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| Against Me!Searching For A Former Clarity2005 Fat Wreck Chords 
 Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on September 6th 2005
I remember the first time I met Against Me!, I was scheduled for an interview, and this was shortly after the release of ...Eternal Cowboy. The band was playing at a tiny little venue in Toronto, just a staircase away from a dimly lit pub. Even though I knew the band was fairly young, having listened to ...Axl Rose and particularly The Acoustic EP, I had an image formed in my head of a quartet of grizzled punk lifers, looking each day like they had spent the previous sleeping on a street corner.
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It's okay. Doesn't really grab me. (Then again none of Against Me!'s records really do) I agree with Tommy, best album. I'll probably be hung for this, but, this is my favorite Against Me! album Say what you want but I think this is Against Me's best album. "searching for a former clarity" is a song i hold dear to me, eventhough this cd is mediocre for AM!, it's still very well composed! I love them! truely amazing album. i really liked this album. it wasnt as good as their older stuff but it was still damn good. definetly better than "eternal cowboy". this album seemed a lot more politically charged than their last release. it also seemed to have more songs that were genuine and written from the heart. "from her lips to god" is a well writen political song and "problems" and "searching for a former clarity" seemed to capture the raw emotional side of tom gabel. Damn. I wish I could get hold of the "stolen demos". So far I've had no luck. *cries* D: I don't know about you guys, but Against Me! definetly dropped off after they signed to Fat. Don't get me wrong it is still good music, but it is no where near as influential as their early recordings. I don't know about you guys, but Against Me! definetly dropped off after they signed to Fat. Don't get me wrong it is still good music, but it is no where near as influential as their early recordings. great review. i never liked against me! never got into them,didn't think they sucked but never thought anything they played,wrote or sang about was exciting in the least. i've heard them,seen them,yeah.nada,nothing. Wow, this album is briliant. They created a masterpiece without selling out. Unlike some idiots, I'm sticking by them and their Sire release next year. oh boo hoo they signed to a major...good for them! cry if they change their sound on the next record on the major....thats the only time people should bitch about things like that. to bad they sold out I definately think that this is their worst CD damn i jus herd the demo of this....its so much better the production on the album makes his voice so irritating "This record is the "London Calling" of this generation." has anyone even read the lyrics to "Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)" seems to be about a lot of people in here.As for them signing to a new label they were already being called sell outs for being on fat wreck chords which is ridiculous.this may not be the greatest album ever but its really not that bad. Hey, Also-don't be pissed at them for changing. I really enjoyed this album, especially after hearing that "stolen" demo that included a bunch of tracks from it. first of all, i'd like to say that this is the first against me! album i ever listened to. before i had only heard 'pints of guinness make you strong' and 'cliche guevara' on compilation cd's. This record is the "London Calling" of this generation. These guys truely are something original in a music scene that is packed with shitty bands that think they're original... when they're really just a carbon copy of every band they look up to. I strongly reccomend you buy this record... NOW! "against me! used to be gloriously amazing back in the day. now they come out with songs like ‘Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)’ first of all, that’s one of the stupidest song names I’ve ever heard. well ok maybe it’s just pretty far up the list. anyway, listen to these pathetic whiny annoying hopeless pussy lyrics that make you want to punch a fucking baby Do yourself a favor and don't buy this cd. Save your money for This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb and Defiance, Ohio cds. extremely dissapointed, but i still absolutly love this band and what they did for the punk scene. The only song that reminds me of the Against Me! that i know is Problems Dear Haters... against me! used to be gloriously amazing back in the day. now they come out with songs like ‘Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)’ first of all, that’s one of the stupidest song names I’ve ever heard. well ok maybe it’s just pretty far up the list. anyway, listen to these pathetic whiny annoying hopeless pussy lyrics that make you want to punch a fucking baby Against Me! doesn't have to "surpass" their previous albums in order to make a great fucking record. If nothing else, SFAFC should get you excited to hear some of their old tracks remastered. This album is very good, but not on par with RAR or the Acoustic Ep. I suggest you buy those two and Vivada Vis, and skip As the Eternal Cowboy. okay, here's the truth. you can save yourself a lot of time and money on the Against Me! catalog by buying only "Reinventing Axl Rose" and the Acoustic EP, both on vinyl. They will never surpass these two records. Not a perfect score because of the horns in Miami... sheeeesh. Wow! I think this is at least as good as As the Eternal Cowboy. nice to finally listen to something other than the Sufjan stevens and New Pornographers albums-that is actually good in 2005! Keep on working your 9 to 5s and trashing bands that are doing what they love and probably what you'd love to be doing yourself that is if you had the love or the talent, you leeches. all of the shit that gets said on the internet.... it's cool. you have to believe in it for it to upset you. BUT..... i fucking double dog dare you to actually talk this kind of shit face to face with the people in the band. it's easy to do in the comfort of your home on the computer with no one around, but how do you think it would go down actually looking someone in the eye and telling them how much they suck? do you think you could do it? tell them why you personally hate a group of people that play music. please tell them! be brave.... you can do it! get off of your computer and actually learn to interact. try it. the results would be way more interesting than a bunch of tangents posted on a messageboard that consists of people with way to much time on their hands. (me included) i fucking double dog dare you to actually say some of the shit you are saying (safely typing