Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. Recorded at Cello Studios in Los Angeles, California between 2002 and 2003, the album was produced by Jerry Finn and Butch Vig. Sing The Sorrow was the bands final release under the Nitro Records label.
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow received acclaim from music critics, who praised its melodies and musicianship, as well as its mature sound in comparison to the band's previous material. The album sold 96,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States,[3] reaching number 5 on the Billboard 200, and also charted in Canada and the United Kingdom. It has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as well as being certified Platinum in Canada. The album was supported by three singles: "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving Song Pt. II" and "Silver and Cold", which have since successfully charted within the Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts.
Music and lyrics[edit]
Musically, Sing the Sorrow is a departure from the hardcore punk and horror punk genres featured in the band's previous material. The album features elements of hardcore punk, post-hardcore, alternative rock, gothic rock, and emo.[4][5] More experimental than previous AFI albums,[5] Sing the Sorrow includes instruments other than guitar, bass and drums, such as piano and strings.[4] Lyrically, the album is darker and more poetic than the band's previous material. The opening track features some electronic programming from Jade Puget.[6] A hidden song is included, which leads into a spoken word poem accompanied by piano keys and distorted synth sounds.[7]
Artwork and liner notes[edit]
Sing the Sorrow was released with three different covers, featuring different colors for the text, logo, and iconography.[a] The colors were red, silver and black. The original cover features red artwork.[10] Several of the first pressings in the United States and United Kingdom featured the silver cover, but the pressings are now rare and out of print, although the digital version of Sing the Sorrow among iTunes still features the silver artwork. The black cover was exclusively available at shows on the U.S. album release tour and the band's official fan club online store. International versions of the album use different artwork on the album label. Often contain a picture of an inverted octopus whilst others contain a foraminifer or a dead bird. The animal pictures are taken from the book Animals by Jim Harter.
Singles[edit]
Three singles, each with an accompanying music video, were released from Sing the Sorrow: "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving Song Pt. II," and "Silver and Cold." "Girl's Not Grey" was the highest-charting single, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart,[25] No. 33 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "The Leaving Song Pt. II" charted at No. 16 on the Alternative Songs chart,[25] No. 31 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, No. 27 in Australia, and No. 43 in the UK. The third and final single, "Silver and Cold" reached No. 7 on the Alternative Songs chart[25] and No. 39 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
All songs presumably recorded during the Sing the Sorrow sessions unless otherwise noted.
Legacy[edit]
In November 2022, the band announced that they would play the album in its entirety the first and only time at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on March 11, 2023, the album's 20th anniversary. Jawbreaker, Chelsea Wolfe, and Choir Boy were slated to open the event.[45] The band dedicated "Paper Airplanes (makeshift wings)" to Jawbreaker and "The Leaving Song" to album producer Jerry Finn, who died in 2008. Additionally, the out-of-print vinyl album was reissued for the anniversary.[46]