Against Me! – New Wave Reviewed by Witz

Growling punk ballads. Against Me! has been putting out interesting and, at times, experimental punk albums since 2002. On “New Wave,” they shift slightly more towards the mainstream, and while sounding differently than they have before, they are not playing a unique style of music. The album is, however, strong from start to finish, and whether you like or dislike the musical shift, there’s no denying the catchiness of the rhythms and choruses that Against Me! does so well.

FCC: 5

**1) Driving rhythm and vocals. Really catchy chorus. About changing the music and radio industry. (3:29)
2) Angry, medium paced with a strong chorus. Sings about how culture has become boring and seemingly apathetic. (2:53)
3) Ballad about a woman who had a rough life. Sounds most like older Against Me!, but a little more produced. (4:13)
**4) Melodic punk—the radio single. Sings about the failure of protests or God to stop the war (I’m assuming in Iraq) (3:32)
*5) FCC (“fucking”) Dance rock. Bouncy with a disco feel. (2:34)
6) Medium paced verse that picks up in a melodic chorus. Conversation between a man and woman about staying together or breaking up. (4:09)
7) Growly, dance rock-ish song. Wants people to say what they actually think. (2:27)
*8) Fast, driving, rhythm with good vocals. Describes stereotypical Americans in foreign countries and hopes he is not like them, but is not so sure. (2:17)
9) Classic hard rock feel. Slow and pounding with steady bass-line. Angry distorted verse and slightly more melodic chorus. (3:21)
10) Most interesting song musically and lyrically. Steady verse with surf-rock nuances and dance-rock interjections. Builds up and goes out with a bang. (4:38)