White Crosses
There was no clear number 1 for me this year – it went very close – so Against Me! can count themselves very unfortunate not to be the second band to have scored two number 1 records on my yearly lists (ha – as if they’d give a shit...). First things first, White Crosses isn’t as good as 2007’s list topping New Wave. But it’s pretty darn close. As with Vampire Weekend’s Contra, the only real flaw with White Crosses is that it is perhaps overly similar to the band’s previous album. The fact that the formula for White Crosses is (understandably) virtually the same as was used for New Wave and yet this record still made 2nd place, is testament to just how good that formula is. Opener ‘White Crosses’ is a thumping statement of intent, while ‘I Was A Teenage Anarchist’ turns things up a notch and is the most instantly gratifying song on the album. Actually, though, the tracks that work best overall are those that stray (ever so) slightly from the straight-ahead rock of New Wave. ‘Because Of The Shame’ is very Against Me!, with its verse-chorus-verse study of Americana, but it incorporates a great piano theme which gives things a little twist. And the excellent ‘Bob Dylan Dream’ (unaccountably only available on the special edition of the album) mixes the Against Me! sound with the type of music made by Bob Dylan himself. Both tracks are stand out moments.
The fact that Against Me! were able to retain Butch Vig’s production services is a huge blessing, because – as with his outstanding work on New Wave – the production here is pitched perfectly. White Crosses sounds both raw enough to feel like a proper ‘rock’ record, but also has the kind of high quality production that has meant the US colleague radio circuit has again lapped up Against Me!. It’s a shame that their hugely entertaining drummer Warren Oakes (with his Amish-style beard and dual obsessions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and freeganism) quit just before White Crosses was made. Interviews with the band will never be the same again, but actually you can’t tell from the record that he’s gone (the new drummer guy does just fine).
Overall, White Crosses is about as good as could possibly be expected after the near-perfect New Wave. The next record will probably need to feature some more innovation if they want to stay near the top of the tree. But for now, White Crosses is this band’s second no nonsense rock classic in a row.
The fact that Against Me! were able to retain Butch Vig’s production services is a huge blessing, because – as with his outstanding work on New Wave – the production here is pitched perfectly. White Crosses sounds both raw enough to feel like a proper ‘rock’ record, but also has the kind of high quality production that has meant the US colleague radio circuit has again lapped up Against Me!. It’s a shame that their hugely entertaining drummer Warren Oakes (with his Amish-style beard and dual obsessions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and freeganism) quit just before White Crosses was made. Interviews with the band will never be the same again, but actually you can’t tell from the record that he’s gone (the new drummer guy does just fine).
Overall, White Crosses is about as good as could possibly be expected after the near-perfect New Wave. The next record will probably need to feature some more innovation if they want to stay near the top of the tree. But for now, White Crosses is this band’s second no nonsense rock classic in a row.
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