Against Me!
Maybe I’m a little behind the curve on this one, but I’ve discovered that I really like Against Me! – a punk band that has brought a new energy to the genre, for me at least. Most of my friends have been gushing about them for a few years now, but only now have I finally mustered the strength to give them a try myself.
My friend Ryan borrowed me Against Me!’s 2003 acoustic EP (The Acoustic EP) and I’ve been listening to it non-stop for days. Why was I waiting around for this band to enter my rotation when I should have been actively pursuing everything they’ve released?
The EP itself is great. I mean great. Every song is pretty killer – in fact, I’d go as far as to say that it’s perfect (as far as punk rock EPs go.)
Additionally, there’s never been a lyric that has made me want to drink Guinness more than this: “And just like James, I’ll be drinking Irish tonight and the memory of his last work week will be gone forever.”
Anyway, I’m gushing right now, so I’ll leave you with some lyrics – the classic “our friends are our life and we’ll stick together until the end etc.” lyrics that every band tries to do but only a few perfect.
Let’s just say this band, along with Hot Water Music, has perfected it.
Please tell me why we couldn’t stay
Don’t let this feeling ever go away
Let this memory forever be inside of me
Through every hour of every day
It’s with the company of these friends
That we drove on through the night
We were carried by the wheels of Armageddon
We’re gonna force ourselves to live
Thankful it’s hurt more than we’ve ever felt
It’s just our means to an end
And honestly we were armed with our best intentions
Maybe those intentions alone
are just enough to get us anywhere but here
In the middle of America
Six cylinders will take us further than any president
The same promises that we forgot the last time
There’s no difference between staying and a bullet in the head
Maybe it’s gonna come from the radio
Or the next 8 hour day
Driving to the next town
A collect call home to your best friend
We are the company we keep
We could live off of dumpsters if we have to
Sell our blood by the pint to make rent
This kind of dignity doesn’t come easy
But you’ll never find it for sale
We Did it All for Don – Against Me