Florida punk band Against Me! are back with their 6th studio album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. This is the band’s first new music since lead singer Tom Gabel began the transition to becoming a woman. Gabel is now known as Laura Jane Grace and she still brings the same ferocity and vulnerability to the music as she did before she assumed her new identity.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues delves head-first into gender identity with its lyrical content, leaving the listener with no doubt that this is one of Against Me!’s most honest work to date. The work still feels easily relatable to people not dealing with gender identity issues in that it still speaks to the listener, no matter what capacity the listener is dealing with an identity struggle. The album deals almost solely with the struggles Laura Jane Grace faced as she wrestled with her gender dysphoria, from anger to isolation to self-doubt and ultimately acceptance of her true identity. Effortlessly transitioning between anthemic rock tracks (“Unconditional Love”, “True Trans Soul Rebel”) to seething ragers (“Drinking with the Jocks”, “Black Out”) to somber ballads (“Dead Friend”, “Two Coffins”) , this album combines all the elements that makes Against Me! one of the best in their genre.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues will available for purchase on January 21st. Until then the album is streaming on NPR first listen. The band is currently on tour and you can catch them at these dates:
01/16 – Greenville, SC @ The Handlebar
01/17 – Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theatre
01/18 – Memphis, TN @ The New Daisy Theatre
01/19 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
01/21 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
01/22 – Jacksonville Beach, FL @ Freebird Live
01/24 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
01/25 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theater
01/26 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
You must be logged in to post a comment.