Against Me! Since their stellar 2002 debut, Against Me! is Reinventing Axl Rose, Against Me! has vigorously taken up the reigns of working-class, political punk (from the beleaguered Dropkick Murphys, who since the loss of their passionate lead singer, Mike McColgan [after their first proper album, the aggressive punk classic, Do or Die] have steadily fallen into the stereotype of the another Irish sports bar band, with one obligatory union song per album.. but this is a conversation for another day), keeping a firm grasp on them with 2002's follow up, Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy. Their unapologetic style works inside and out, with acoustic guitar often replacing the electric, and innovative, angry songwriting setting them apart from most punk bands. But the element that has made them unique is the lead singer, Tom Gabel, whose voice mixes passion, outrage, and sincerity in a way only someone who sincerely believes in what they preach can. He alternates between gravelly shouting and clear, surprisingly melodic singing to compliment his bitterly insightful lyrics. However, on their third proper album, Against Me! has taken lyrical detour. The band has always been fighting, be it against the government, the capitalist system, or spineless liberals, but here they are second-guessing themselves. An internal argument is ever-present in the album, questioning whether they are even making a difference in the world, or if all they are doing is shallow posturing. Consequently, self-doubt is either implicit or explicit in many songs (see “Don't Lose Touch” and “Even at Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most”), an element that acts as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it makes the album more compelling at points, highlighting a question that pervades all activists' consciousness at points in their lives. On the other hand, this is all done at the expense of the message Against Me! has emphasized in the past, and where their best compositions have originated from (save "Pints of Guiness Make You Strong,” possibly their best song). Without the strength of their convictions behind them, the intensity driving the songs has lapsed. Many of the songs on this album sound flat (see “Miami,” “Violence,” and “Holy-Shit”) and without sentiment. The only dimension of Against Me! that escapes unscathed from the album are their narratives – empathetic tales of the human condition that give the band the heart they have to continue, and this is why the band won't crumble. By the end of the album, they've predicted their demise in so many ways (breaking up, dying, losing their "touch"), one would think they're finished. But they're too strong; questioning your values and impact is healthy, and important to growth, and these guys will come back more cohesive and important than ever. -- Nick Fit
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