Anti-Flag

Anti-Flag take themselves really, really seriously. It’s not that bad, but a quick smile can go a long way. Many reviewers have taken the stance that when it comes to a band like this, you should only talk about the music, thus avoiding the awkward quagmire of addressing their politics and their jump to a major label a few albums back. If you do manage to look past that you’re going to find some of the best music this band have ever released. It’s anthemic, powerful and a bit moving. Musically, the band have taken everything that made them palatable in the past and refined it to a near-perfect level. Even the mega-production of Tony Visconti adds more than it takes away. Songs like "The Modern War Burning” have the same forceful sing-alongs that Anti-Flag are known for, and it’s easy to picture a bunch of kids who still live with their parents throwing their fists in the air and singing along. Topically, nothing has changed from past albums, and The Bright Lights of America further proves that there’s no room for humour or irony when you’re singing about politics.