on your computer) to any of the members of this band. see how brave you are when you actually have to look into someones eyes and discuss something. i guarantee you that you won't be so brave. please do it and see what happens. please. argue with them about how they are sellouts, and see how they respond. have ACTUAL human contact, cause my friends.....this shit is not actual human contact. i fucking double dog dare you to actually say some of the shit you are saying (safely typing on your computer) to any of the members of this band. see how brave you are when you actually have to look into someones eyes and discuss something. i guarantee you that you won't be so brave. please do it and see what happens. please. argue with them about how they are sellouts, and see how they respond. have ACTUAL human contact, cause my friends.....this shit is not actual human contact. i fucking double dog dare you to actually say some of the shit you are saying (safely typing on your computer) to any of the members of this band. see how brave you are when you actually have to look into someones eyes and discuss something. i guarantee you that you won't be so brave. please do it and see what happens. please. argue with them about how they are sellouts, and see how they respond. have ACTUAL human contact, cause my friends.....this shit is not actual human contact. you guys have no idea what shitbags these guys are. they are awful human beings, just awful. I love this album and I love their old stuff, but on different levels. It's two completely different sounds and they shouldn't really be compared. I thought music was about unity, but perhaps I was wrong. Who cares if you grew up in a barn, or if you were born into money, or if you like to go to dance clubs. No one cares. The more I listen to the album the more I am coming to the conclusion that it is really something special. I would have never thought I would have used the word "beautiful" to describe an Against Me! album. Condaleeza is more mature and intelligent than any song Anti-Flag ever wrote. You people are ridiculous! This is an amazing album, it might not be "Reinventing Axl Rose" but it's much better than "As the Eternal Cowboy" (which was also awesome). Instead of worrying about Against Me "selling out" (Because Fat Wreck Chords might as well be Sony, Shell, Walmart, and McDonalds all wrapped up into one, right?) spend your time worrying about something that actually matters. Pretty decent album. FUCK THIS BAND. FUCK THIS REVIEW. FUCK THIS SITE. "This is the internet. It's not possible to walk on the internet. However, you can talk on the internet. This is why you're only seeing talk, and no walk. When modern science allows us to walk on the internet, and whoever-the-fuck you're quoting doesn't walk, then what you're saying won't be stupid as hell." all the haters have aids. aids, aids, aids. will is punx. well just till he gets outta High school. Then he'll toss all his minor threat shirts. "it's like their primary influence was the kill bill soundtrack" Score is for Little Britain. Also I just wanted to add one more post on here cause i sorta feel bad for AM! cause it doesnt seem they get enought attention on this board....no one seems to post comments when it comes too them. Great album, though not as consistent as their previous releases. This will still probably make it into my top 10, but the competition this year isn't that stiff. This is the internet. It's not possible to walk on the internet. However, you can talk on the internet. This is why you're only seeing talk, and no walk. When modern science allows us to walk on the internet, and whoever-the-fuck you're quoting doesn't walk, then what you're saying won't be stupid as hell. oh yea, and dillinger four are the best band ever. i mean it. seriously. they are the BEST band ever. i really wanted to like this cd. i REALLY wanted to like it. i only liked two songs on eternal cowboy but i was hoping they'd win me back. i started listening to against me years ago when it was just tom and some guy on drums (not warren) and i saw them when they were on tour. This is the internet. It's not possible to walk on the internet. However, you can talk on the internet. This is why you're only seeing talk, and no walk. When modern science allows us to walk on the internet, and whoever-the-fuck you're quoting doesn't walk, then what you're saying won't be stupid as hell. "I don't plan on staying young forever, but I will try to uphold my personal ideas of what's right and what's not. If I find something not feasible or unrealistic, I'll probably try to fix it, but so far I've known lots of people who have reached 25 without abandoning their ideals." "Justin" sounds kind of similair to "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam" by the Vaselines. Am I the only one that thinks this. holy shit jones, what did you do down there?? what the fuck was that shit all about down there. Hahaha, now you can't sass me anymore. "Hey, thanks for showing me that post from Chris PIX.... Steve, none of it's online right now. If you want me to email you when it is, I'd be glad to. I released a "trisect split" in a limited quantity of 50 copies once... It's very weird stuff, and you might dig it if you appreciate extreme minimalism and weirdnesscore. Oddly enough, no one who sets up shows has a copy, and I don't care, because they're mostly assholes. Steve, none of it's online right now. If you want me to email you when it is, I'd be glad to. I released a "trisect split" in a limited quantity of 50 copies once... It's very weird stuff, and you might dig it if you appreciate extreme minimalism and weirdnesscore. Oddly enough, no one who sets up shows has a copy, and I don't care, because they're mostly assholes. will, Come on Will, you'd sell out... I'm not upper-middle class at all. My parents didn't buy me a car, I have to save up for college, and I wasn't born with a trustfund. I live in a house that got renovated from a barn forty years ago. While I don't have to worry about getting shot by gangs or drug dealers, I don't have a lot of the comforts many of my suburban peers do. I'm not trying to garner pitty, either, I'm just clearing up the popular misconception on this web site that I hole up on the computer using mommy's bank card to order records all day. I'm on the computer as much as I am because I'm in advanced writing courses. I pre-ordered this from No Idea and dont have it yet... The more I listen to this, the more I like it i read BSD's comments and i wanna respond, then i read Dante's and he already said what i was going to. i hate you Dante. I just bought this cd and I've only listened to it once, but I like it a lot already. You peeps are CUH-RAZY!!! "'Music is one of the few art forms that now costs thousands of dollars to