Album Review

Against Me! – True Trans EP

• 23rd Jul 2013

The last few years have been somewhat of a roller coaster for veteran punks Against Me! Their Departure from Sire Records, the only major label deal in their 15 year career, in 2010 was the start of a turning point. After a short touring hiatus and change of drummer from Hot Water Music’s George Rebelo to ex Madball, and E street band member Jay Weinberg, Against Me! put out a collection of previously unreleased tracks and demos under the title ‘Total Clarity’ in order to buy themselves a little time to regroup, rethink and decide on a new strategy.

Expressing an interest in a more DIY approach the band set up their own label ‘Total Treble Music’ with the intention of releasing their six studio album through it. In 2011 Tom Gabel set up the Total Treble Studio in Elkton Florida to realise this plan; first however taking time out to record Cheap Girls ‘Giant Orange’. Before work could start on the Sixth album, Tomas Gabel publicly ‘came out’ about his battle with Gender Dysphoria and expressed his desire to begin living as a woman under the name ‘Laura Jane Grace’ adopting his Mother’s desired name if he was born a female and her maiden name. Even with streams of supporters and well-wishers from within the alternative and transgender Communities, it was obvious that this was a difficult transition for her and work didn’t start on the new album till later that year. On June 24th of this year news came through Laura’s twitter that the new album entitled ‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ was complete and on July 15th Against Me! released the ‘True Trans’ single containing two acoustic tracks for free download from their website.

‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ has long been known to be a concept album about a transgender prostitute and the first track on this single ‘Fuckmylife666’ Outlines the struggles of accepting gender dysphoria. With Laura’s distinct morose vocals juxtaposed by a bright and upbeat guitar riff, the tracks jumps through two different feelings. The first: how to deal with difficult decisions, and how they will effect people around you. The deep and dark thoughts of whether you will be approved or shunned. Loved or Hated. The second and the more positive, feeling like you can finally accept who you are. The peace that it offers and the hope for the future. Losing some of Against Me!’s punk roots and replacing them with the heart felt feelings of a singer songwriter is a change that’s not better, but not worse, just different. You can sense a more personal attachment to the subject matter and it’s soothing yet intriguing.

The second track on this download ‘True Trans Soul Rebel’ is one that Against Me! fans will be a little better acquainted with as it’s been played at live shows since May 2012. It is the more obvious of the two examples to be linked to the new concept album. It details the life of a transgender person trapped in a life of prostitution and despair. Dealing with self harm and the perils of working. It empathizes with someone stuck in a vicious cycle and all the things they wish they could have or should have been. Again offset by a light hearted guitar riff that would be more fitting for a Bruce Springsteen track and with the same morose downbeat vocals, it’s more reminiscent of an acoustic Gaslight Anthem track than it is Against me!

If these two tracks are anything to go by the new Against Me! Album is going to be off in a new direction that the band haven’t explored before. With both being recorded and mixed by Laura herself it’s going to be a much more personal experience both within the music and with the audience. With challenging new material inspired by a real life change, if anything it’s a tribute to the bands strength and perseverance and I’m looking forward to experiencing this change with them.

Venue: True Trans EP
Support Band: Self Release