Against Me! - New Wave(special edition)

Thu 16th Aug, 2007 in Music Reviews

Recently making the jump to a major label (Sire, a subsidiary of Warner) from their old home at the respectable punk label, Fat Wreck Chords, Against Me! have unleashed their fourth studio record, New Wave. There’s a special edition version of this release floating around at the moment, a fat digipak containing both the album and a DVD.

The notion of – œselling out’ always seems to be a matter of huge contention for those within punk rock circles. Album opener New Wave is an unsubtle message to fans that a new label does not change who they are, what they are about and what they want to do. It’s a call to just shut the fuck up and listen, with lines such as “We can control the medium / we can control the context of presentation… we can be the bands we want to hear / we can define our own generation.”

The music is rough and ready punk rock fused with a hint of folk. The lyrics read like short stories, and there’s a true sense of social awareness without being over-the-top political. While many records out there have stories embedded in each song, often the message is cryptic through over use of metaphors, and thankfully Against Me! have done it without resorting to either method.

Up The Cuts is almost jazz-like in its opening bars with tumbling toms and clean-strummed chords. Upbeat and toe-tapping goodness, the song strangely reads like a negative contemplation of both the recording process of the album, and the industry in general at this point.

White People For Peace would be recognised by most as the lead single, and the most political they get on this album, venting frustrations over wars that continue despite public outcry. Stop! follows on with a dance beat littered with brass percussion and would have sounded perfect on a 70’s dance floor if Tom’s scratchy vocals were replaced with a female voice.

Speaking of female voices, Tegan Quin of Tegan & Sara fame guests on Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart with her sweet and soothing vocals. Piss and Vinegar follows by taking a look at the insincerity of many bands in the scene nowadays; “I hear the hype about your band / I’ve seen your videos playing on the TV / Publicity photos in magazines / No, none of it makes me feel anything.”

Being on a major label also allows them a big budget, and what a way to utilise it then to grab producer extraordinaire, Butch Vig. Boy can that man do wonders! New Wave sounds great in every way and really helps the band shine.

The real highlight of this release is in the bonus DVD. Fifty minutes of songs spanning their catalogue live at The Key Club in Los Angeles, the picture and sound quality are both immaculate and as good as you would expect from a huge mainstream band. The picture is shot from multiple angles, near and far, and genuinely is the next best thing to seeing them in the flesh. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of the new material, this alone makes the purchase worth it.

A solid effort worthy of a spot in your collection.

Check out the video for White People for Peace