Vie’s Verses – Band’s We Don’t Cover Enough – Against Me!
Here at Hard Rock Hideout we strive to bring you the most diverse collection of hard rock bands that we can. From the latest rising stars to the old classics, Hard Rock Hideout attempts to discuss them all. However, every now and again, there is a band that just falls through the cracks. One of those bands is Florida’s Against Me!
You may have recently heard about Against Me! for the sole reason that lead singer Tom Gabel publicly came out as transgender with plans to transition to living as a woman. The move created a lot of press and coverage, some of it positive, some of it negative. A lot of hate filled ignorant comments were tossed around message boards throughout the world. I personally feel that what Tom Gabel, now Laura Jane Grace, does with her life is none of my business. My only concern about the transition would be how it would affect the band’s music and Laura’s vocals.
And music is the most important thing to focus on with Against Me! They are an outstanding punk band that really knows how to rock. Filled with temporary anger and rage, the band can juxtapose from telling off the world, to discussing the special relationship between two lovers, in the matter of one song. The genius behind all of this is Laura Jane Grace. The lyrical content of Against Me!’s music is some of the best that I have heard, and it was what attracted me to the band.
Grace writes lyrics that are deep from the heart, true to life, and extremely meaningful. Whether it be about his gender dysphoria, the desire to live and feel young again, or the general rage that we all have been consumed by from time to time, Grace paint masterful pictures with her lyrics and then delivers them with passion through her vocals.
Their debut album, Reinventing Axl Rose, received some critical acclaim and helped the band gain notoriety on the punk rock scene when it was released in 2002. However, it was the album New Wave that gave Against Me! commercial success. New Wave was released on Sire Records and was the band’s first pilgrimage with a major record label. The success of their single “Thrash Unreal,” combined with the marketing of Sire and the mainstream media picking up on the band found Against Me! gaining fans in droves. This caused a number of their older standing fan base to refer to the band as sell outs. Grace was disappointed by their reaction and it put him off to the entire punk scene, viewing the fans as “close minded.”
Currently, Against Me! have released five albums and are working on their sixth, which is due out this year. The appropriately titled Transgender Dysphoria Blues has me both hopeful and nervous. Will Against Me! still bring the same passion, energy, and subject matter that they have in the past? Or, will this major life change bring out an entirely different side of the band and lead singer, Laura Jane Grace. A major change in the musical direction could be absolutely amazing, or it could be a career killer.
If you have never listened to Against Me! before, I recommend starting with their 2007 release, New Wave. This is the album that sent the band into the mainstream, and it was the first Against Me! record that I listened to. It was so magnificent I went out and got two more of their albums shortly thereafter.
If you are a fan of modern rock, modern punk, Pearl Jam, Rise Against, or the Foo Fighters, you will most likely fall in love with Against Me! Start with their major label debut, New Wave, and then see where to go from there. Reinventing Axl Rose may be a good second choice, as you will be able to hear the contrast in styles, themes, and subject matter. Both albums are spectacular, regardless of being very different from one another. And that is the sign of an exceptional band—one that can progress and grow through the years. This is something that Against Me! has done well and it is one of the reasons that they are a band worth checking out. If you are searching for a raw, heavy, and flat out enjoyable sound, give Against Me! a try.
Follow RyoVie on Twitter at Twitter.com/RyoVie
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