create.' Paying for Music is like Paying for Sex. Eff That! BUY MUSIC. Who Does That? Honestly. Fuck Green Day, Fuck H20, Fuck Franz Ferdinand, Fuck The New Lows and Fuck Spiderman 2 . The music video for "Don't Lose Touch" literally had a shoe-string budget. I mean come on guys. We know you are gonna cash in on us having nothing better to listen to. Make me want to buy your music! "Unprotected Casual Sex With Multiple Partners" rocks. Its Against Me!'s "Take Me Out" or "Cold Shivers" which ever overrated band you want to compare them to today. Honestly people don't question a bands integrity unless there latest release is (in the listeneners opinion) a shitty album. Thats where H20 failed, and dillinger 4 succeeded. Because every dillinger four album pwns. Do yourself a favor and order 3 albums by This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb and spend it on those instead of getting this album. Not that SFAFC is the worst ablum I've heard in a long time but is definitely not up to par with their other albums. I really like this band and I have been let down with this cd. The 3 tracks on "The Disco Before the Breakdown" is better than all 14 tracks put together. i'm holding in my shit right now, that way it will feel really good when i have to leave it in the toilet this album is the bomb. seriously. that last song gave me chills. all these songs are strong in their own way. sad to say but this is kind of gay. Because Dillinger Four fought God and won! They can do whatever they want. "Music is one of the few art forms that now costs thousands of dollars to create." Blah, Blah, fucking Blah- Good album! I'm quite sure Dillnger Four have played arenas with Green Day as well. Why does no one question their integrity? "Against Me! didn't sell out." i wish you guys would both hit "enter" more often when you went on rants. This appears to be going somewhere in circles. Here is what you seem to be forgeting. Music is one of the few art forms that now costs thousands of dollars to create. I beleive art and money shouldn't be joined unconditionally but at the same time how do you suppose a band get any message put out there? to the guy who posted this I totally agree with Will on this one Yeah, but you're assuming I find stuff questionable... Plenty of my friends have lost places. Hell, when a band breaks up telling people they weren't making enough money, I tell them that they were in it for the wrong reasons. Making a living is important, and while I don't feel that people have to (I feel fortunate for being able to categorize and number auto parts), I think it's a healthier way to live. I just don't think that business and art have any place mixing- especially with something that supposed to be destroying that way of thinking. ""We'll bordinate the marketing?" Against Me! didn't sell out. ""We'll bordinate the marketing?" Will, I don't discount your comments on music (though we rarely see eye to eye on such matters). I'm talking about your comments regarding most business politics and DIY ethics. It’s easy to make such comments when you’ve never run a business or had to worry about where your next meal comes from. It’s simple to think that the commoditization of punk music by a record label is a cardinal sin if you’ve never had to worry about making ends meet. Your mom is a 7. "And I think most of the "real punks" I knew folded the minute thier first rent check was due. Now I'm not saying anyone here will do that. However, it is my reason for taking a 17 year olds political stance too seriously. the lyrics in this are horrible...touring with Jimmy Eat World and Green Day? No Thanks! I know what happens to bands like these: I wonder if the new propagandhi will top this album? "AXL was a 7" The lyrics are better than ever before. My favorite part of Against Me! was the singalong choruses, and unfortunately this CD has very few. This makes it harder to get into any individual song right away, but this album definitely gets better with every listen. The last two full-lengths from this band were simple and easy and stuck to you the first time. You have to digest these to really appreciate them. Well I'd say the first half of your quote is very tongue-in-cheek. All those PIX board babies were crying about that song right after they rushed to download it the second it leaked. I think that part is fucking hilarious. "We totally sold out the scene!" They're playing on the way that people perceive them now. The second half is either their reasoning for these moves or just a comment on the way that the "scene" operates these days. i think against me is trying to tell us something. with lyrics like ""Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)" AXL was a 7 This cd disappoints me... about as much as Cowboy disappointed me after Axl Rose. So that's not saying too much, because Axl was the definition of a 9/10. This is still a decent album, but I was expecting more. Maybe that was unfair, but I don't apologize for setting high standards for bands who've raised them before. all of you have dick 4's on your heads Score is for your comment Jonesy. Pat yourself on the back "- flavor of the months syndrome kicks in, the fans who thought the band was special loose intrest with the hype and the stadium tours with Green Day etc." as far as the whole plan-it x thing is concerned, who gives a fuck if they've got records in the stores when you can order them postage paid for something like three dollars online? "Disco only had 3 songs right? Ony the title track was good the other two were shit off that." Sickboi I'm only 23...Sorry grandpa. But if it makes you feel any better I apparently look like I'm fucking dying. My first day of work someone asked if I was 26 and another asked if I was 30 something, christ my looks are going town the toilet faster than an unwanted pregnancy on prom night. this album is good. none of you have got the balls to be punk anyway so stop talkin shit! i like that its long...one of my biggest gripes w/ 'eternal cowboy' was how short it was I like that it's long. I miss the time when most punk albums that came out had at least 14 songs on them. I love spending ten bucks and getting so much music I almost need two sittings to listen to it all. "but why is it so goddamn long?" see H20, Pennywise etc. for examples "What I'm really concerned about is the lack of growling on this record. I don't think the lyrics are that bad but that song is awful. Pretty much every other song is great, however, and after about three or four listens this becomes better than any of their other cds. good record.. the lyrics in this are horrible...touring with Jimmy Eat World and Green Day? No Thanks! I know what happens to bands like these: The lyrics to "Dont Lose Touch" are so bad that it makes me cringe... anyone else agree? What I'm