They’re the band that have had people guessing for the past five years, are they reforming? Did they even ever break-up? In 2012 we said farewell to them on their final tour, however this summer we welcomed them back to the main stage at Reading Festival, alongside various other Festival performances across the world. Yet, other than an overly pricey vinyl boxset, there has not been an inkling of new material whispered from the lips of the Canadian post-hardcore outfit. One thing we do know, however, is that Alexisonfire, are the only band ever.
Trying to piece together a Best Of feature on Alexisonfire was no mean feat, in the beginning I was tempted to just put: “Just listen to ‘Crisis’ over and over again until the end of time” but realised that really, there is so much more to Alexisonfire’s back catalogue. Somehow I’ve managed to cut it down to a list of twelve songs that sum up their almighty career in one handy playlist. I tried ten, but I battled my brain for a good few hours and just couldn’t do it. So here you are, the top twelve tracks that every Alexisonfire fan needs in their life.
44. Caliber Love Letter
The opening track from their debut, self-titled record and the one that kicked us all in the hearts for the first time. With one of the most distinctive introductions of any Alexisonfire song ever, I have no shame in admitting it’s the song which also brought me to tears during their performance at Reading Festival. It’s unpolished, raw and energetic, old-school Alexisonfire at their finest and the line, “This is a 44. caliber love letter straight from my heart” went from adorning our teenage MySpace profiles in the ’03 era to receiving the loudest crowd reactions upon their return.
This Could Be Anywhere In The World
If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you that ‘This Could Be Anywhere In The World’ is the greatest Alexisonfire song of ALL TIME. Opening with thrashing drum cymbals and the snap of the snare drum, followed by chunky, yet simple power chords, it introduces itself in an almighty fashion. It’s the song that screams, “HEY LISTEN TO ME!” and you god damn will, or else. The contrast of George Pettit’s screams and Dallas Greens haunting clean vocal is simply divine and the track became one to define a new generation of post-hardcore.
Get Fighted
From 2004’s full-length ‘Watch Out’, the album which many believe truly saw Alexisonfire become the band they deserved to be and launch them into legendary status, ‘Get Fighted’ was the anthem that soundtracked a fight against real music. It was a middle finger to the mainstream and to the bands who forgot where they started, with the words: “Oh, ’cause this shit’s not about pants, and this shit’s not about shirts, and this shit’s definitely not about hair, (This shit is about having a good fucking time). Maybe the music isn’t dead, maybe the music isn’t dead, maybe we all just forgot what it fucking sounded like” leaving a bitter taste in whoever’s mouth those words left.
Young Cardinals
OHHHHHHHH YOUNG CARDINAAAALLLLSSSSS. The part-title track from the last Alexisonfire album we ever did see and the one where they played a gig on a boat by a waterfall. ‘Old Crows / Young Cardinals’ saw Alexisonfire soften their sound ever so slightly, creating a more melodious tone, whilst still retaining the raw energy they were so well-known for. If early Alexisonfire is a little too aggressive for your ear drums, give Young Cardinals a whirl and you’ll undoubtedly fall in love.
Happiness By The Kilowatt
A dark and brooding track to bring album ‘Watch Out’ to a close on. Many of the songs on this record relied heavily on the drum work, with it creating the melodies as well as keeping the rhythm and this is even more apparent in ‘Happiness By The Kilowatt’. The eery chorus of “Wake up” will leave a shiver up your spine and layer a solemn mood, but one you will happily lose yourself in. So go on, lay there and soak up the misery that ‘Happiness By The Kilowatt’ brings you. (For added feels, listen to the ‘Death Letter’ version, which is transformed with a piano and chilling vocals).
Accidents
Alongside ’44. Caliber Love Letter’, ‘Accidents’ was many people’s first experience of Alexisonfire, and much like ’44.’ it has an instantly recognisable intro riff that leads into Pettit’s gutsy growls. The chorus delivers a big old dollop of gang vocals and it’s said that you can hear crowds chant along to ‘WOAH OH WOAH-OH, WOAH OH WAOH-OH WOAH OHHHHHH” from approximately a gazillion light years away.
Boiled Frogs
Incase ‘Accidents’ didn’t have enough “woah oh’s” for you, then ‘Boiled Frogs’ has got them by the bucket load. One of the sure favourites taken from 2006’s ‘Crisis’, it’s one of the tracks that started to show Alexisonfire taking a more melodic approach to their music, compared with the angst ridden with ‘Watch Out’ and their self-titled debut. That said, it’s certainly one of the most defining tracks off the record and saw AOF become one of the most iconic bands within the scene at that particular moment in time.
No Transitory
Oh Dallas, with that sweet and soulful angelic tone, gliding through the chorus in ‘No Transitory’. This is another taken from the massively successful ‘Watch Out’ and it truly allows Dallas’ vocals to take the lead role and lift the song up. If the heavier side of AOF is a little too much to handle then ‘No Transitory’ will certainly be more your cup of tea.
Born and Raised
The second (and last) track to feature from final Alexisonfire album ‘Old Crows / Young Cardinals’ because quite frankly, ‘Born and Raised’ and ‘Young Cardinals’ are really all you need to bother with when it comes to that album. Leaning ever so slightly too close towards The Gaslight Anthem territory, but still retaining just enough of their signature sound, ‘Born and Raised’ took an average-at-best album and turned it into something worth adding to your record collection.
Side Walks When She Walks
I’m chucking this in as my wild card of the bunch. I went back and forth, deciding if this song should make the cut, particularly as not one person within my friends list suggested it when I pitched the debate of the best AOF songs ever. However, ‘Side Walks When She Walks’ hits a spot with me that not many other AOF songs can. Taken from the album ‘Watch Out’, there is just something so delightfully haunting and eery about the echoing, slick guitars and the endearing lyrics such as, “Dressed to kill, you look so right, I am drunk with lust tonight.” If you’re tired of the hits and want to delve deeper into Alexisonfire’s back catalogue, make sure you give this one a whirl.
We Are The Sound
Okay so these last two tracks were the most difficult to choose between, ending in me picking twelve instead of ten because they both 100% deserve to be included in this feature. Another strong contender for ‘ultimate Alexisonfire song to hear live’, ‘We Are The Sound’ practically begs for crowd interaction, penning a chorus that sings, “We are the sound. We don’t belong. So raise up your hands. And sing along.” Obviously it also includes a gang chant breakdown, featuring throttling drum work and the ting of a cymbal to polish it all off and make the perfect crowd pleaser pie.
Mailbox Arson
And finally, ‘Mailbox Arson’, a full-throttle, fierce number about fire and burning things and stuff. The lyrical content may be slightly dark and perhaps even a little alarming but the thumping bass drum, the heavy and erratic guitar riffs, George’s hate-filled growls and Dallas’ harmonious tone all come together to create an absolute masterpiece.