Searching for a Former Clarity

Against Me! | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 6, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Wreck Chords
• ASIN: B000AA4LL4
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Alternative Folk
  • #56 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk Revival

Track Listings

1. Miami

2. Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)

3. Justin

4. Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners

5. From Her Lips To God's Ears (The Energizer)

6. Violence

7. Pretty Girls (The Mover)

8. How Low

9. Joy

10. Holy Shit

11. Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)

12. Problems

13. Don't Lose Touch

14. Searching For A Former Clarity

Editorial Reviews

flexfield5

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the naysayers, August 5, 2006

By 

M. Brody (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Searching for a Former Clarity (Audio CD)

I'm 28 years old. Punk has been my favorite kind of music since I was 16, so I'm obviously not new to it. I am, unfortunately, new to Against Me! I had always heard of them, but I just don't have the cash to buy stacks of records like I used to. The point is, this was my first exposure to Against Me and it blew my socks off. How could people possibly think this sucks or that it's not PUNK AS F***!? (In a modern way, at least.) This is the best punk album I've heard since Refused's "The Shape of Punk To Come" in 1998. There's not a bad song on this album, but the ones that really shine through for me are "From Her Lips To God's Ears (The Energizer)" (who would have known that Condoleeza was such a catchy name?), "Violence", "How Low", "Joy", "Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)" and "Problems". It's been a rough past few years for punk and this is a breath of fresh air to me.

But people think they've sold out, huh? Remember when Jawbreaker came out with "Dear You" in 1995? The punks hated it. It was on a major. They said it wasn't like their old stuff. It was crucified by fans and critics alike. But guess what? It was really a great (and influential) album after all and is now a fan-favorite. Time had to be the judge.

The fact of the matter is, punk fans are terrified of change. They find their little band they like and they get comfortable with them and they expect them to pull a Bad Religion and make the same album for 25 years. (Correction: Bad Religion made the same album all the way up until Recipe For Hate, and then made THAT album over and over again until present time.) So "Searching For A Former Clarity" sounds different than their older albums? So what? All good bands evolve and not everyone likes it (check out Propagandhi for a good example of that.)

I suspect a big reason that some people don't like Against Me anymore is because they are on Fat Wreck Chords. I'm too old to worry about that BS anymore. I've got bigger things to worry about, like Simple Plan on the radio!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh Tom Gabel., May 12, 2006

By 

roshizzle (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Searching for a Former Clarity (Audio CD)

I'm going to start this off by saying I've been a Against Me! fan since back in the days they were on Plan-It-X records. I still remember the exact day that I was looking through Plan-It-X mp3s, looking for This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb songs, and stumbling onto a little diddy called "Impact" by none other than Against Me!. It's safe to say, I fell in love instantly.

Back then I was an easily influenced high school student who would have thrown a brick through the Starbuck's window at any moment. It's been a few years. I can go to jail now and anarchy doesn't make as much sense to me anymore. There have been new albums released since then. And at every single one, I've heard people call them sellouts. I've been to so many shows that I can't keep each one of them straight. I wouldn't be able to tell you which version of Reinventing Axl Rose is which, considering I've worn out both the album and the EP. So why am I doing all this name dropping and blah blah blah? Because I'm sick of people talking so much about them selling out and turning into just another "emo" band.

The last show I went to, there were some of kids standing in the back. A few of them I recognized from years before. Their styles had changed and they stood there with their arms crossed, upset with the band for "changing their ways." It frustrated me. But then I jumped right in the middle of the action and at the end, as they were closing with "What We Worked For".. we jumped on stage and sang with them. They're still the same old band dedicated to getting out their message.

Sure, the new album is a little more 'mainstream' than the other ones. The lyrics might be a little more predictable and the titles might be a little more contrived. But for me it comes down to one thing:

Tom's voice still makes me want to go incite a revolution.

They're different sure. But this album is 10x better than 99.9% of the stuff that's out there nowadays.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, creative, melodic ..., February 1, 2006

By 

Christopher Coquard (Edmonton, AB) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Searching for a Former Clarity (Audio CD)

Let me begin with this: Woe to you self-named 'old school' Against Me! fans who want to parade their ego's by bashing this new album, your reviews are nothing but trite pretention. I can't stand another moment of your 'they've sold out', or 'they were better when no one knew them but me ...' AGH! Sounds like an old-age home conversation - and guys, you are young!

Onto the album - I was BLOWN away by this album, it is amazing, with almost every track being catchy, and sincere. I also own other Against Me! albums, so I know their older material. All creative bands reach points where they must grow and move on, and AM! has done it beautifully. And I do find a constant with their older material, there is a similar kind of tune in playing that is unique to AM! - kind of folky, melodic - quite clear in 'Don't Lose Touch' and other tracks.

These guys have amazed me, and have re-installed my faith in music. Should they sign on to bigger labels, get bigger shows, and therefore have more fans? OH YES! Knowledge and power are for sharing ... so buy the album, and get your piece!

Great work AM! keep growing and exploring your musical libertarianism ;-[)o [i have a beard - a long beard]