really concerned about is the lack of growling on this record. Also: I think the whole disagreement comes with people thinking music shouldn't be a business. But without it being a business, tours are harder, good record distro is harder, and more bands break up. I know kids like this that manage to keep their DIY ideals when they're on their own. BUT... So, Dante, we're both 25 and work non-profit. Weird. oh yea, and speaking as a 25 year old, it is about 10000000times easier to be 'punk rock' when you're in highschool or college. oh and i think that guy meant that 'this place is run by a handful of bunch children'. i think I'm not badmouthing DIY ethhics or practices. I thought (and still do) that PIX is a pretty impressive label for doing what they do. I think they sound a little to high on the DIY horse sometimes but I don't know if I could ever recall them shitting on some other label/band. you guys have a whole lot to say don't you?...well...at least a whole lot to type. i bet justin is about JUSTIN SANE selling out!!! Just picked this up last night... i'll be honest i respect will's musical opinion most of the time but his opinion on other things is a different story .......he talks sooo much shit about middleclass people and alll that stuff...but i have a theory that he is actually very well off...i may be wrong but this is what i figure..... we all know he is like 16 or 17.... so this means he doesnt really have a good job or old enough to have his own credit card.... which means he must borrow his parents cc to buy all those rare records and cds he has....and we all know he has a shitload....so as much shit as he talks he lives off of his parents money.....if i am wrong will correct me please don't respond to BSD's stupidity, it only feeds his ego. and yes, i know this post is only feedibng him more. This place is run by a bunch children. I think the boys in AM! are cute. It seems that people here think its impossible to live DIY, or think DIY when not living in your parents basement. i like this record. a lot. i'm a big fan of their earlier lp's, the eps and demo stuff, but i still like this record. the songs themselves are solid. some of them do seem to drag on a little too long on the first few listens, but the more i listen to it, the more i pick up on things i didn't hear the first few times. the sequencing on this is pretty damn flawless, too. the melody's are nowhere near as creative as everything else they've ever done. I think i'm incapable of bad mouthing Against Me! so my opinion may be slightly biased. Alright let's stop fucking around and get to the real discussion: The Mouse on Mars remix of "Don't Lose Touch": Extremely awesome or just really awesome? I say extremely. Now that I have my actual copy of this record in beautiful gatefold with white and black records (and the fabled "[Rumored]" on the second LP jacket... Joey Lawrence says what?) I'm a better person. I have class in a few hours but when I got home and found the package from Fat on my porch, I had to stay up to hear the real deal. Oddly enough, it's more annoying to listen to than the radio edit because my roommate's stereo and speakers suck so much. Crap! But that remix... oh snap! ok... the two songs to download... i don't like. They're more southern rock then punk or folk or alt-country or whatever they're calling it. Yet I still hold out some hope for the rest of the album. Is there good reason. I loved Reinventing.. but found Eternal Cowboy outside of sink, florida sink, not as captivating. Is this album worth pursuing if I really disliked eternal cowboy? Will has less redeeming value than Paris Hilton. I think people have a bad opinion towards "Justin" because of it's initial cheesey sound. To better understand the song 'Justin' it is better to hear the lyrics in there entirety: As much as I like this band I have to agree that it's definitely a disappointment and not as good as their previous releases. I've only listened to the album once through and I have a feeling that it will probably grow on me in time although I wasn't really impressed with any tracks on the album so far, I'd have to say "Don't Lose Touch" is my current favorite. I am still a curious why they didn't take the exact tracks from the Stolen Demo and throw them on the cd, they screwed up some really good material, especially what they did to "Problems". I also feel they they didn't put much into the cd cover and booklet, it looks like they used a copy machine when making it, I mean Cds don't cost much to make they could atleast give up something better than what we got. Also, the lyrics to "Justin" are just something I would not expect from a band like Against Me! my friend, her sister, and I couldn't stop laughing at how strange the lyrics are, they truely sound like a caption on an internet article. All and all it wasn't a bad release but I expected more than what I got, I guess I shouldn't keep my hopes up. Not a total waste of $11, I'll score it a 5. first off, let me just say that this is one of the best reviews i've ever read. for some reason or another, it hooked me in like a good story and i read the entire thing (which is actually pretty spectacular since i was doing so in class while trying to avoid a roaming professor) ...but anyways, i'm glad to see this album get a fair review. i saw a lot of bashing going on earlier during other against me! news posts, and i honestly couldn't understand why. true, i'm a newbie to against me!, but i thank this amazing album for opening my ears to their greatness. Two points for your Will. I mention how you're a fucking freeloader with no concept of real world workings or self reliance and that you freel use these ideals that are meaningless in principle if not practiced and you bring up that I mentioned my girlfriend. Woah! You must be like captian of your high school debate team. Oh, Dante has a girlfriend! I'm so impressed! so to settle the PIX thing with my ever-important opinion: PIX is pretty much the last major bulwark of DIY punk out there right now. yes, I know there are other DIY punk labels (i have my own), but they are the fortress amiss our tents. "You attacking people for being smelly and unclean shows that you're just as blind as who you supposedly hate..." Ah, the peculiar third full-length album. After a band has released an exceptional first LP, fans eagerly await a second outing. Groups all to often fall into the sophomore slump, in which the second album is nowhere near as good as the first, and is usually just a rehash of their older material. Now, while its safe to say that Against Me!’s second full-length (The Eternal Cowboy) was in no way bad, or a rehash of their older material, it stilled lacked something. It was too short; it lacked the passion of Reinventing Axl Rose. Great album, has some of the