Customer Reviews

Reinventing Axl Rose

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Minor Threat: The Pub Band" doesn't come close to describing this group, but it's a start.

AM! fuse the personal and the political better than any band since the Clash (maybe better). The album is a diary of a young band stretching out, and they write of their growing success in terms of worrying about forgetting their roots, and most memorably, in the fist-pumping 'We Laugh at Danger': "If this GM van don't make it across the state lines/We might as well lay down and die/Cos if Florida takes us/We're taking everyone down with us." Their humility shines through when in parentheses next to the lyric: "And we rock/because it's us against them...", is written: (the act, not the state). Because boasting of rockingness is NOT punk, remember?

This record is so full of the verve and spirit of rock and roll that it literally gives me shivers. The opening track, a story of an Irish widow and her long-dead husband reminds me why I listen to this stuff in the first place.

This group is currently tied with its spiritual twin/Canadian counterpart The Weakerthans for my vote for 'best band currently making music' (The Stripes rock harder but don't come close to making you feel this alive). Buy this.

dont even think about buying it from amazon, or any other large company like this. they will just rip you off. 14 bucks for this? i bought it for 6 off of no idea records.... brand new. this is sucha rip off, and the band gets nothing. if you really want to support them, but it from the record label that put this out (no idea records, go to www.noidearecords.com). or better yet , buy it from them. DONT PAY 14 DOLLARS FOR THIS! RIP OFF!

Against Me! are, without a doubt, the best punk band out right now. The lyrics are filled with emotion, and the music itself is an original blend of folk rock and power chords. If you've never had 11 songs change your outlook on life, I suggest you buy this album to see what it feels like.

The album starts off with with what many consider their best song, "Pints of Guiness Make You Strong". Through his screaming, Tom Gabel shares the tale of his Grandfather's early demise from alcohol abuse and the toll it left on his Grandmother. When he sings, "If I'd known just how things would have ended up, I just would have let myself die", you can feel her pain.

With a little more distortion, "Politics of Starving" could easily pass as a hardcore song. "We Laugh at Danger (and Break all the Rules)" is their anthem of life and music. When the music stops, and the gang vocals are all that remains, you can't help but scream right along. The original acoustic version of "I Still Love you Julie" appeared on their "Crime" EP. Though it's a change of pace, the full band version on this record is equally incredible. "Scream it Until You're Coughing up Blood" (aka "Jamaican Me Crazy") claims the title of Song With The Most Screaming In It. The guitar solo-esque part is almost haunting though.

"Jordan's First Choice", "Those Anarcho Punx are Mysterious...", and "Reinventing Axl Rose" were originally recorded on their self-titled EP. Tom's voice seems to have deepened a bit since that recording, as is made evident by the opening to "Jordan's First Choice". I do have to say that I really preferred the acoustic version of "Those Anarcho Punx are Mysterious". This version just doesn't seem to capture the same emotion, and the "Hoo! Ha!" part might be kind of amusing, but it takes away from the song in my opinion. I really like the full band version of "Reinventing Axl Rose" though. It's another perfect anthem to have a crowd scream along to at a show.

"Baby, I'm an Anarchist!" was written by Tom and some other people in a band he was in before Against Me!. The band thought it was a song too good to be forgotten though, so they re-recorded it. It's a departure from the rest of the album, as it's pretty funny (assuming you have some knowledge of anarchy, past and present). The world always needed an anarchist love song.

"Walking is Still Honest" also appeared on the "Crime" EP. I like this version a lot better though. The music is intense, and the added vocals of "Never forget, I will not forget..." suit the song perfectly.

"8 Full Hours of Sleep" reminds me of their earlier music, as it's primarily just Tom strumming his guitar and singing. It's a beautiful ballad about politics, love, and life, and the hope it takes to survive and truly be alive. At the end, he sings "I'd trade it all for the silence..." and a faint hum carries the album to it's end.

This album isn't for everyone. It can't be background music. It demands the attention of the listener. Though it's a fun album, it's also a very serious one. When you listen to it, you truly FEEL it. That's something I can't say about most music that's out right now. I suggest buying it on vinyl, straight from No Idea Records. But the important thing is that you BUY IT. Now. Go see them live, too. They're incredible.

Against Me! is one of the best punk bands around these days. Judging by all the 5 star reviews, you already know this album is fantastic. Don't buy it form amazon, though. Buy it from NoIdeaRecords.com, they sell the cd for only $6! Great band.

I love Against Me!. I love this CD. I can't say that I like one album over the other. The world of iTunes has made my attention span shorter and I like to listen to all of their albums at the same time.

My fondest memory is that of stumbling onto Impact on the Plan-It-X website. When I'd tell people that Against Me! was my favorite band, they'd look at me and think "Who is this band and is she so excited about it that she has to be an exclamation point after their name?"

I still love them, one of the few who can stand to listen to their new CD. The one thing that's lacking though is that ability to make everyone sing along.

