The pre-release lowdown on Searching For A Former Clarity was that it stretched the boundaries of punk rock. I don't know if punk rock really needs its boundaries stretched by slowing the tempos and adding a can of studio polish that wasn't really needed. Flipper was probably the first punk group to slow it down and it's going to take much more talent than Against Me has to even come close to that sort of quality. A weighty inertia sabotages the proceedings and it likely leaves fans of Against Me's previous works scratching their head.
It's not that radical a departure. The usual themes are present concerning paranoia, corruption, selling out, self loathing, and the music industry. On paper it appears that Against Me should have come up with a killer album. The devil is in the details - the album is produced by ex-Jawbox D.C. stalwart J. Robbins and maybe that's the fly in the ointment. Credit should ultimately be given to Against Me's frontman, songwriter, and guiding light Tom Gabel for the ponderous sludgery present.
He rails against the city of Miami, Florida on the succinctly titled "Miami" which plods and stumbles as the leadoff batter of this fourteen song foray into mediocrity. Which happens to be the title of the second track; mediocrity that is as in "Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)" which seems to be about some standard of purity versus selling out. My theory is that we sell out as soon as we're born. As Richard Hell wrote, "It's a gamble when you get a face" so even though the song actually verges on beng uptempo I'm just not that impressed or concerned about it. Stereotypes abound on the song "Justin" which tries to be about the horror of war. I just get hung up on the line "jocks and assholes still don't know shit about aesthetics" which just comes off whiny and too chiseled in stone to allow that a jock and an asshole somewhere might actually know something about aesthetics.
Article comments
1 - cid jones
Get bent [edited]
2 - max
You really don't have to be such a c*** you know...
3 - Derrick
Oh come on, he has the right to his own opinion. Leave him alone. You two are being bigger cunts than he was (or wasn't, I thought he was being fair).
By the way, I effing love Against Me! and this album.
4 - Eric
Sure, this album was a bit of a letdown for me when I first got it. I enjoyed it, but it didn't grab me like previous releases.
I did, however see them in concert and I now think of the ablum differently. The new songs are fantastic. The album does no justice to the pure energy and passion of their live show.
5 - Zack
You're a bastard. There should never be a review like this, whether the music actually does suck or not.
6 - wallybangs
There should never be a review like this, whether the music actually does suck or not. What should a review be like Zack? I've written over a hundred of the damn things and I'd love to know how to do it right.
7 - Maggie
are you a jock or an a**hole (or both)? it seems apparent that you were wounded by those lyrics. i love that you have to "name drop," i.e. the Richard Hell quote...does that give you punk credibility? i'll admit Reinventing and As the Eternal are stronger records, but there ARE some definite GEMS on this one...your review is complete rubbish!
8 - wallybangs
Man, it's fun pissing off the gameboy babies.
9 - Cait
I think this guy is off-base, but whatever, an opinion is yours for a reason. When I first listened to the CD, it didn't grab me like the others, but then I kept listening and now I can't get enough of it. Then I saw them in concert last Thursday, and damn if they're not the best band I've ever seen, they were so freaking awesome that I love their music even more now.
10 - Chavez
I really dont think the person who reviewed this album actually took the time and give it a good listen, it seems he was too caught up on what he has heard about the band and what bands are suppose to be doing. This is a band who makes music because they like it, dont judge the album on what they have to become or have what rules they must adhere to, they do what they want, thats punk, not specific chords, not what record label they are on or what club/bar/laundrymat they play at, end of story.
11 - Amy
i think he hit the nail on the head. i payed 10 bucks for this album at their show and feel a bit ripped off. i read the lyrics and it seems like theyre well aware they went careening downhill. not to mention having lyrics like "from HMO's to MTV. Fuck you" in the song the politics of starving, and later having your tour dates plastered all over MTV. its one thing for a band to go on MTV. i understand, its business. but to condemn that shit and 3 years later sell yourselves to it is just stupid and fake.
12 - ben
i think this guy is a fucking genius. i loved against me! for years, but let's be honest, this album is substandard at best. sure the shows were great, and sure, i sang along at them, but seriously, this album must be an experiment in mediocrity for them. a third of the songs on it are about "selling out"- are we thinking a certain band is getting a bit defensive?
13 - gabe
this is one of the worst reviews i have ever come across
14 - frank
This is their best album, the writing is fantastic. The best they have had on an album yet an they have had some rather stellar lyrics, the music is engaging and the production is superb. That being said I personally prefer Reinventing Axl Rose any day but I feel sorry for the poor reviewer who obviously hasn't taken the time to understand the music, oh and you spelled the band's name wrong the whole review: Against Me! (just thought I'd help
15 - bob hxc
nah, this is a pretty good album, certainly not the pile of shit you are describing. a grower, give it a chance, or even better don't buy it and go see these guys live in a pub pint of lager in hand and you'll get it.
16 - rich
Um, just so you all know, not EVERYONE on the planet has to like everything Against Me! put out. Just because he gave it a bad review isn't reason to nominate him for "asshole of the year". Alot of people are saying "this guy OBVIOUSLY didn't take the time to listen to this cd or understand it!". Well, again, maybe he did take the time and in the end the result wasn't impressive to him. Big f**king deal?? You know how many LP's and CD's reviewers have to go through? They can't sit for a week listening to one CD to come up with a review that will please the fans of the band. It just so happens that sometimes, reviewers don't like or absolutely hate the release they review. Maybe this theory of "I like it so everyone else better too or they're the biggest jerks in the world!!!!" is a result of a society that gives trophies to kids on sports teams just for showing up, even if they're the sh**tiest person on the team. On a final note, as a person who has known Tom for over a decade, I can tell you with 100% (err, better make it 95%) certainty that he really doesn't give a sh*t whether a person likes his band or their albums.
17 - Johnny_Phalapagis
oooo rub my nipples.
FUCKING RHAMADAN CHEESE
18 - more punk than you
the album has some great songs on it.
Think of it as music and not "punk music".
Theres no punk music anymore anyways.
Punk is mythology