Against Me - Is Reinventing Axl Rose
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Label: No Idea Records
Year: 2002
Genre: Punk Rock, Folk Punk
Recommending Person: Joe Szprygada
I didn't listen to Against Me! until 2007 when New Wave came out and Thrash Unreal was conquering Q101. Whenever a band makes me sing the entire song on the radio I always go back and check their previous releases. At that time I went back and enjoyed individual tracks "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" and "Those Anarcho Punks are Mysterious...".
This album doesn't hit me the same way that New Wave did, but you can clearly see the roots of what I loved about them later in their career. I think this album shows way back in 2002 that Laura Jane Grace, the transgender lead singer, is an incredible ballad writer. My favorite track on the album is "Baby, I'm an Anarchist!" where the softer side of Grace comes through while still staying true to his over the top, to the point of satire, commitment to anarchy.
Much like the Smoking Popes from January, this would have heavily been in my high school rotation and many songs would make my mixes. I mean you can't go against lyrics like this:
“And just like James, I’ll be drinking Irish tonight
and the memory of his last work week will be gone forever
Evelyn I’m not coming home tonight!”
Joe Szprygada had a lovely recommendation and I thought it would be prudent to put why he loves this album.
“Well the first reason is because you already had The 59 Sound on the calendar, but this one’s been a continuing part of my life for even longer, so let’s go with it. The album itself is over pretty quick, about a half hour total, but there is so much energy packed in there. There are plenty of albums that I’ll sing along every word to, but this one demands that you shout every word and leaves my jaw sore after every listen, without fail. I’m going to try to not chalk up so much nostalgia, but it is absolutely a high school album. While both the band and myself (now in my mid-20s) are likely over having any passionate feelings about anarchy, it still only takes until about halfway through the third track to make me wonder if maybe I should start a band. The title track similarly brings up thoughts of being at a show with your peer music lovers, which is an inseparable part of music, for me. This album finds a way to pack in the energy and lyrics to put you into a showgoing mindset like few others I have heard. If that’s not your thing, at the very least it is some real catchy shout-along folk punk. If you’re looking for some adrenaline on a ~30 minute solo commute, I can think of nothing better.”