punkrocker666's Full Review: Answer That and Stay Fashionable by AFI
Now I have heard many a punk rock album in my lifetime, but when I first popped in Answer that & Stay Fashionable, I was left sitting in awe. Sure it was nothing revolutionary or special, but what was there was gold. While I admit to not being the biggest fan of frontman Davey Havok's voice, there were certain songs that just clicked with his voice. The rest of the band has really good chemistry, and it tells in many of the tracks. This being one of the bands first releases, it is obviously much more indy and less commercial. It's also a bit less melodic than future releases such as the recent Sing the Sorrow and The Art of Drowning. This was one of AFI's only albums where they were truly considered punk, and it shows with some crazy, on-the-go, fast, upbeat songs. Most of the songs weigh in at under the 2 minute mark, while a few others go a bit past that. The band from Cali show their humor with some quite funny lyrics, while others show a more serious side, telling the tale of finished friendships and rebelling against the rest.
1) Two of a Kind opens the fifteen track CD with some quick guitar work, something you should quickly grow accustomed to. Davey Havok's voice is very high pitched as always, and this song is basically about somewhat of a stalker, someone who must always follow him around, thus being "two of a kind". The band chants the chorus "I'd like to see you before you see me", and it gives the song a brief charm hearing the band in total harmony.
2) Half Empty Bottle is next in line, and once again the guitar and bass are cranked up to top notch, the drums beating hard, and Havok's voice blaring. Another catchy chorus involved here, and a pretty good song which could still use some work, especially in the lyrics department.
3) Yurf Rendenmein is the first oddball title of many, and I can't stress how much I love when Havok is singing alone with the rest of the instruments quiet. It's pretty cool. This song doesn't really stand out much from the others, but I like the drum solo towards 2 minute mark before the band break out screaming "I can't see you".
4) I Wanna a Mohawk is the first of a few classic old school AFI songs, and it brings memories back to when I was once a youngster and wanted everything that was considered "cool". The lyrics are awesome and actually pretty funny, saying that a boy wants a mohawk (as said in the title) but his mom won't let him get one. Aw what a shame. Maybe later in life, buddy. I also like the reference to The Misfits, as I know they were a big influence on the boys growing up, and rightfully so.
5) Brownie Bottom Sundae... I totally don't understand the names for tracks. Oh well. Unfortunately this one hardly seems to faze me, and I usually skip over it. Mainly filler. What it does have though is some rockin' bass work!
6) The Checkered Demon is one of the fastest songs available on Answer That, thus making it hard to really hear whats being said. As usual the title doesn't make much sense and doesn't explain what the lyrics are about. OK song, but not that geat.
"Too much to find, so much so little time.
So many images persist to shade my mind.
Will I ever come around or will I just hit the ground?
Will I still be standing when it all comes down?
Why can't I seem to sort it out?
Why am I always filled with doubt
So many people everywhere,
so self-absorbed without a care of their viral lves."
7) Cereal Wars is the funniest song I can remember, as it makes reference to just about all the name brand cereal companies, and basically makes them all out to sound like wusses. The final line of "do I look like an effing squirrel to you?" is textbook AFI as well.
"Get up early in the morning, going to the store.
Post, Kellogs, General Mills?
It's the cereal war.
******* store never has the monsters and they never get more.
Post, Kellogs, General Mills?
It's the cereal war.
I hope sexual chocolate is in stock, it's got a condom in the box.
I'll try some cocoa puffs
today who the **** is Sonny anyway?"
8) Beautiful solo towards the beginning, which is interrupted with some hard-hitting drums, followed by Havok's blaring words. I don't truthfully understand the whole story, so I won't even try to explain. Instead I'll let you decide for yourself.
"Caught in a world that's plagued by something they call love.
A paradigm of illness
is the beast I have become.
The sights that I have seen could nearly bring me to my knees.
I've seen exactlty what it is I never want to be,
But I keep it deep inside myself.
It's within me.
Keep it deep within yourself and sink with me.
Last night I had the misfortune to see it all first hand.
"Evacuate the premises" was the innate first command."
9) Rizzo in the Box is one of my favorite AFI songs ever, mainly because it takes a different formula of creating a song. It quickly builds up, first bass, then drums, followed by some guitar and then Davey providing vocals. The effect is simply cool, and you have to hear it to believe it. Much better than a lot of the stuff the guys are dishing out today.
"I'm always around you to show you that I care, but I don't know what for.
It seems to me that you couldn't care less so I'm not gonna do it anymore.
I see no reason why I've placed such a value on you,
but my thoughts have changed now,
I've opened my eyes and now I'm through.
Looking back at my short life, the few pleasures that I've found,
all your misconceptions pummel me to the ground.
Now, I look at your small life and it doesn't mean a bit. I pick myself
up off the ground 'cause I don't give a ****."
10) A pretty profane skit introduces the next song, Kung-Fu Devil, which to me is just another average fast, edgy punk rock song. I can't really find anything that stands out here, and it seems that there is but one more filler.
11) Your Name Here is another total classic, and it makes me rock everytime I hear it. It begins with some frickin' sick drumming, and then Havok comes and totally outdoes everyone. There's even a chorus, something that is quite rare for AFI (back then, at least). I also adore the voice distortion towards the end, and the final "YOUR NAME HERE!" shout in the last few seconds.
12) Ny-Quil basically tells the story of Mr. Havok wanting to stay in bed because he can't take anything any longer. Another gem! Also, beware because it's ultra fast and not for the weak at heart.
13) Don't Make Me Ill begins with another skit, as the band mates try to convince someone to stop cursing, leading up to the song itself.
"No one's gonna tell me, I'm gonna do it my way.
No one's gonna tell me how to get it done"
14) Open your Eyes starts with bass, followed with some light tappings on the drums, followed with guitar and Havok screaming "you think I give a ****!?" Some pretty deep lyrics, some of which I can personally relate to. A very good song.
"You think I give a ***, how I'm seen through your eyes,
I just can't f**** stand the way you always have to criticize.
You have to find something wrong in everything you see.
It seems it's not hard for you to find everything that's wrong with me.
Open your eyes and face the truth.
Open your eyes, the real problem's you."
15) Highschool Football Hero is a cool way to go out with a bang. The idea behind the story is simple: Why be a highschool football hero if you're going to have no future? It's quite obvious none of these guys were ever very popular when it came to school. This is a really short song too, only about a minute plus. The song ends when someone says they think their about to run out of tape, and surely enough they do, ending the awesome record.
So in the end, yes, it has its flaws, but what is there is pretty good. It's one of my favorite AFI releases, so if you see it, make sure you pick yourself up a copy!
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