Album of the Day

Florida punk heroes Against Me! had a trio of indie albums under their belts when they signed with Sire for NEW WAVE. If less rough-hewn than their earlier work, the 2007 collection is just as passionate, and the sharper production - by the great Butch Vig - only adds to the power of this music. The song “Piss and Vinegar” offers an apt description of the fiery singing and playing here (James Bowman's guitar work is particularly impressive), but tracks like “White People for Peace,” “Stop!” and Modern Rock charting “Thrash Unreal” make it clear there's a lot going on underneath the electrifying surface. This was Spin magazine's album of the year, and musician Ben Lee covered it in its entirety, noting that “as heavy and gnarly as it sounds at times, it is unmistakably a pop masterpiece.” One listen to NEW WAVE and you'll join the fan club too!