{"id":7363,"date":"2015-09-21T10:39:27","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T10:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-against-me-23-live-sex-acts\/"},"modified":"2023-01-24T15:12:53","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T15:12:53","slug":"review-against-me-23-live-sex-acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-against-me-23-live-sex-acts\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Against Me! –\u00a023 Live Sex Acts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"image\"2014 was undoubtedly Against Me!<\/b><\/a>\u2019s year, from releasing their sixth studio album (\u2018Transgender Dysphoria Blues\u2019<\/i>) to Laura Jane Grace\u2019s AOL docu-series being nominated for \u2018Outstanding Documentary\u2019 at the GLAADs media awards. ’23 Live Sex Acts\u2019<\/i> is a document of that year, with the tracks being taken from various stops on their 2014 world tour.<\/p>\n

Against Me!<\/b> are a band in their prime putting together an ideal setlist spanning the band\u2019s impressive catalogue (not more than 4 tracks off any singular record). This 23-song collection is certainly something for any seasoned AM!<\/b> fan would take interest in but beyond that this release has little staying power. Put another way: if you want the Against Me!<\/b> live experience, go catch them live (they work relentlessly hard), this record doesn\u2019t do their live show or the quality of their songs justice.<\/p>\n

Less polished earlier works such as ‘Pints of Guinness\u2026\u2019<\/i> and ‘Clich\u00e9 Guevara\u2019<\/i> unsurprisingly come across far better than tracks that clearly required more studio attention (such as ‘Thrash Unreal\u2019<\/i>), but overall the release is simply lacking. The more ‘raw\u2019 tracks lacked their punch\/beefed up guitar, the more polished tracks we\u2019re not executed as well as you would have hoped and there was little further insight into the band\/dialogue between songs.<\/p>\n

Gripes aside, this is a great chance to get the picks of the AM!<\/b> back catalogue all in one place. Sure, one or two performances may be a little off, but the track selections are great, and there are glimpses of the band at their best, particularly on tracks like ‘I Was A Teenage Anarchist\u2019<\/i>. And there is more then enough aspects of the band\u2019s live show to make this a worthwhile listen. There\u2019s the bite and snarl of Grace as she stands her ground against venue security, and vocally she\u2019s strong throughout. It also gives really telling examples of how damn good a live drummer Atom Willard is, with his smooth effortless playing style showcased to excellent effect.<\/p>\n

Live records have always been directed at the existing fans (who would cite a live record in their end of year top 10?) and this release doesn\u2019t shake that view.<\/p>\n

Realistically, it\u2019s best to look at ’23 Live Sex Acts\u2019<\/i> as a taster of Against Me!<\/b>\u2019s live show, as an incentive and spur to get out and actually experience them for yourselves next time they hit the UK. No live album, however good or otherwise, can ever fully do justice to the experience of being in the crowd and taking in a band\u2019s performance first-hand.<\/p>\n

2\/5<\/p>\n