Against Me! - New Wave Review
by Travis Becker
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Often these days, independent bands find themselves in something of a no win situation. As they start out, many are often championed by a small, but fiercely loyal group of fans that love them utterly and ultimately make them famous. Trouble is, those fans want those bands all to themselves, and getting famous and being able to pay the bills doesn't fit in with that plan. Such is the case for Gainsville's, Against Me! With their conscious, and unique blend of populist folk infused punk and anthemic rock, they are the perfect band for that rag tag group of supporters to latch onto with no intention of letting go. However, it didn't take long for calls of sellout and "you were better on your old records" to echoe through the empty clubs as the band moved on to larger venues and now with the release of New Wave, the claims of betrayal will likely continue, fair or not.
Two major (and related) complaints have haunted this release. One, it was produced by grunge kingpin, Butch Vig. Famous for work with Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, and for being a member of Garbage, Vig seems an unobvious choice to helm a record for a band that exists far outside the scope of the bands Vig is famous for producing. Two, New Wave is very clean and precise, a far cry from the much grittier and less done up sound of their earlier records. Shaggy haired guys with beards and tattoo sleeves everywhere must be up in arms. The nerve of Against Me! Adequately producing and engineering an album, whoever heard of such a thing?
The problem with those arguments is the fact that the band sounds really really good on this release. If that helps them sell a few more copies, good for them, but the record really does represent a large step forward for the band. For starters, singer and primary songwriter, Tom Gabel is able to step much more to the fore in this setting. His usual batch of strong songs is that much stronger for not having to wade through chincy sound and production quality. And while I'm as much a fan of the proverbial scratches and pops that have to some degree defined Against Me!'s sound for years, there's something about hearing them within a more professional framework that is, at the end of the day, satisfying.
Add to this the fact that an addition of the album is available that includes a full length live DVD, and you've got something for everyone. The band performs several new songs, and a bevy of older tunes going all the way back to Reinventing Axl Rose. Now that's value for money.
The political bent is still here as well. Songs like White People for Peace and Americans Abroad offer unabashed takes on the world in which we live, while still striving to apologize to some degree for the necessity of the message. Modern punk meets traditional folkie. It just works. Add parts Billy Bragg and Dropkick Murphys to the more traditional sound of "post-hardcore" and you come up with a sound like no other. It's nice to be able to hear it for a change.
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Against Me! - New Wave
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