Against Me!

In my efforts to use year-end "Best Of" lists to find new stuff, I've been acquiring albums like crazy. Some licitly, some not so much. But as always, I will always throw my money at a band that works its way into my regular playlist, just like I did after test-driving Magic, for example.

Right now, that band is Against Me!

That AVClub article gave me "Thrash Unreal" which was intriguing enough to make me search out more. And I am so glad I did.

Kick ass, socially conscious, punk-rock like I haven't heard in years. Really compelling stuff.

The funny thing is, this was their major label debut, and of course I read the rumblings from their long-time fans about "selling out." That's a whole other post, but the short version is: bullshit. You mean you don't want your favorite band to make a livable income with the very same music you enjoy so much? Argh, I need to let this go right now, or I'll never get to bed.

Anyhoo, as further research, I downloaded a bunch of their old stuff too. Wowza. How did these guys escape my attention? Oh, yeah, they were cool and underground. Well, I thank the A&R person who saw them and signed them. I thank him/her profusely.

Kick. Ass.

Oh, and wonderful song titles:
Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious
Reinventing Axl Rose
Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong
Cliche Guevara
A Brief Yet Triumphant Intermission
You Look Like I Need A Drink
Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists
Ya'll Don't Wanna Step To Dis!
Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%

Lend your ear. You'll thank me.