IN REVIEW: Against Me! - "Shape Shift With Me"

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"Power pop" likely isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Against Me!; more accurately, it's probably near the bottom of the list. However, what we get on AM!'s seventh record is sort of just that. Granted, it's a distorted, more visceral form of it; but, in terms of overall theme and feel, there are a lot of parallels. Tales of lust, love and heartbreak punctuated with sharp riffs and big choruses abound on Shape Shift With Me, a marked about-face from the anxious and confrontational mission statement of Transgender Dysphoria Blues; that said, between the candid nature of that album and Laura Jane Grace's upcoming autobiography, it must be somewhat refreshing to shift focus from such controversial and heavy subject matter to simply crafting an album of tight, upbeat songs. Even with all the profanity, it could be Against Me!'s most accessible album; and, as I find myself having an incredibly difficult time deciding which three songs to include under "highlights" below, it occurs to me that Shape Shift With Me might just give personal favourite White Crosses (my 2010 pick for Album of the Year) a run for its money as my favourite Against Me! album.

September 16, 2016 • Total Treble
Highlights Crash • Dead Rats • Norse Truth

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