best against me! songs ever written, but also some of the worst (dont lose touch). All in all, its easily better then EC. Please don't put Epitaph and Fat in the same league. They might have had way too-similar rosters in the late 90's, but for real, there is a Major difference in ideologies. There is a reason that Fat is still covered in MRR and Epitaph is not...mainly because Fat offers bands 1-record deals, pays its bills legitimately and doesn't suck major label dick. Mike makes money, but that is about the only similarity to Brett. Epitaph is an entirely different story, so please do not lump them together just because they have had similar sounds and rosters in the past. I would Will, but I'm busy with my job and my girlfriend and my actual life. So maybe when I'm done with that I'll amuse you with an educate and experienced look at corporate marketing. And besides shouldn't you be making some bitchy little elitist/idealist comments about some band/label that actually works harder than you could ever imagine? Okay, let's settle this once and for all: And yeah, I caught the Franz vibe off of Unprotected as well at first. Not really a bad vibe to give off, Franz is pretty good in really small doses, and that opening is the perfect small dose. Not as good as the other stuff. Still better than 90% of what will be released this year. What you said was "Fat and Epitaph commodifying punk/supporting a mindless consumer society is what pisses people off". I suppose you expected me to infer that you were attributing that thought to the hypothetical crusty punks you were defending, but there's not really anything in that statement to lead me in that direction. You said it as if it was a fact that Fat/Epitaph commodify punk/support a mindless consumer society, and so I addressed it as such. It was that "is" thing that threw me I think. Against Who? In any case, I never said that Fat and Epitaph support a "mindless consumer society", that's what I said was the opinion of most of the people who stand against them. "Not to support those claims about Fat and Epitaph too much, as Fat is easily my favorite label, but there is that Punk Confidential or whatever it's called that Fat Mike does. Basically, a People Magazine, only about punk stars! That's kinda lame. Really it's just music after all........... Will's not old enough to live on his own yet. Poll of the hour: Not to support those claims about Fat and Epitaph too much, as Fat is easily my favorite label, but there is that Punk Confidential or whatever it's called that Fat Mike does. Basically, a People Magazine, only about punk stars! That's kinda lame. Will, you're killin' me. How do Fat and Epitaph promote a mindless consumer society? They both have relatively diverse offerings (considering they're genre labels) and make those diverse offerings readily available to those who want to buy them. They're cheaper than most too. If a lot of consumers want to listen to Against Me! or Bad Religion or whatever why does that make them mindless? Maybe these bands have good things to say that people respond to. Maybe it's NOT all a conspiracy against you. Fat and Epitaph commodifying punk/supporting a mindless consumer society is what pisses people off. I don't care nearly enough to read throught these posts, so I don't expect anyone else to do the same. Maybe a few people will read this while it's at the top, but here are my thoughts: i knew that with everybody trashing it that it couldnt possibly be that bad. i like it. "Grow up kids, take a bath and a get a fucking job." Good album. against me care about black people? Against Me! just posted this bulletin on myspace: Don't Lose Touch has grown on me, and the video is actually kind of brilliant when you think about it. Well, maybe not brilliant, but it's clever. it was beautiful. i'm tired of you people. I hated this album after the first 2 spins. But after a while, it has grown on me. It's a very solid album once you get used to the fact it's mostly mid-tempo stuff. No way do I think it's any kind of step up in quality or creativity, but a good album nonetheless. Just a different type of album from them. Not quite what I expected, but it will do. Sickboi said it best below... "Best Against Me! album, easily. That's after one listen. score is for the so-called "review." Dude, where's the review? Who cares about you buying Tom a pint, or that you drank a light beer? "Hey, thanks for showing me that post from Chris PIX.... Best Against Me! album, easily. That's after one listen. "Personally, I think he's a tad bitter. He can say what he wants about not wanting to make money, but at the end of the month, when he's short on cash for bills, I bet he's cursing Fat Mike and AM! ..." "Searching for a Former Clarity", heh, at least they are honest. Hey, thanks for showing me that post from Chris PIX.... yay for everyone throwing in their 2 cents!!! this band will break up and you will all be sad (most of you). I really dig this album, but I do have to say it doesn't speak to me in the way their last two did. It seems like Against Me! is having just a little less fun with this album, and that's dissapointing. I certainly don't think it's their best, but it's a damn good album anyway. Here's hoping they can keep it up for a long time now. A post by Chris from PIX on their boards: Keeping something cheap does not automatically make it DIY. Its one thing when Epitaph (or any other major) charges $15 for a CD with a press-run of 100,000, it's quite another when the basement show charges $7 so the band from sweden can put enough petrol in thier tank to make it to the next show. I'd rather pay an extra buck or two at a show or buy the $4 7'' than have my favorite bands quit because they are losing so much money they can't sustain themselves on meager DIY dollars. "Best punk album of the year so far and maybe the best album of any genre. It blows the last record and even 'Reinventing Axl Rose' out of the water. This band is important in a way that punk music hasn't been important in years." i copied and pasted this: Hey Bartley, if you read this, drop me and email and tell me what's up with the Pietasters/Big D show in C-ville in October.... Copy and paste comes in handy young man Every single thing you post is to start an argument. Either that or to try and show how good you are at using your copy and paste function. "Boost MY ego??? You're a fucking joke." I'll go back to the "half life mods" when you stop spending your life reading about and then copying the information about a scene you weren't apart of, Mr. 80s hardcore..... seriously, PIX and Fat are both good labels that put out good music, albeit with different goals in mind. Personally, I think he's a tad bitter. He can say what he wants about not wanting to make money, but at the end of the month, when