Decemberunderground
Encyclopedia
Decemberunderground is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock
band AFI
. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records
. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold
by the RIAA
on August 30, 2006 and has sold more than 993,000 in the United States
as of September 2009. It has since gone Platinum. The album was supported by four singles, "Miss Murder
", "Love Like Winter
", "The Missing Frame
", and "Summer Shudder".
Regarding the album's title, lead singer Davey Havok
said,
, June 6, in the United States
, and June 16 in Mexico
. The album's lead single "Miss Murder
" was scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, but due to the thirty-second preview that aired on April 11 receiving such an overwhelming response, Interscope Records
gave the station permission to play the entire track. The full track listing of the album was announced on April 25, 2006.
Customers who pre-ordered the album at special pre-listening events received a CD
including the "Miss Murder" single, which contained a cover of INXS
's song "Don't Change". The first pressing of the CD in the United States
contained limited edition artwork of a single portrait of each band member and a portrait of the entire band on the reverse insert, serving as the CD cover and hiding the original portrait on the CD booklet cover. The album was re-released on November 7, 2006, on 6 "icy clear" 7" vinyl discs, featuring a picture of each member and the band's manager Smith Puget, who is referred to as '...a very special guest.'
AFI began touring in support of Decemberunderground in April 2006 and held their last concert in promotion of the album at Download Fest in October 2007, as Havok and Puget began to promote their side-project Blaqk Audio
before beginning work on the band's eighth studio album Crash Love
.
awarded the album a 72 out of 100, based on 15 reviews.
Entertainment Weekly
awarded the album a 'B+,' and called it "the most melodically acute distillation of that style yet," unlike their previous studio album Sing the Sorrow
, which they awarded a negative 'D.' Allmusic awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying the "core of AFI's sound never strays too far from what listeners have grown to love about them in the first place."
Rolling Stone
awarded the album 3 out of 5 stars, one less star than their review of Sing the Sorrow, and claimed that "something isn't right in the world of AFI," because of their pop-rock musical structure "that would be at home on the soundtrack to the next Spider-Man
movie".
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on August 30, 2006 and has sold more than 993,000 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as of September 2009. It has since gone Platinum. The album was supported by four singles, "Miss Murder
Miss Murder
"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
", "Love Like Winter
Love Like Winter
"Love Like Winter" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on September 26, 2006. A music video for the song premiered on TRL on September 26, 2006 and was directed by Marc Webb, who has also directed previous...
", "The Missing Frame
The Missing Frame
"The Missing Frame" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the third single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on February 27, 2007...
", and "Summer Shudder".
Regarding the album's title, lead singer Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
said,
Release
Decemberunderground was released on May 29, in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, June 6, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and June 16 in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The album's lead single "Miss Murder
Miss Murder
"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
" was scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, but due to the thirty-second preview that aired on April 11 receiving such an overwhelming response, Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
gave the station permission to play the entire track. The full track listing of the album was announced on April 25, 2006.
Customers who pre-ordered the album at special pre-listening events received a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
including the "Miss Murder" single, which contained a cover of INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
's song "Don't Change". The first pressing of the CD in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
contained limited edition artwork of a single portrait of each band member and a portrait of the entire band on the reverse insert, serving as the CD cover and hiding the original portrait on the CD booklet cover. The album was re-released on November 7, 2006, on 6 "icy clear" 7" vinyl discs, featuring a picture of each member and the band's manager Smith Puget, who is referred to as '...a very special guest.'
AFI began touring in support of Decemberunderground in April 2006 and held their last concert in promotion of the album at Download Fest in October 2007, as Havok and Puget began to promote their side-project Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio is an American electronic music duo formed by current AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget under Interscope Records. Their debut album CexCells was released on August 14, 2007 and reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200.-Origins:...
before beginning work on the band's eighth studio album Crash Love
Crash Love
Crash Love is the eighth studio album by the rock band AFI. Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, it was released on September 29, 2009 through Interscope Records.- Background and recording :...
.
Critical response
Decemberunderground received generally positive reviews. The review aggregator MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
awarded the album a 72 out of 100, based on 15 reviews.
