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The moniker of this Gainesville, Florida outfit began as the solo project, of an individual whose name was Tom Gabel. Gabel occasionally performed with backing musicians. After several line up changes, by 2002, this moniker became the name of the legendary folk punk anarchists. For roughly a decade, the band featured Gabel on vocals and guitar, James Bowman on guitar and back ups, Andrew Seward on bass, and Warren Oakes on drums. Through this line up, the band released one album on No Idea, and two albums on Fat Wreck Chords. Eventually, the quartet signed to major label, Sire Records, releasing another two full lengths. Both of these were successful on the Billboard 200; 2007\u2019s\u00a0\u2018New Wave\u2019<\/em>\u00a0at 57, and 2010\u2019s\u00a0‘White Crosses’\u00a0<\/em>at 34. With success, the band went back on the independent road, establishing their own record label, Total Treble Music.<\/p>\n In 2012, Gabel publicly came out as transgender, beginning the transition to living as a woman, and taking the name Laura Jane Grace. Laura\u2019s courage certainly has placed her as an inspirational figure, not just in the music community, but culturally as well.<\/p>\n Despite losing several members, including recent drummer Jay Weinburg in 2012 and bassist Seward in 2013, the band have been actively busy over the last year recording their fifth album. This will be entitled\u00a0‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues\u2019<\/em>, a document of Grace\u2019s experience, and will be released next week. You can listen to it\u00a0here<\/a>! (It\u2019s great!) Also, the band have new members including Inge Johansson on bass, and Atom Willard on drums.<\/p>\n This week, in celebration of\u00a0Against Me!<\/strong>\u2019s newest album, we at Already Heard<\/strong> have decided to discuss which is the band\u2019s best album. Senior Editor Sean Reid is writing to defend\u00a0‘White Crosses\u2019<\/em>, their most successful album to date. On the other hand, Assistant Editor, Aaron Lohan, glorifies the honour of final Fat album,\u00a0‘Searching for a Former Clarity\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n What do you consider Against Me!<\/strong>\u2019s best album and why? Let us know on our Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a> pages.<\/em><\/p>\n When it comes to Against Me!<\/strong>\u2019s best, many people are stubbornly divided in precise cliques. Most older fans will stand by the band\u2019s classic debut ‘\u2026Is Reinventing Axl Rose\u2019<\/em>. Fans of their recent output stand fast along with the likes of the polished stadium-esque \u2018White Crosses\u2019.<\/em> In all honesty, I believe the band have yet to make a terrible album\u2026yes even the wishy-washy major label debut ‘New Wave\u2019<\/em>. But out of their five outputs, I champion ‘Searching for a Former Clarity\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n This would be the band\u2019s second release on Fat Wreck Chords<\/strong>. It saw the band scrap shorter songs and identified their fiery hunger for bigger punk fuelled rock songs. To gain a better understanding, here are my points as follows.<\/p>\n Described by lead vocalist Laura Jane Grace (formerly Tom Gabel) as a concept record, the LP strived for unapologetic numbers. The crisp production from former Burning Airlines\/Jawbox frontman J. Robbins was well-guided to retain the group\u2019s bite.<\/p>\n The progression from their earlier work was well placed upon its release in 2005. Against Me!<\/strong> had a firm grasp with their flavours of punk, folk and country. From the first notes on saxophone\/trumpet accompanied \u2018Miami\u2019<\/em>, they put their foot down and rant away as they know best. ‘Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners\u2019<\/em> and ‘Don\u2019t Lose Touch<\/em>\u2019 feature a dance-beaten rhythm and tempo, which harkened for things to come. Credit goes to the bass line escorted by Andrew Seward, particularly on the slower, goosebump-ridden ‘Violence\u2019<\/em>, a song which channels Fugazi\u2019s quieter moments. The choruses are as huge as ever on the Rocket from the Crypt like \u2019Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)\u2019<\/em> and ‘Problems\u2019<\/em>. Slower country-hinged songs, \u00be through the album i.e. the drug slave\u2019s regret on ‘How Low?\u2019 <\/em>and the bittersweet ‘Joy\u2019<\/em>, give time to breathe and reflect. The consistent craft work is tamed really well considering the band\u2019s influences are traditionally seen as restrictive and tiresome.<\/p>\n Themes are a driving force for a punk band like Against Me!<\/strong>, and they\u2019re delivered marvellously. The time period this album was released seems not so far away, but retains a timelessness that continues to the present. This helps the politically charged tunes provide a continuous warning. ‘From Her Lips to God\u2019s Ears (The Energizer)\u2019<\/em> takes a satirical stab at U.S. President of the time George W. Bush, and looks through loophole after loophole in his foreign policies. In regards to the state of the music scene, the band shows no mercy at the naysayers (‘Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)\u2019<\/em>) and the formulaic ‘Holy Shit!\u2019<\/em>. It\u2019s a serious stamp in the face, but it\u2019s one who shouted and yelled with such wit and humour.<\/p>\n But neither of the aforementioned matter in contrast to the more personal matters shared out by Grace. The aforementioned ‘How Low?\u2019<\/em> and ‘Joy\u2019<\/em> are two examples, but this is portrayed none more so than the titular song. Due to the recent developments of the band, particularly Laura herself, this song makes much more sense now, and it rightfully pulls on the heartstrings. It\u2019s a song that strives for identity and acceptance; an anthem not just for the transgender, but for everyone who suffers such mental chasms.<\/p>\n For a subjective matter, arguing Against Me!<\/strong>\u2019s best record is controversial particularly within such a genre as this. Personally for me, ‘Searching for a Former Clarity\u2019<\/em> captured a band who were progressing for big things, musically and thematically. I hereby rest my case and let the music do the talking! If you disagree then fair do\u2019s but we all agree that Against Me!<\/strong> are one hell of a band.<\/p>\nSearching for a Former Clarity<\/strong>\u00a0(by Aaron Lohan)<\/h2>\n