he's short on cash for bills, I bet he's cursing Fat Mike and AM! ... It's kind of pompous and "sceney", but I appreciate a guy who fucking stands up for what he believes in. Hey, Steve Jones, get this, you anonymous internet prick, I don't owe you ANY explination for anything I write. Fuck you for attempting to "show me up" to impress your message board clique. Same goes for "CrookedSuperHero", without a doubt the most unfunny and tasteless commentor on this site. Go back to strategizing over Half-Life mods and stop trying to boost your ego this way. "get kids to buying into majors" I just think its petty and uncalled for. If he wants to call out Victory, or Ferret, I could maybe understand, but I get a strong feeling his statement is directed at Fat. Sickboi- It's funny that I have to make about ten replies explaining everything I post because of how I sign my name... Will - PIX has some great bands, and I respect their ethics, I just don't like them taking cheap shots at those that don't follow their lead, thats the ONLY problem I have with them. As people moan for against me, they make releases that they enjoy themselves, not for anyone else. Yeah, but his operation is at odds with this bullshit. If Fat and Epitaph stuck to his idea of DIY ideals, he wouldn't bitch. It's not as if he called anyone in particular out, but he's fucking fed up with people pretending to stand for "punk", bitching about the administration, yet operating as nothing but an extension of it. Well Sickboi, maybe you can tell me of a label that releases cds for $5 with DECENT recording? I like FAT releases as much as the next guy, but PIX has had some damn good bands and they seem like pretty cool people for what they do and try to stick to what they believe in. Crookie-monster: "As for Plan It X, the label can talk all the shit it wants and preach about scene politics, but it doesn't mean shit if you don't do your job right. I think in Will's case, PC should now stand for "punk-connected", because NO ONE is as punk as willSD or PIX. Like white people who think that minorities get more federal benefits than them, it's always funny to hear people talk shit on Plan-It-X... In the 10 or so songs I've heard so far, I'm baffled as to how people consider it to be their best. I enjoy most of these songs and some of them match their previous efforts but I can't help but feel that Tom's songwriting has become worse. Musically it's pretty good though though not their best, As The Eternal Cowboy, to me , is their best musically. Anyhow, I haven't listened to everything quite yet or repeatedly so I'm withholding a score. As for Plan It X, the label can talk all the shit it wants and preach about scene politics, but it doesn't mean shit if you don't do your job right. Much of the reason I feel in love with against me! was because of their aesthetic,. And now that's gone. Well, he should run his "operation" and not bitch about how other choose to run theirs. Ugh. You people are retarded. This album was weak. I don't care if Against Me! sells a million albums and headlines a stadium or sells 10 and headlines a dive bar. I just want good songs, and this batch was definitely the worst of their career thus far. Here's to the future... I haven't heard this yet, but I'm on the fence about their first two records. I never thought they were doing anything exceptional, but it wasn't terrible either. Well, except for their live show - its pretty good. Will, here's my point. I got what you meant. But in all honesty, I think what PIX says borders on elitism. Like white people who think that minorities get more federal benefits than them, it's always funny to hear people talk shit on Plan-It-X... They are simply a label trying to stick to grassroots DIY ideals. Also, Aubin sold out the scene by changing "partner" to "girlfriend" because of some idiot. Since when is partner a term used only in same sex relationships? I think it's a smart idea for heterosexuals to appropriate that term. But I guess this wasn't really the place for discussion of the use of gendered terms so it might be for the best. We need to talk about who sucks and is not the punks. You don't get jokes. That's alright. It just means you're punk because punk is stupid and so are you. The second track is such a burn on the people that talk shit on AM! This album was absolutely terrible the first time i listened to it, but now it is much better at around the 4th or 5th time. A few songs are amazing like From her lips to gods ears, but some are drug out too long. Stand your ground, but don't talk shit on those that don't share your beliefs. Sorry, but what they are saying is shitty. OK I didn't remember that. I'd read it before but hadn't noticed anything too problematic with it. As much as I think punk and DIY are stupid, I actually agree with him. Full color magazine ads = not punk. A glut of merchandise = not punk. Records that cost nothing to press but lots to buy = not punk. Sorry, you can't really disagree with that. Maybe you're like me and you think that punk is stupid, but those things are also stupid. And they're not punk. Frankly, I like the things he does stand for and don't care what he doesn't stand for. "sharing ideas, separating ourselves from the fucked up people in this world, taking a stand against the injustice and greed, striving to make even the smallest positive change, making friends and sometimes even having fun." Yep. People sure are fanatic about this band. I wanted to check them out about 4 years ago, but it became pretty clear back then that most of their fans were one step above being retarded. Not much has changed since then and I still have no idea what AM sound like or why they're worth all the talk. Jonesy, I don't care about the rating. but i'm sure opinions will change regarding favourite songs etc. It should've been mentioned somewhere in the review just how LONG this album is. Not that its overly long, but at 47 minutes, its a full fifteen minutes longer than either of their other full-lengths. The length of the album isn't due to there being a surplus of songs, but rather that the songs are now all 3 or 4 minutes long, which is a big big change for Against Me! Anyone whose seen AM!'s DVD will see the people from PIX having nothing but good things to say about AM! They actually take a jab at the "militant DIY kids" of which they consider themselves to belong. Idiot?!?!?!?! A couple things: No one should've brought up Plan It X. That was dumb. PIX doesn't give a shit about any supposed AM vs PIX feud so you shouldn't either. It doesn't exist except in stupid kids' heads. On top of that, someone said that PIX talks shit on other punks and labels for not being as DIY as them. Uh... what? I've never heard anyone actually involved in PIX say anything remotely like that. Way to make shit up, idiot. They seem to be among the most open, thoughtful groups of people out there. If you read their message board, yeah, you'll pick that up. But their message board is so fucking lame, and barely anyone associated with the label posts there. Give it up. "how good is no idea's mailorder? meaning when will this album show up at my door?" Ignore them Bonez. Someone should do another review for this in 3 months once it's had time to soak in. Fucking Eh Man! PIX charge £5, postage paid, for that CD. No Idea sells it for £4.75, but without postage. I don't know the real reason they've taken it, but If there's one thing you can't fault PIX on, it's prices. oh, and i guess also that stuff that sickboi wrote too. Plan It X records. (I was recently informed of the abbreviation too) Who is P-I-X, and how did they fuck them over? Who is P-I-X, and how did they fuck them over? While there's a few hundred people arguing here, I might as well plug the fact that Pastepunk is running a contest for Against Me! right now, givng away this disc, patches, posters, and their DVD. Enter here: pastepunk.com/contests.php. Yeah, but I hate how that label pretty much talks shit on every other label for not being as "DIY" as them... But PIX has some mighty fine bands.... awesome...i give this a 9 just do to the fact that as well as aubin, the chorus for multiple sex is a bit annoying after a while. I have had this for a while and at first it was like 5 or 6 songs over and over again and now my favorite tunes are the ones that i originally skipped over! I'm sick of this PIX bullshit. Seriously, bunch of stinky kids pissed that the little band that gave them their "cred" is a little more popular. This record is awful. This band didnt go down hill, they fell off a cliff. They fucked over P-I-X really badly, and they are a contradiction of what they used to sing about. I not gonna sit here and babble on and on about how they sold out because I dont care, I simply think they are just a terrible band. i do really like this record. Best punk album of the year so far and maybe the best album of any genre. It blows the last record and even 'Reinventing Axl Rose' out of the water. This band is important in a way that punk music hasn't been important in years. Best punk album of the year so far and maybe the best album of any genre. It blows the last record and even 'Reinventing Axl Rose' out of the water. This band is important in a way that punk music hasn't been important in years. Really good album -- it gets better and better after every listen. Great Review. I'll definitely have to go check it out... I was a big fan of the Problems demo and I can't wait to hear the rest of it. how good is no idea's mailorder? meaning when will this album show up at my door? 35% is definetly their best song. Hands down. Were those two last Disco tracks really that good? On Disco the last two songs are the ones that are fucking amazing, and the title track I find a bit lacking. Why do people think Against Me will change anything? I'm seriously asking, cause i can't see them doing anything particulary important. They used to write ok lyrics, the music isn't special and they don't really have a strong message about anything, but it seems everyone thinks they're gonna make music "whole" again or something. This record was a bit of a let down. Reinventing Axl rose was a 10. This is at MOST an 8. I still love this band but the new songs just aren't the same. Still, it's better than most of the punk rock released these days. I'll probably pick this up in the next few months. I still don't understand why this band is so hyped and worshipped (or alternately reviled and accused of being sellouts). Their live show is very good but quite a bit short of spectacular imo. I still love this band. Despite the fact that I'm not really liking the direction they're taking with their music and their message, they still know how to write a good fucking tune. "Disco only had 3 songs right? Ony the title track was good the other two were shit off that." lookin forward to this...all i've heard is 'problems' and its a pretty neat song. if you click on preview the score won't show up. dang it, it didn't post my score! Haven't heard the album in its entirety yet, so this review's for the review. Not very to-the-point, but it put nicely the importance of the band into perspective. I can't wait to pick this bad boy up today. Disco only had 3 songs right? Ony the title track was good the other two were shit off that. they sold out ""Top ten of the year? No way. Maybe top 100." Levitateme, if you can't see how it's their best work music wise you shouldn't be writting reviews. I love Crimes and their acoustic work but it's not a matter of them being minimalist. It's a matter of at the time no one involved was particularly good at their instrument. As for EC I agree it was probably more breakthrough musically than this but that's because this album was built on the foundation of that album. SFAFC is the first Against Me! album to set up songs that have a whole atmosphere about them. The music sets the tone for this album far more than any other element. Thei bands musical ability began to show up in EC, which was the first effort not carried primarily by Tom's lyrics, and now they've shown they can set a mood and a theme based on their musical abilites. "Top ten of the year? No way. Maybe top 100." This band is ploughing the footprints of punk rock, reversing, getting out of the vehicle and making their own steps. Gotta pick up this shiz-nizzle. I've listened to this many times now and I'd say that Aubin's rating of 8/10 is right on. I write reviews for another site that rates by percentages and I gave this a 78%. It's still a disappointment, but that's because all of Against Me!'s major releases (Crime and beyond) up to this point have been 10s. There is not one song on this that beats anything on Crime, Accoustic, RAR, Disco, or ATEC, not one. Hey Crooky is falling asleep. Too much fish'n'chips have made him tired Yawn.... wow. that's some review. i dig it. jones, you somehow have less of an attention span than me, that's pretty impressive. Oh yeah, the only reason I didn't give it a 10 is Problems. I think slowing it down really took away from that song. Still good, but the demo version and dvd version were amazing. All politics aside, this is easily one of the best records of the year. I never listened to this band because they were "diy" or whatever anyway, so why should I care if they don't play in the basement anymore? I wish the haters would just see past all of that petty bullshit and actually give this album a chance, because it's fucking great. I feel sorry for you if you can't see that. Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most, says it all Wow. It seems I always truly enjoy Aubin's (and Adam's) reviews. I agree with it. When I first got this cd I couldn't stand it, and now that I listen to it more and more I'm starting to have an appriciation for it. They most definitely have reinvented themselves again, and it wasn't in the direction I hoped for, but I think I can learn to dig this direction, as it is damn fine music. Review is great by the way. It's very much written for fans, but as a fan I found a lot of good meat to sink into, both in content and in writing. Props as always, aubster. i really wanted to love this but the lyrics on songs like "justin" just made me embarrassed when i listened to it. sounded more like a step back rather than one forward. i've been obsessed with their entire catalogue before this record, and everything i had heard from the demos excited the hell out of me, but in the end this was one of the most dissapointing records of the last few years for me personally. i'll still see them in oct. when they come around and i'm not hating them or saying they "sold out" or whatever, and i admit this record has its moments, but, what a letdown. just my opinion. I just really can't get into this band anymore. Meh. Loved the old days (like every elitist who hates the band now). "I, like many, have mixed feelings. It's not the AM! I fell in love with, but it's awesome in its own regard. I'll have to wait til it shows up in the mail and give it a few spins before I make any more concrete judgements." I would probably like this record way better if I hadn't heard the demos. They kinda took the punch out of the strongest tracks. Great band but, seriously, let's stop with the Clash comparisons. No band will ever be as important as the Clash. I've said it before and I'll say it again, they keep getting better and better. They aren't the same band that I started listening to when I first heard "I still love you, Julie" and I couldn't be happier. I'm amazed a staff reviewer would waste the first 6 paragraphs talking about something else besides the record, but anyway... this record is hugely disappointing. It has its moments, but on the whole is uninspired and flat out boring (which means all the artsy-fartsy critics will love it). Oh well. i uh...well. i read more than half this review and you hadnt even gotten to the record yet...so i stopped reading. Neither does the phrase "a lick of sense". I don't know. Ignoring the politics and debate, the music isn't very good as the other stuff (even Cowboy), the lyrics are pretty eh, and it just doesn't feel the same to me. I'm not saying they need to be screaming, pounding buckets, and playing in basements all the time, but something changed somewhere. There was so much hype for this record, since everyone is jumping on this bandwagon, and this is just a letdown. If they are doing what they want to do, good for them, but it's not doing anything for me. The masses can have this. I, like many, have mixed feelings. It's not the AM! I fell in love with, but it's awesome in its own regard. I'll have to wait til it shows up in the mail and give it a few spins before I make any more concrete judgements. Aubin....partner? If that is infact what you meant, I have been on this site for a while and haven''t picked that up. I thought Scott was gonna review this? at first i was so pumped for this record. i mean i had head the lucero demo songs, that basically ended up on this and i was so excited. i kept telling everyone, this record is going to change rock and roll forever. Nice review Scott.... Oh, and to relate to Aubin, I got a chance to interview Tom shortly after Eternal Cowboy came out and like you the best part happened after the interview. Tom asked me what I thought of the album and we shot the shit about the tour and how the album was written and all and I told him how their new album was the only one that my girlfriend liked of their stuff (that made him laugh). Then when I asked if they had vinyl for sale Tom took me up to the both and handed me a copy of the record (wouldn't let me pay him). I tell that story a lot, but it just amazes me how cool he was as a person. I'm really looking forward to this. Joy is a heart breakingly beautiful song. I listened to it about 16 times on the way back from a uncles funeral a week or two ago, and it made me feel much better. Or at least fit the mood. They could have sold thousands of records more their first week if they'd just signed to a major and gotten radio promotion, but they made this amazing album on Fat, and on their own terms. Fuck what you think about this records sound, thats something to respect. I told you Brian! I felt a little 'man, Kirby is full of shit' when we talked about the repeat listen thing the other night. Score is for idiots who think punk rock can ever die. I got this album about four days ago and I've been listening to it every day since. I have to say (again) I feel the LP is a much more complete package and with the two records it seems to split the album much better than a single CD. I'll admitt it's not as lyrically unique (or perhaps driven) as older records but it is by far their best musically. And I feel, even more importantly that the album is better musically without taking away from the overall message or strength of the band. Sucks! The first time I listened to this, I couldn't even decide if I liked it. After another 10 listens, though, and this becomes one of the best cds I've heard in a long long time. I really don't care for this band, but I can see why some people do. But seeing this review got me wondering whatever happened to the Swingin' Utters? 'Cause that's what I hear when listen to AM! I will be buying this Wednesday for sure. Score is for the demos. Um, yeah sorry about that comment below! It wasn't funny, true but not funny, I'm going to drink some water and go to bed now, yeah. I could write forever about this record, but I'll just say that Clarity is easily in the top five records of 2005. It's incredibly exciting to watch a band progress through release after release, only getting better and better. I'm afraid to give this five stars, simply because -- while I do think the record is hands-down phenomenal -- I know the band will top it for LP4. This record was a huuuuuuuuuuge disappointment. SOOO shitty compared to their older stuff. I can't even begin to describe how crappy some of these songs are. But then there are a few really really good ones. I wrote a review... hopefully it will get put up later this week. Against Me! sold out!! I tried to get into the CD release show last night, and there were no tickets left!! First lolz! hohoho, here we go with the backslash I'm definitely in agreeance with the "repeated listens" part. I'm 6 listens in and it's sort of like puzzle pieces are starting to drop into their respective places here and there. |
