Against Me! - Americans Abroad: Live in London

Against Me!, the Gainesville anarchist quartet turned major label hopefuls take their first shot at a live record with this release. American’s Abroad kicks off with the aptly titled “A Brief Yet Triumphant Introduction,” a guitar and drum feast of punk-rock. The highly-political first track addresses Iraq and North Korea, directing questions and accusations at certain members of the US Government. The pumping drums of “Reinventing Axl Rose” brings a playful feel to the album, followed by the title track, which builds into a somewhat self-deprecating, inquiry into what it’s like to be an American abroad: “and while I hope I’m not like them/ I’m not so sure,” the chorus rages on --sung to a British crowd at London’s Mean Fiddler venue in 2006. The track drifts on, with subtly political lyrics: “wherever we go/Coca-Cola’s already there.” Highlights from the disc include the breakdown, sing-a-long track “Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious...” which has a rhythmic, head-nodding feel, punctuated with drums and the a bunch of Londoners clapping along to the beat. The ska-esque guitar line of “You Look Like I Need A Drink” builds into a fist-pumping anthem, a-la skate-punk, plus the self-descriptive track “Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Ballad Fists” with its slower tempo and angsty undertones. And what would a punk album set in London be without at least one song called “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong," the band's most popular live number? Then, for the finale, the crowd shouting “Against Me!” in unison, and the tracks “Cliche Guevara” a high-energy blast of old-school punk--and last but not least: “We Laugh At Danger and Break the Rules,” and a final “thank you, goodnight” from Against Me! [www.againstme.net]