Deep Cuts #22: AFI – 'Sing the Sorrow'

"Misery in song" from the sun-kissed shores of California.

Artist: AFI

Album: Sing the Sorrow

Release: March 11th, 2003

Label: Dreamworks/Nitro

Listen here: Spotify | YouTube

---

Last November, Californian punk rockers AFI announced that they would play their acclaimed sixth studio album, 2003’s Sing the Sorrow, in full for the first and (reportedly) only time in their storied 32-year-long career.

AFI @AFI

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, we’re performing #SingTheSorrow in its entirety for the first & last time ever, with special guests @Jawbreaker, Chelsea Wolfe & @choirboyslc. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime event on 3/11 at the @thekiaforum. Pre-sale starts Wed. at 10AM PT.

This announcement was important, I think, for two reasons:

1. A one-off anniversary show is a measured act of purposeful nostalgia, a respectful (read: classy) acknowledgement of internal legacy without full-blown pandering and ‘shut up and play the hits, Grandpa’ acquiescence.

2. Sing the Sorrow (still) slaps, and the classics rightfully deserve their due.

So, let’s talk about the record and why it matters in the restless days of 2023.