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Alexisonfire - Old Crows
| Rocksound |
| Alexisonfire have rung the changes on their fourth album; labels have changed, members have married and the band’s brash quiet-loud dynamic has been refined into something much smarter, stronger and representative of their skill as musicians. On ‘Old Crows / Young Cardinals’ songs about go-karting are out and socio-political commentary is in as the band represent their present fears and concerns over eleven questioning tracks that take aim at America (‘Sons Of Privilege’), opponents of same-sex marriage (‘Accept Crime’) and ongoing plight of those damaged by the abrasive economics of modern society (‘Midnight Regulations’). In short, a great record and a great use of their platform....full text |
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| Sputnikmusic |
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For all of the bickering that is sure to accompany Alexisonfire’s latest work, it’s important to note that very little has changed since the relatively well received, relatively well done Crisis. But as with many acts, nostalgia often sparks revisionism and it’s easy to forget Crisis exists when you’re still waiting for the second coming of Watch Out! (which, frankly, doesn't compare to their self-titled anyways). If you’ve gotten this far, you can probably assume that with Old Crows/Young Cardinals that is most definitely not the case. Like Crisis, Old Crows/Young Cardinals feels tragically like an album that inputs filler around a few standouts, but like Crisis, its standouts are certainly worth noting. The disc’s opening one-two title track punch do their best at implicating the band’s past formula into their glossy new package, with “Old Crows”' shout-y, sing-song-y chorus narrowly missing out on becoming the band’s best yet. “Young Cardinals” is less immediately successful, though for the most part i's a quintessential grower. What holds the album back is, oddly enough, the fact that there's not a completely bad song on it. This holds it back because the album ends up being a hugely complacent (if consistent) sounding album where it holds a relatively steady level of quality from front to back, and the lack of peaks and valleys make it harder to keep your attention. Even with the album's supposed lows come contrasted highs. Take the dualistically awful-slash-awesome “Accept Crime”, a track whose tacky attempts at 'remember me, quote me' lyrical slogalism (we will be free, to use our bodies as we please/there’s no police between two beating hearts) threaten to ruin its otherwise energetic, raucous pace. Even at its worst the album's lows find themselves wedged throughout otherwise good songs. “The Northern”, the album’s zealously organ peppered and surprisingly groovy stand-out, might be the best song on the album, but the separation between it and the sleep-inducing (and also organ-clad) “Burial” is relatively minimal....full text |
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| Altsounds |
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Three years since this Canadian group's last album entry, Crisis, Alexisonfire return to quash theories of break-ups, disbanding and lack of intent. Much was read and also written about the lack of music being thought about and released by the band, surfacing rumors that the band was in decline and soon to split, but it can honestly be said that this album has categorically torn these rumors into shreds. Whereas the bands previous albums ranged strongly from post-hardcore to a more ambient style, it is undoubted that the bands technical ability has remained a constant throughout their years on the scene. Taking their name from the American stripper, Alexis Fire, the band release their fourth album, Old Crows/Young Cardinals, with a lot of hype to live up to. The album ranges more towards a punk-rock approach after the first two songs, ineptly named Old Crows, and Young Cardinals respectively. Yet whilst the album steps toward this genre, there are elements, primarily in the song 'The Northern' and the final track, 'Burial', which provoke a much more harmonized, softly written outlook. With Dallas Green's sensational vocals being predominantly awesome throughout (who has also disbanded to solo acoustic project City and Colour), backed up excellently by Wade who often steps up to sing his heart out....full text |
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