Against Me! was named best punk band by Rolling Stone in May for good reason.
Somehow, I missed out on this band until about two months ago, when my younger brother introduced me to its fairly stellar major label debut, “New Wave.”
Here’s a crash course in the group’s music and videos.
Against Me! – “Thrash Unreal” – Music video
First: This video is sort of crap. Like, was there really that much wine in the barrel? C’mon, seriously. And the lyrics are about a girl who only has a high school diploma – not some elitist in an expensive dress. Lame. But second: This song is sort of awesome. The lyrics for “Thrash Unreal” are on par with Craig Finn of the Hold Steady – the gold standard these days in my book. As for the song itself, those backing ba-ba-bahs give it a nice, pop feel that contrasts with the rough-edged vocals of Tom Gabel. Excellent.
Against Me! – “Stop!” – Music video
This video’s got a better aesthetic than “Thrash Unreal” – who doesn’t like a punk band smashing a TV, right? – even if the lyrics to the song aren’t as strong. The disco beat works well, however, again providing a coy little bit of contrast with the group’s rough sound.
Against Me! – “We Laugh at Danger (And Break All the Rules)” – Live
Finally, this clip of the band playing “We Laugh at Danger…” makes me nostalgic for going to shows at age 19. It’s a bit ironic that, as everyone in this clip sings along, I can’t make out a single damn phrase outside, “no hope for us.” Of course, that’s how it usually is at this type of show. You hear the guy behind you yelling into your ear as much as the band. It’s part of the fun. Really.
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