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
awarded the album a 'B+,' and called it "the most melodically acute distillation of that style yet," unlike their previous studio album Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
, which they awarded a negative 'D.' Allmusic awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying the "core of AFI's sound never strays too far from what listeners have grown to love about them in the first place."
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
awarded the album 3 out of 5 stars, one less star than their review of Sing the Sorrow, and claimed that "something isn't right in the world of AFI," because of their pop-rock musical structure "that would be at home on the soundtrack to the next Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
movie".
Track listing
Bonus tracks, B-sides, unreleased tracks, etc.
All tracks recorded during the Decemberunderground sessions unless otherwise noted.- "Rabbits are Roadkill on Rt.37" was recorded during the Sing the SorrowSing the SorrowSing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
sessions, and was eventually released on the MySpace Records: Volume 1 compilation and as a bonus track on the UK and Australian editions of Decemberunderground. - "Head Like a HoleHead Like a Hole"Head Like a Hole" is a song by the American industrial rock project Nine Inch Nails. A song influenced by industrial metal group Ministry, it was released as the second single from the group's debut album Pretty Hate Machine...
" is a Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
cover and was included on the video game Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
soundtrack. It was re-released on the UK, Australian, German, and Japanese editions of Decemberunderground. - "Don't Change" is a INXSINXSINXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
cover and was released on the "Miss MurderMiss Murder"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
" 7" vinyl disc and the Japanese edition of Decemberunderground. - "Jack the Ripper" is a MorrisseyMorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
cover and was available as a bonus track on the iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
pre-ordered edition and the UK and Australian editions of the "Love Like WinterLove Like Winter"Love Like Winter" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on September 26, 2006. A music video for the song premiered on TRL on September 26, 2006 and was directed by Marc Webb, who has also directed previous...
" single. - "On the Arrow" was available as a bonus track on the iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
pre-ordered edition and the Australian edition of the "Love Like Winter" single. - "Fallen Like the Sky" was available as a TargetTarget CorporationTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
bonus track download and available on the 7" vinyl disc box set edition of Decemberunderground. - "Carcinogen CrushCarcinogen Crush"Carcinogen Crush" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was originally written for their sixth studio album Sing The Sorrow, but the band felt that it did not fit on the album. It was re-recorded during the recording sessions of their seventh studio album Decemberunderground, but was not...
" was recorded during the Sing the Sorrow sessions, but did not make the album. It was eventually re-recorded and available as a downloadable track on the video game Guitar Hero: Legends of Rock and as a digital single on December 4, 2007. - "Ether" was recorded during the Decemberunderground sessions, and was eventually released on the video game Nascar 09NASCAR 09NASCAR 09 is the twelfth installment in the EA Sports NASCAR series, it is the sequel to 2007 game NASCAR 08. It is developed by EA Tiburon and released on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile phones in North America on June 10, 2008. On March 12, 2008, EA announced Jeff Gordon as...
and as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of Crash LoveCrash LoveCrash Love is the eighth studio album by the rock band AFI. Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, it was released on September 29, 2009 through Interscope Records.- Background and recording :...
. - "Fainting Spells" was recorded during the Decemberunderground sessions, and was eventually released on the deluxe edition of Crash Love.
- "Then I'll Be Home" can be heard at the end of the track "Affliction".
- "The View From Here" was recorded during the Decemberunderground sessions, but remains unreleased.
Chart positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S.Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| Australian Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
3 |
| Top UK Rock Albums | 2 |
| Billboard Comprehensive Albums | 1 |
| Top Rock Albums | 16 |
| Top Digital Albums | 2 |
| Tastemakers | 1 |
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
181 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
58 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Charts | 20 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
16 |
| Top Internet Albums | 1 |
| European Albums | 2 |
| Top Canadian Albums | 2 |
| Top Comprehensive Albums | 77 |
| World Albums Top 40 | 2 |
| IRMA Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... Albums |
66 |
Personnel
- Davey HavokDavey HavokDavid Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jade PugetJade PugetJade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Hunter BurganHunter BurganHunter Lawrence Burgan is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is the third and current bass guitarist of AFI.-Biography:Burgan grew up in Grass Valley, California. He is vegan.-Career:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Adam CarsonAdam CarsonAdam Alexander Carson is the drummer of the rock band AFI. He and Davey Havok are the two original members left in the lineup. Carson also filled in as drummer for the band Tiger Army. His drumming can be found on Tiger Army's Early Years EP as well as their debut album Tiger Army...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Guests
- Nick 13Nick 13Nick 13 is the guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter of psychobilly band Tiger Army as well as a solo artist in the Americana/Country genre....
