Against Me! - White Crosses
genre: punk rock
released: May 4, 2010
label: Sire Records
For the past decade, Against Me! has been writing such great folk punk records that continue to influence so many younger bands in today's punk genre with both its records and its live performances. They took a step in a more radio-friendly rock direction on their last album, New Wave, back in 2007. Now, with White Crosses, they follow the very same trend and have written a much more mainstream rock album, while still using their roots throughout each song. While the new album is different, it still provides us with a solid release from one of today's best bands.
Just like their last effort, Against Me! has brought on producer Butch Vig for their new album. Vig is one of the most prominent producers in all of modern rock music, with a resume of working with bands such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World, among others. So if there is one thing Vig knows how to do, it's to how to take a band's sound, and make it popular with a plethora of different types of listeners. The album still has a unique sound and is fronted by singer Tom Gabel's powerful lyrics. And even though the band is still growing to know their new drummer (George Rebelo of Hot Water Music), overall, the music sounds good and each song has its own identity on the record. Also, the song I Was a Teenage Anarchist is one of the catchiest songs Against Me! has ever written, and will be sure to coerce listeners old and new to pick up the new album.
Don't get me wrong, I do miss the old sound Against Me! burst onto the scene with, that folk punk rock sound without a rhythm section to lean on, that separated them from the norm. Although I don't like the new album as much as their earlier material, I think it's just as good as New Wave, and will follow in its footsteps by finding itself on multiple end-of-year lists for best albums of 2010. The guitars are still heavy and loud, with melodic sequences littered throughout the songs, while Gabel's previously ragged voice has calmed to more of a listener-friendly tone, it still sounds great nonetheless. White Crosses should be sure to impress its listeners and open the door to new fans to what is the already excellent discography of Against Me!.
Favorite tracks: I Was a Teenage Anarchist, Radio Decompression, Bamboo Bones
For fans of: The Gaslight Anthem, Kings of Leon, The Hold Steady
Against Me!’s myspace
genre: punk rock
released: May 4, 2010
label: Sire Records
For the past decade, Against Me! has been writing such great folk punk records that continue to influence so many younger bands in today's punk genre with both its records and its live performances. They took a step in a more radio-friendly rock direction on their last album, New Wave, back in 2007. Now, with White Crosses, they follow the very same trend and have written a much more mainstream rock album, while still using their roots throughout each song. While the new album is different, it still provides us with a solid release from one of today's best bands.
Just like their last effort, Against Me! has brought on producer Butch Vig for their new album. Vig is one of the most prominent producers in all of modern rock music, with a resume of working with bands such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World, among others. So if there is one thing Vig knows how to do, it's to how to take a band's sound, and make it popular with a plethora of different types of listeners. The album still has a unique sound and is fronted by singer Tom Gabel's powerful lyrics. And even though the band is still growing to know their new drummer (George Rebelo of Hot Water Music), overall, the music sounds good and each song has its own identity on the record. Also, the song I Was a Teenage Anarchist is one of the catchiest songs Against Me! has ever written, and will be sure to coerce listeners old and new to pick up the new album.
Don't get me wrong, I do miss the old sound Against Me! burst onto the scene with, that folk punk rock sound without a rhythm section to lean on, that separated them from the norm. Although I don't like the new album as much as their earlier material, I think it's just as good as New Wave, and will follow in its footsteps by finding itself on multiple end-of-year lists for best albums of 2010. The guitars are still heavy and loud, with melodic sequences littered throughout the songs, while Gabel's previously ragged voice has calmed to more of a listener-friendly tone, it still sounds great nonetheless. White Crosses should be sure to impress its listeners and open the door to new fans to what is the already excellent discography of Against Me!.
Favorite tracks: I Was a Teenage Anarchist, Radio Decompression, Bamboo Bones
For fans of: The Gaslight Anthem, Kings of Leon, The Hold Steady
Against Me!’s myspace
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