What an odyssey the career of Against Me! has been; from anarcho-folkpunk, through mid-western americana, to transgendered themed rock’n’roll. Ever since quitting the teenage politics of anarchism, Tom/Laura has been missing a muse or subject to his/her writing. ‘Searching for a Former Clarity’ was mostly about fan back-lash to selling out, ‘New Wave’ about the stale nature of modern music, ‘White Crosses’ was the band running out of lyrical steam.
“Confessing childhood secrets,
of dressing up in women’s clothes,
Compulsions you never knew the reasons to,
Will everyone, you ever meet or love,
be just relationship based on a false presumption?”
– Searching for a Former Clarity, Searching for a Former Clarity
“If I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman.
My mother once told me she would have named me Laura.
I would grow up to be strong and beautiful like her.
One day I’d find an honest man to make my husband.”
– Ocean, New Wave
‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ takes us through familiar sonic territory with Petty-esq bar rock tracks (FuckMyLife666, Dead Friend), heavier modern rock (True Trans Soul Rebel, Osama Bin Laden as the Crucified Christ), punk (Drinking with the Jocks), and folk (Two Coffins, Transgendered Dysphoria Blues).
Some of these songs are absolute slam-dunks, compelling you to listen repeatedly. The title track kicks things off in a style reminiscent of the older Against Me! screaming about working class alcoholism and tragedy. This time it’s about a trans-women wishing boys would see her as a women. ‘True Trans Soul Rebel’ follows this like a catchy and angry punch in the face. ‘FuckMyLife666’ picks up the sound AM! left with on White Crosses and expands into a masterpiece.
Some of the other tracks feel like filler. ‘Paralytics States’ features some of the album’s best lyrics and energy but fails to deliver on hooks, the title ‘Osama Bin Laden as the Crucified Christ’ is more interesting than the actual content of the song. ‘Unconditional Love’ has interesting lyrics, but is too musically boring to merit more than a passing interest. Many of the other tracks fall somewhere in between the hit and filler spectrum, making a well-rounded album that falls short of classic.
Overall, I’d chalk this up as a victory for the band. The mountains outweigh the valleys.
7/10
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