Against Me!

Once in a blue moon a band like Against Me comes along, a band that plays music as if their lives depended on it, pouring everything they've got into making something meaningful. The music is in the raw and folksy protest vein, which makes them sound like the back-up band to an anti-globalisation demonstration. Considering this is their first album, they've really hit on something good. Picture a punk rock band that isn't scared to use an acoustic guitar and add some spaghetti western twang and campfire sing-along to their sound. As far as protest lyrics go, these have a poetic punch to them that'll inspire you to wave a black flag and give the finger to the man. Songs like "Baby, I'm an Anarchist" and "Those Anarcho Punx are Mysterious" are both memorable and moving. And the ones like "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" and "8 Full Hours of Sleep" contain the kind of emotion that may bring a tear to your eye. This could be the missing link between the Clash and Bob Dylan.