Against Me

Back in 2002, Against Me released an album called Reinventing Axl Rose. The little blurb on the label's website said that it was folk/punk in the same vein as Billy Bragg, Stiff Little Fingers and the Clash. I ordered it on the spot. it came, I listened and, though it was good, I was disappointed. It was certainly folk/punk, but it didn't really have any of the great traits of the bands mentioned. Of course, when their next album, ...As the Eternal Cowboy, came out, I jumped right on it (it was colored vinyl after all).

This time I was pleasantly surprised. They moved from the always interesting No Idea label to the rather plain vanilla punk Fat Wreck Chords label, but their sound is now anything but run of the mill. This time around, they nearly fulfill the claim made about the previous record. They have some of the humanity of Billy Bragg, the raw energy of SLF and the eclecticism of the Clash. And they have some of the political edge of all three. The album was so strong that they actually recorded some songs both acoustic and electric, but only used one version on the album. The alternate versions are available on EPs from No Idea and are every bit as good as the album tracks.

If you have any interest in left wing politico-punk with a strong musical base rooted in great American music, check this one out (and EPs as well).