The Art of Drowning (album)


The Art of Drowning is the fifth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on September 19, 2000, through Nitro Records. Between June and August 2001, the group performed on the Warped Tour.
The album was listed by Alternative Press as one of the ten most-influential punk albums of the year 2000. The album was included in Rock Sounds 101 Modern Classics list at number 40.

Track notes

The lead single, "The Days of the Phoenix", experienced moderate airplay on modern rock stations, the most notable being KROQ-FM. A music video was released for the song and was shot in a venue in California called 14 Below. It was directed by Marc Webb. "The Days of the Phoenix" was released as an EP in 2001, which peaked at #152 on the UK Singles Chart. "Wester" and "6 to 8" were also released in the form of promotional singles.
When asked about the track "Smile" in an interview, Davey answered,
The Art of Drowning also features AFI's first use of electronic music in the beginning of "The Despair Factor". The track eventually inspired the name of the band's official fan club, The Despair Faction.

Track listing

Bonus tracks, B-Sides, unreleased tracks, etc.

All tracks recorded during the Art of Drowning sessions unless otherwise noted.

Release and reception

In an AllMusic review, MacKenzie Wilson says "Punk rawkers AFI exude another powerful disposition on their fifth album, The Art of Drowning. Issued on Dexter Holland's Nitro Records, AFI's quick and haughty, spiraling guitar riffs and crashing percussion make for another mishmash for single-fisted anthems for punk revivalists and enigmatic pop kids raging against the machine. Nothing short of Pennywise, D Generation, and Powerman 5000, AFI is rowdy with their old-school-inspired rants like "Ever and a Day" and "Of Greetings and Goodbyes." Frontman Davey Havok casts a rough demeanor, but certainly not anything intimidating because punk rock became friendly after the war of early-'90s grunge. The snarl and sweat are not as fashionable as it once was, but the attitude remains the same.".