Mike Ups The Punx

I see a lot of you like McLusky and The Weakerthans! This is good news for me because so do I! Also, I think a lot of you might've liked having less talk and more rock? Or maybe it was the youtube video? I'll try to shave down what I have to say, regardless.



Against Me! - Searching For A Former Clarity (2005)

Up the punx. Or the selloutz. Or whatever. Against Me! are an anarcho-folk-punk band turned poppy-but-still-bile-fueled-punk turned pop-punk-crossover smash, but what a lot of people neglect is this cd, which is far and away my favorite of theirs. Their first real full-length, Reinventing Axl Rose, is highly regarded as their best, the follow-up, As The Eternal Cowboy, is highly regarded as OMGSELLOUTZZZ. This album is their response to their annoying, hateful ex-fans, so it's quite angry (but it's also slightly less punx, music-wise, so it evens out).

Essentially, this is the point directly before Against Me!'s tranformation from underground punk band to being on the Billboard charts, so it's a GREAT place to start if you're interestde in getting into them. It's furious, but dancy, heartfelt, but sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek, and it's both energetic, but subdued. Absolutely transfixing album that slowly erodes from the anger of Miami, into the quiet, beautiful outro of a title track. Just a great record.

Recommended Tracks: Miami, Pretty Girls (The Mover), Joy, Problems, Don't Lose Touch
Genres: Punk
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?zm5wyydjjmz