New Album: In the Billboard album charts, while it wasn’t among the top albums, Against Me!’s new album Transgender Dysphoria Blues charted second highest amongst the indie albums, with an interesting story to tell. This record tells of singer Laura Jane Grace’s transition from a male-presenting individual to a female-presenting one, as she dealt with gender dysphoria for much of her life and only came out as trans* in 2012 inspired by a trans* Against Me! fan, and has been undergoing the physical transformation since then.
As for the album in itself, the music is much like Against Me!’s earlier work, which is fully in the realm of punk rock with jangly guitar strewn about as well and biting well-written lyrics. Tracks like “True Trans Soul Rebel” and “Dead Friend” are as good of pop songs as you’d find on the radio, with awesome hooks and “Two Coffins” though short, is a really pretty acoustic ballad. The penultimate track on the album, “Paralytic States of Dependency,” is probably my favorite, with its melodic guitars, walls of distorted bass and an interesting story about Grace’s gender dysphoria and how she coped with it. If you like punk and indie rock, you could do a lot worse than checking out this album. While I hadn’t checked out their work much before, I await their next release with open ears.
What I’ve Been Listening To:
1) Due to the 20th anniversary of its release on February 1st, I revisited Green Day’s 1994 album Dookie. This is one of my favorites, it’s one of the albums that got me (along with scores of other musicians my age) into learning guitar and writing songs. Whether you’re a fan or not, you probably know the songs on this album, such as “When I Come Around,” “Basket Case,” and “Welcome To Paradise.” This album and its influence on bands like Blink 182, Sum 41, and legions of other pop punk, emo, and indie rock groups cannot be underestimated, and judging by the showing of American Idiot that’s coming to UMass soon, Billie Joe Armstrong and company have done anything but rest on their laurels. Give this a listen, you won’t be disappointed.
2) Pink Floyd may just call to mind for you the songs “Wish You Were Here” or “Another Brick in the Wall pt.2,” but if you’re a fan of 1960s classic rock you’d be remiss to check out their first album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It sounds completely different from the rest of their stuff thanks to their old guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Syd Barrett. This was his magnum opus before a sharp decline into schizophrenia, and it’s a strange album to say the least. Songs like “Astronomy Domine,” “See Emily Play,” and “Bike” show his ability to create surreal collages of sound in the context of quintessentially English pop, and strokes of genius in his wordplay. If you like your music a little weird, this is an essential one to check out.
3) One more album from the vaults of classic rock, Led Zeppelin IV. It’s classic, I grew up with it, and it’s got something for everyone. I revisited it after playing the album’s second track “Rock and Roll” at a gig the first weekend back at school and I thought I’d give this classic a listen again. Even if you’re not a huge Zeppelin fan, you probably know “Stairway to Heaven” or “Black Dog” from classic rock radio, and a song my friend would always ask me to play freshman year was “Going to California” off of this album, which is a beautiful song. My personal favorites, however, are “Four Sticks” and “When The Levee Breaks,” two songs that show that Zeppelin can make music as eminently danceable as anything you’ll hear in a club today. Listen to this if you haven’t already, it’s a treat.
Local Music:
1) UMass-based band Watts’ Closet has released a new EP called Here You Go, one that’s near and dear to me because I play bass on it. They’re an indie jam band that have been working hard at crafting a sound all their own, and if you hear a band practicing in Herter at night it’s probably Watts’ Closet. Check them out at The Pub in Amherst or wherever around here music is played.
2) Pioneer Valley favorites Who’da Funk It are playing at the Iron Horse on Valentine’s Day. If you want to get your dancing shoes on with your special someone or shake the blues of being alone on Valentine’s, their infectious rhythms and high energy will surely make it a night to remember.
3) On March 8, Providence indie rock band Deertick will be playing at Pearl Street. With a blend of punk irreverence, pop songcraft, and country musicianship, come see why they’re one of the best indie rock acts in music today.