Against Me! hits the Fillmore Detroit on July 2nd.
Fans of the Gainesville, Florida band Against Me’s earlier material were probably selling “sell-out” when the band worked with ex-Nirvana producer Butch Vig on their stellar 2007 album “New Wave”. So, when the band picked Vig once again to produce the band’s follow-up, you could be sure that those old time fans were steaming.
But for those fans, what they will be missing on the band’s new album, “White Crosses”, is another stellar and fine tuned effort that throws a few curveballs, but doesn’t resort with pandering to the masses- but at the same time, should strengthen their fan base.
Tom Gabel and company might shock fans with a single that’s called “I Was A Teenage Anarchist”, that some fans might seem like the band is giving up on their past views, but the reflective moment shows a lot of maturity in their sound and provides one of the catchiest choruses you’re gonna hear all year. Through songs like “Suffocation” and “We’re Breaking In”, the band have put some polish on the anger filled punk- but still hits with a vicious tone.
Only the latter album track “Spanish Moss” failed to ignite any excitement, but other than that, most moments of “White Crosses” are great successes.
I think the main theme of this album is growing out of your teenager and early adult anger about life, but at the same time, that anger is honed in and presented in a more mature perspective. Against Me may be trying to please the masses and a good portion of their hardcore fan base at the same time with “White Crosses”. If the band ends up being a smarter, wittier version of Green Day in the long run- then I guess there are far more fates to imagine.
