Cardinals... but that is a great track. Alfred, I recall you once telling me that you though Crisis was better then Watch Out! or did I make that up in my head at some time.

06-18-2009, 08:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
keith! Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 287	question, should I actually listen to this tonight once I finish up with The Bends again?

06-18-2009, 08:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	You should stop listening to Radiohead right now. Get on this. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

06-18-2009, 08:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
keith! Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 287	oh kiss my bum. I will listen to it tonight, promise.

06-18-2009, 09:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	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. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM