Monday, July 30, 2007

Against Me! - New Wave

[This is a copy/mirror of a post I made in my fandom blog. Music posts showing up here will probably be mirrors of stuff posted there from now on. I'm not linking to my fandom blog because, aside from music, I'd rather not cross the streams for some reason.

Sorry for the insane lack of updates, by the way.
]



Against Me! released their fourth album, New Wave recently and so far, I think I'm liking it. At first, it wasn't grabbing me in the throat like their previous album did, but I do think it's good stuff.

I recommend giving these songs a try:

Stop - Disco-punk that sounds more blood-and-guts than most of what I've heard in this genre. It seems to be about the band's decision to sign to a major, and it's my favorite song on the album. (My favorite song on the last album was also all about the record-industry, too. Huh.) I wish they'd chosen it for the first single.

Ocean - The driving, dark sound of the song counterpointed with the yearning vocals and the vulnerability expressed in the lyrics about faith and gender and family make this song one of my favorites. Tom Gabel sings it so well.

And, just for fun, the aforementioned favorite song with the lyrics about the record industry from the last album: Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners [radio edit].

If you like what you hear, support the band: here and here (or possibly here and here.)

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Punk Wot I Liked ('06 Edition)

As it says on the sidebar, this place is my attempt to contaminate the blogosphere with my woefully unhip taste in music. That said:

Music Wot I Liked During '06

When I was a kid, I was thrilled when I finally got my hands on a pair of slip-on sneakers. I was so happy that I'd finally be "in" and hip and possibly immunized to teasing, all due to the trendy magic of slip-ons.

The day I bought them was pretty much the day they'd gone completely out of style.

That said, none of the albums and songs listed here actually came out during '06.

ALBUMS


The Soviettes - LP III - Fat Wreck Chords - 06/28/05

Fun, fast, loud, brassy, catchy -- I'm heartbroken that these kids are on "hiatus" because I like this band and love this album. Three girls, one guy, trading vocals, and I can't tell which woman it is that provides the most powerful and memorable vox on the record because they're all egalitarian and modest in the liner notes. Aww. Upbeat and hooky without being saccharine, full of great Misfits-esque "whoah-uh-ohhs." Absolutely free of pretention.

Middle Of The Night (.m4a)

You Should Know (.m4a)

What Did I Do (.m4a)

Support the Soviettes at: iTunes - MySpace - Fat Wreck Chords


Against Me! - Searching For A Former Clarity - Fat Wreck Chords - 09/06/05

Against Me! savages the state of the Union, the record industry and themselves on their third release. Tom Gabel's vocals are snarly-yet-tuneful, emotive and affecting. The lyrics, whether they're taking aim at Condoleeza Rice ("From Her Lips to God's Ears"), the industry they're a part of ("Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners" -- still lovin' that title), or their own relevance as artists ("Don't Lose Touch"), are clever, passionate, sardonic, and self-deprecating... and it's the self-deprecation, most of all, that made me sit up and take notice. One of my favorite albums of the year and one of the most refreshing voices in the genre at the moment. (I know that sounds hyperbolic, but seriously, give 'em a try.)

Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners

Don't Lose Touch (.m4a)

Support Against Me! at iTunes - MySpace - Fat Wreck Chords - their official site


SONGS

The Matches - Salty Eyes (buy)

The Gossip - Keeping You Alive (.m4a) (buy)

Mon Frere - Drain (.m4a) (buy)

Zombina and the Skeletones - Nobody Likes You When You're Dead (buy)

Horrorpops - Crawl Straight Home (buy)

Christ, it's 2AM. More to come.

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