In my hall at school, I managed to find a guy who had heard of Against Me! I had been wearing one of my many shirts when we started talking about the band. He said he wasn't such a big fan, but he liked what he had heard. I immediately let him borrow every CD I owned and a week later, he was almost as big a fan as I was. We'd sit out in the hallway each with our own guitars, and I taught him the chords to songs like We Laugh at Danger, Reinventing Axl Rose, Baby I'm an Anarchist, Cavalier Eternal, Sink Florida Sink... after a while, my whole hall knew the lyrics. We'd sit in the hallway, 5 or 6 of us, many of which had never heard a real AM! song before, and they'd sing their hearts out.

That's the amazing quality of this band. They have the ability to make even the most sensible and logical human beings, even if only 2-3 minutes, want to start a revolution.

This album takes so many real, raw emotions and turns them into lyrics written in a way that everyone can relate. This was the first Against Me! that I had ever heard, and it blew me away. When the album started, it wasn't what I had expected to hear from my punk rock loving friends, but once I heard that first chorus, I knew instantly this band was a serious force in the musical world. I can't explain how real and piercing some of the lyrics can be, but you would be a fool to pass up the chance to hear this album.

I hate myself for not getting into this band sooner.I first heard a song off of an AF records sampler, loved it, but lost the sampler and forgot about it. But last year, I decided to buy this album, and it was definately worth it. Powerful, emotional, energetic. Those words dont even begin to describe Against Me! No Idea Records (www.noidearecords.com (get cds there, theyre cheaper)) is one of the best record labels around. But this is definately an album to get if you dig punk, folk, or just good ole' rock and roll.

Reinventing Axl Rose by Against Me *****

Truly One of the best albums I have heard in so long. From first listen it's a good album, but by the end of listen number two, It's a truly amazing and original album as well as band. Against Me is known for mixing hardcore/metaly punk with folkish country and making it work. At first when hearing of the random styles being mixed together it's like who the hell would do that and why, and that must sound like crap, I know I thought the same thing. But Every album these boys have releases has been great with Reinventing Axl Rose being by far the best so far. The acoustic and electric guitars combined make great. The simple bass and drums are nice. The vocals and seldom screaming is a great textured way to add to the album.

Opening with `Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong' was the perfect way to go. Easily one of the best songs on the album and the perfect one to start the album. With the western guitar playing it is a great song with a really catchy chorus. `The Politics Of Starving' is another good one to keep the pace going. Nice arrangement and the frantic acoustic guitar matches the frantic vocals perfect, making for an interesting listen. `We Laugh At Danger(And Break All The Rules)' is a decent song. Not the best and it doesn't really stick out but it's a good song, though it doesnt really take away or give any thing to the album. `I Still Love You Julie' is a great song. It reminds me of The Clash as do most of the bands songs. The punk rock vocals and lyrics are cool. The vocals are full of angst and the drumming is pretty cool. Nothing really flashy or unique about `Scream Until Your Coughing Blood' it's just a really good song. It's not catchy at all and the music, vocals, and lyrics are nothing special, but somehow it is still a really cool song. It's actually one of my favorites on the album. `Jordans 1st Choice' is a awesome song about sticking to your guns and not compremising what you belieave in. One of the best songs Against Me will ever write. It'll be hard to top. `Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious' is a cool song with great group vocals and it's pretty catchy as well. Next is the killer title track, `Reinventing Axl Rose.' It's a good song, but probably my least favorite song on the album. However the next song, `Baby, I'm An Anarchist' is my favorite Against Me song not only on this album but my favorite of theirs of all time. It's a love song as only a punk band could do it. Yet at the same time it has social political issues intertwined in the lyrics, as once again, only a punk band could do. Easily the bands best song. `Walking Is Still Honest' Is next, and boy is it a great song. One of the better songs on the album clearly. Nice vocals and probably the best lyrics on the album. `8 Hours Of Sleep' is the best song to close the album. It's the calmest song on the album and it's the only ballad. They kind of ease you out of the album which I think was a smart thing because what better way could you end such a hectic album such as Reinventing Axl Rose?

So as I sit back and refelct on the great music that is before me I can't help but to feel satisfied. I feel satisfied because not only is this one of the better albums I have ever heard, but one of the most original and fulfilling pieces of music I have ever heard. So for anyone who is even thinking about buying this album, stop thinking and act, you woun't be dissapointed, quite the opposite in fact. Belieave all the hype about the album, it is simply amazing. Highly recomended.

I have never heard a bank quite like Against Me! They combine many different styles of music and make it appealing to punks and the masses alike. The roots of their style is in country/folk music (being from Gainesvillie, FL, where country music is extremely popular) but incorporate social consciousness that is usually absent from that genre of music. Their delivery is extremely unique to say the least, and i feel that this is their best recording (I own all of their albums save for the acoustic ep). If you like punk music I would definitely recommend this cd. Personally, my favorite tracks are: "Pints of Guiness Make you Strong," "Baby, I'm an Anarchist," and "Walking is Still Honest." And for all those who say that they have sold out after releasing Searching for a Former Clarity you obviously don't know what you are talking about. These guys are staying true to the roots of punk rock. Even though Fat may be a popular "punk" label, keep in mind what they turned down along the way....

I find it so funny how you can go to the No Idea records site and get this cd for 7 dollars, if you want the "Disco" CDep, it's only three more dollars and with the people at no idea being nice people, they usually send you free stuff.