of Tiger ArmyTiger ArmyTiger Army is an American psychobilly band that was formed in 1995 in Berkeley, California. Its constant member and lead song writer is Nick 13. The band have released a total of four studio albums.-History:... - Members of Throwdown
- Members of Day of Contempt
- Members of Eighteen VisionsEighteen VisionsEighteen Visions was an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, United States. Formed in October of 1995, the group was one of the first practitioners involved in the metalcore genre...
- Members of Bleeding ThroughBleeding ThroughBleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
- Ronan HarrisRonan HarrisRonan Harris is a member of the act VNV Nation, along with Mark Jackson. For live shows the band are joined by 2 keyboard players. Ronan is credited with the songwriting, production, lyrical, and vocal aspects of the band's music...
of VNV NationVNV NationVNV Nation are a British/Irish electronic music band originally from Dublin, Ireland and Essex, United Kingdom and now based in Hamburg, Germany. They combine elements of electro-industrial, trance, synthpop and electronic body music . The members are Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson... - Members of The Despair Faction
- Dan Under of The Dear & DepartedThe Dear & DepartedThe Dear & Departed is a rock band from Orange County and Los Angeles, California, founded by Dan Smith. Founded in 2006, the band went on the Vans Warped Tour and released their debut album the same year. In 2007 the band again played on the tour, and some other tours followed...
Production
- Producer: Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
- Mixing Engineers: Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
and Chris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-Alge is a mixer who has worked on various albums. He is the brother of Tom Lord-Alge, another audio engineer. Chris Lord-Alge is known for his extreme use of dynamic range compression in both hardware and software plug-in versions.... - Recording Engineer: Joe McGrath
- ProTools Engineer: Jake Davies
- Assistant Engineers: Seth Waldmann, Jason Gossman, Kevin Mills, Eric Weaver, Dimitar Krnjaic, and Keith Armstrong
- Drum Technician: Mike FasanoMike FasanoMike "The Sack" Fasano is a drummer who has toured and recorded for several bands, including Warrant, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, Tiger Army, Gilby Clarke, Shameless...
- Programming and Keyboards: Jade PugetJade PugetJade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
, Hunter BurganHunter BurganHunter Lawrence Burgan is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is the third and current bass guitarist of AFI.-Biography:Burgan grew up in Grass Valley, California. He is vegan.-Career:...
, Ronan HarrisRonan HarrisRonan Harris is a member of the act VNV Nation, along with Mark Jackson. For live shows the band are joined by 2 keyboard players. Ronan is credited with the songwriting, production, lyrical, and vocal aspects of the band's music...
, and Dave McCracken - Recorded at Conway Recording StudiosConway Recording StudiosConway Recording Studios is a recording and post production facility in Hollywood, California.Conway has hosted a variety of producers, mixers and artists, such as Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, The Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Britney Spears, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band,...
and Sage & Sound Recording Studios - Mixed at Conway Recording StudiosConway Recording StudiosConway Recording Studios is a recording and post production facility in Hollywood, California.Conway has hosted a variety of producers, mixers and artists, such as Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, The Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Britney Spears, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band,...
and Resonate Music - Mastered at Sterling Sound, NYC by Ted JensenTed JensenTed Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
- A&R: Luke Wood
- Art Direction & Design: Morning Breath Inc.
- Illustration: Alan ForbesAlan ForbesAlan Forbes is a rock music poster artist. He developed the signature icon of The Black Crowes, as well as posters, symbols and album artworks for many other bands, including Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine, The Offspring, White Stripes, AFI, Dinosaur Jr. and The Misfits...
- Photography: James Minchin