One of the things that separates AFI from other bands and makes them so original is the fact that their music cant fit in any existing musical genre.
Call them Punk,and you'll be wrong(maybe their 1st & 2nd album sounded kinda punky,but-NO!)Hardcore?...Well,nah...though the hardcore aggression is evident in their 3rd,even 4th album,but their music,like an alive substance is a quick shape shifter,and from the 4th album(when Jade joined the band),it grows darker(moody melodies,slower songs,dark lyrics...)So what the fùck now?!People who tend to put them in a certain style are usually journalists!They came up with an expression of 'Goth(ic)-Punk'.Davey was slightly irritated:
''They're calling us Goth-Punk or whatever,but thats oxymòròn.Theres no such a thing.Its ludicious!
Press:What would you call your music?
Davey:(deadpan)Jazz-wave''.
Um...I think AFI doesnt really want to be in some genre.They play what they wanna play and thats it!They dont want people(read:press,cause fans dont really give a flying fùck) to chase them around,boring them with 'How would you describe your music?' types of questions.
Lazy press have labeled them as 'The Cure meets The Misfits',but cross Bad Religion with The Misfits,and AFI would be the end result.Metal Hammer(mockingly,or what?) had called them 'Post-Misfits-Shlock-Horror-Shtick'(?!?) and their fans 'gen-X-ers'...
Im a little confused at this...but if you wanna be a dumbass.I suggest you call them 'Gothcore' and you wont miss it much!
AFI admits they're heavy influenced by bands as Samhain,Minor Treat,Smits,even Nine Inch Nails,Queen and David Bowie,but compare those artists to AFI-no visible similarities!
However,AFI has actually influenced some other bands and their music...F.e.,Tsunami Bomb(pop-punk-ska?) of Firechild(see the name?...its not just the name,but complete atmosphere,ending with strong vocals from A.J. Firechild).Math with dykes(an underground anarchist punk band)?...Sure there are alot of more unknown,underground bands that sound like AFI...But what bout mainstream?
Good Charlotte had already said they worship AFI,so they named them for one of their influences.My Chemical Romance.Not literally,but theres some AFI in their music...And,in the end-the allmighty OFFSPRING,that did the cover of AFI's 'Totalimmortal' for 'Me,myself and Irene' soundtrack(so that all the new,read:post-STS,AFI fans could go on a concert and be all'Wtf?!Why are they covering Offspring?')Argh!So at one point,Davey got mad and before playing 'Totalimmortal' on a concert,he said to the crowd 'This is OUR song!!!...Poor Dave.On the other side,Jade was cool...
Offspring:Man,thats a badass jam!
Jade:Fùck it!
Offspring:We're gonna cover that motherfùcker!...
So,in the end,what to say?...Aww,fùck you all you SWEETHEARTS!(pfftroflmao...).Oh,and listen to AFI,cause they are legends,and shut the fùck up!!!
Written by Alekksi
