New Wave, a genre completely unaffiliated with Against Me!, is now a more than fitting title for their major label debut. Though their sound is most definitely not new wave, it accurately describes their continued musical transformation and movement towards the mainstream.
This is easily the catchiest and most accessible record Against Me! has released- which will probably make most diehard fans feel even more betrayed than the goth kids in high school did when they found out that Hot Topic is owned by The Gap.
Despite his boyish looks, lead singer Tom Gabel's voice will catch listeners off guard with a raspy quality that instantly separates the band from the majority of their peers. Gabel's voice meshes surprisingly well with AM!'s new, more radio-friendly sound.
A prime example would be the song "Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart," which features Tegan Quin of none other than Tegan and Sara fame. The duet, mixing Quin's soft vocals and Gabel's hardened rasp, makes for arguably the most enjoyable track on the record.
Quin and Gabel sing, "What happens when summer's over? How long before distance becomes a chore?"
Even though Against Me!'s sound has been modified a bit for this release, Gabel's radical protest lyrics are still a major outline for many of the songs on New Wave. Songs like "Up the Cuts" and "Piss and Vinegar" target bands that they feel might not be into the music for all the right reasons.
"Up the Cuts" sounds the most similar to classic Against Me!, due to Warren Oakes' signature drumming, accompanied with Gabel's screaming of the line "Are you restless like me?" "Piss and Vinegar" carries on the visceral attack and lyrical spite.
Gabel even feels the need to call out Corporate America with tracks like "Americans Abroad." With lyrics criticizing franchises that the band has experienced overseas, such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola, it is not difficult to tell that basically everything and anything can piss off Mr. Gabel and his cohorts.
It's hard to believe that this is the same band from Gainesville, Florida that was once just a guitarist and drummer screaming about politics. Now with their major label debut, Against Me! has really come into their own with a new sound that is bound to send old fans reeling in disgust. But once you realize that this isn't the same band and stop comparing this to their older work, you'll be able to appreciate what a great record New Wave really is.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
