Against Me! Is Not All Or Nothing
Smitty the Blasphemer | Witticism, CA | 02/19/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I love Against Me! to death. Reinventing Axl Rose is within my top three favorite albums of all time. They aren't "good because they're different"; they're different because they're good. They put so much heart into so many of their songs, and don't filter it out by running it through machines in a recording studio two dozen times. I don't understand pop culture's obsession with pretending to be perfect. Against Me! has no misconceptions about themselves, and seem perfectly happy to be who they are.
This being said, Disco Before the Breakdown does little for me. I simply don't feel the passion in these three tracks the way that I do in so many of their other songs. Many people obviously do, and I respect that. However, in my book there will always be a few songs that epitomize everything that Against Me! means to me. None of the songs on this album come close. I'm a bit disappointed, but I suppose I'll survive.
-StB"
*tear*
muffy tinker | richest town in the U.S | 07/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"so maybe against me! isn't the most musically talented band out there. they don't have the best voices, they aren't always on key and every now and then there guitars are a bit off. but they are raw, pure, and punk. maybe they don't fit the technical "punk" definition, but they have the energy, attitude and spirit of what punk is all about. there is no other band like them. they are in a genre all in their own. this cd, moreso than their others, will make you see all the heart and raw emotion that goes into their music. Just listen to "tonight we're gonna give 35%." that sh*t gives me goosebumps just listening to it and how personal it is. trust me, you will feel a connection with against me! that is far more impacting than a put-together band with a perfect, cookie-cutter sound."
Amazing, just amazing...
Steven | U.$.A. | 07/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a short EP from Against Me!, only 3 songs. A lot of people don't like it. A lot of people are stupid.It starts off with title-track, which is unlike anything I ever expected from the band. "Disco Before the Breakdown" tells the song of a love looked down upon by society, accompanied by ska riffs and a horns section. It's completely different from anything they did previously, yet it still somehow manages to sound like Against Me!."Tonight We're Gonna Give it 35%" is a horrible, horrible title. It's probably the most beautiful, heartbreaking song they've ever recorded though. Don't let the lyrics fool you though, this song rocks. My favorite part is when he breaks down at the end of the song, and cries out to the god he doesn't believe in. It's something I think a lot of us can relate to: being so hopeless that we'll search for answers anwhere. The following guitar solo is pretty darn cool too."Beginning in an Ending" is one of the least popular Against Me! songs, but I really like it. It takes it a while to start, but once it does, it's worth it. "In your arms, I don't know who I am" is the most tender and beautiful lyric Tom has ever penned. He goes on to sing about "taking all" he "knows about nihilism, and trying to build it into a life". After that, the song really picks up and he basically screams the rest of it. It's so emotional and beautiful if you just have a little patience.If this is the direction they're heading in, I'm not let down at all. I can't wait to hear what's next."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1