White Crosses - Against Me!
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Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

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Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

  • Summary: Though known for always being on the road, Against Me! has finally released its second major label album, which continues to blend elements of its trademark punk and folk rock with fist-pumping anthems celebrating teenage anarchy and encouraging all to fight the good fight.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. This album's brilliance comes from the titanium-larynxed Tom Gabel's juxtaposition of the listener's jaded expectations of punk with too-direct-to-be-dishonest sentiments.
  2. The biggest criticism that can be labelled at White Crosses is that its best two songs are its first two â?? a politely rousing title-track that sheds its skin at the first chorus, followed by lead-off single I Was a Teenage Anarchist. The latter handily epitomises everything that people liked about Against Me! in the first place â?? a brightly intelligent polemic, only this time itâ??s trained on the close-minded futility of scenester punks.
  3. Nov 17, 2011
    80
    A triumph. [29 Oct 2011, p.52]
  4. The arena-huge tunes can get a little overbearing, but cuts like the title track â?? where Gabel yearns to smash white crosses displayed by anti-abortion activists â?? are righteous, churning gut-rollers.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Album is good not great, a little glossy, a little anthemic but some missteps like Ache With Me.
    I listened to the Black Crosses alternate ve
    rsion of White Crosses and really enjoyed some of the versions
    of tracks over "Proper" release, I would like to have seen those on original release to balance the sheen of White Crosses. I.W.T.Anarchist is simply one of the best songs Gabel has written along with Because of The Shame with its Springsteen nod. I don't know what to make of the Foo Fighters like attempt at arena rock stylings but easily more digestible with repeated listens. Do yourself a favor and buy White Crosses and Black crosses, definitely worth the price of admission.
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