Customer Reviews

Searching for a Former Clarity

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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!

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.

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]

I bought this expecting a horrible album due to the claims that this isn't punk and blah blah blah. Most people seemed concerned about them changing their sounds, but for me, someone who still doesn't own any of their other albums, this is incredible. I have too admit though, there is not as much punk as I expected. Still every song has soooo much heart and soul in every song, and the songs are all different enough that you don't get bored. Definatley should buy it.

Sure the sound has changed, but I'm someone that can appreciate that. This isn't for the stuck up "DIY" kids that think if a band gets popular they're selling out. Listen to this and just be honest with yourself, it's good music. I got this months ago and I havn't stopped listening. I feel sorry for you if you can't see how great this record is.

It's no wonder i gave up on punk rock. The politics of it are so darn ridiculous. When you've been listening to punk music for about half your life, you start to give up on all the crap and just listen to music because it's good. Anyway, enough ranting.
About a year ago i heard of these guys and picked up As the Eternal Cowboy on a whim. I thought they had a good sound and the first few songs were really good, but the cd was just way too short. I tired of it and gave it away after only one real listen. Well, now this cd comes out and i only hear Don't Lose Touch from it, which i wasn't all that crazy about (but have grown to like) and again, i bought this cd on a whim. Only this time, it felt like a different band, almost. They really have progressed in their skills at songwriting. They have some very diverse songs on this disc that really range in styles. I can't understand why anyone should be complaining. There is some serious passion in this music. The emotion is still there and just as intense, maybe not recorded as raw, though. But what's wrong with wanting the music to sound good? Now, i really dont mind the raw vocals (i just picked up Reinventing Axl Rose and love that one too) and if the guy wants to improve his singing, let him for cryin' out loud. All you punks out there need to stop complaining about your crappy music.
Now, as far as the sellout thing goes: as long as a band continues to do what they want to do and play what they want to play, then they aren't selling out. Who cares if they make more money and get more exposure. Good for them. And i'll end with a bit on the Clash comparisons. Yeah, they are definatley influenced by the Clash and maybe sound a bit like them (but not really) but i doubt they will ever be as original, creative, or inventive as the Clash was. But who knows what the future holds. Best of luck to these guys.

I bought this a while ago, and was just browsing, when I noticed many negative reveiws. It seems people either love or hate the band. I can honestly say I love it. No... it isn't vintage punk rock, but it's keeping up with the times and throwing a modern spin on an awesome genre of music. Their lyrics are great, and... like they said "everyone's a critic."

I see some of you don't appreciate it, but if you liked their previous stuff so much, why go so far out of your way to bash an excellent band? You obviously liked them before...

I got this cd and listened to it right away. I honestly must say it is the best music I've listened to. Reading through reviews of other Against Me! albums you akways see 5's across and the random 1 star saying "its not 'punk' and sounds like crap." Does it really matter how you define the genre? Although it doesn't make me breakdown crying out of emotion, it is enough to keep me entertained for hours and then some. In the week I've had it I've probably listened to it 30 times. Oh and for it saying "A Kids Review" i hope that doesn't make you think less of this. Fifteen doesn't seem to coencide with 'kid' if you ask me...

(...)

I'v often heard this of Against me! Their first album is awsome, but the rest of their work is lousy. This is not the case with Searching for a former clarity. Their songs carry more bite than, As the eternal cowboy, and much of the humour is sublte and well placed. The track, sex with multiple partners; is one such track. It describes the bands interactions with larger lables trying to court them. The rest of the album deals with topics rangeing from stated distatse for large record lables to hatred of the current war in iraq (two particular tracks, three and five I believe) to personal crisis of faith to death from disease(final track) I declare that Against me! is starting to become this generations Clash.

I was a huge fan of Against Me and remain a huge fan. Therefore, I was really excited to hear that they were coming out with a new album. After all, I can still listen to Reinventing Axl Rose, As the Eternal Cowboy, and Crime as Forgiven by Against Me! all the way through over and over and not be bored. So I was looking to another incredible release from a band filled with pure emotion and an incredible rawness to that emotion.

When I listened to the album it seemed like it was just missing a crucial aspect of their rawness. Don't get me wrong, the album is still good. Against Me! can not put out a poor album, they're too talented. It just seems like many of the songs on this album lost some of the raw emotion that Against Me! is so effective at conveying on a disc. Some of the songs such as "From her lips to God's ears" sucessfully bring the sound that they perfected so well, but don't go into the album with expectations that this is equal to the quality of Reinventing, Crime, or As the eternal.

And I'm not accusing them of selling out, I'm just saying there's a critical factor of rawness missing in the album. This isn't to dissuade you from checking the album out, it's still far superior to much of the music on the market today. But if you haven't heard Against Me! before don't start with this album. I'd suggest Reinventing as an excellent introduction.