AFI showcases greatest hits for better or worse

After only recently losing the band to DreamWorks, AFI's old record label Nitro Records is already releasing the bands first "greatest hits" CD in lieu of a new album. Whereas the band certainly deserves critical success and recognition after over 10 years without nationwide acknowledgement, greatest hit CDs are usually reserved for bands who have been in the limelight for more than a handful of years. Another poor choice was to self-title the album, undoubtedly confusing old fans as well as new ones. \nThe album contains a mix of songs from AFI's various albums starting with their neo-punk album Answer That and Stay Fashionable and continues through their evolution into the more mature dark, gothic tones found in The Art of Drowning. The album is absent of any tracks from the DreamWorks release Sing the Sorrow. The song choice seems rather arbitrary as the album features some of AFI's better songs, but by no stretch of the imagination are they the bands "greatest hits." Only one track, "I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Wont Let Me Get One)," from their first album is present and pales in comparison to many of the albums othe tracks. ("Brownie Bottom Sundae" or "High School Football Hero" would have been better choices.)\nA few exciting additions to the CD include "Total Immortal," "A Winters Tale" and "Lower It." These songs were previously only found on obscure E.P.'s or vinyl releases. But many B-sides and rarities are absent and it would have made more sense for Nitro to release an album featuring these and harder to find rarities than it does to have picked songs off easily acquired older albums. \nAFI's self-titled greatest hits CD is an ill attempt for Nitro to capitalize on the fact that they are no longer producing the band's new music. Instead of offering something that both old and new fans could be interested in -- B-sides and rarities -- a greatest hits album offers listeners a small glimpse of some of the band's work, whether it be great or mediocre.