Searching for a Former Clarity

Last updated
Searching for a Former Clarity
Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity cover.jpg
Studio album by
Against Me!
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2005 (2005-09-06)
RecordedApril 18 – May 16, 2005
StudioThe Magpie Cage in Baltimore
Genre
Length47:00
Label Fat Wreck Chords
Producer J. Robbins
Against Me! chronology
We're Never Going Home
(2004)		Searching for a Former Clarity
(2005)		 Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!!
(2006)
Singles from Searching for a Former Clarity
  1. "Don't Lose Touch"
    Released: September 6, 2005
  2. "From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)"
    Released: April 4, 2006

Searching for a Former Clarity is the third album by the Gainesville, Florida punk rock band Against Me!, produced by J. Robbins and released on September 6, 2005, by Fat Wreck Chords. Supported by singles and music videos for the songs "Don't Lose Touch" and "From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)", it was their first album to chart on the Billboard 200, reaching #114. It also reached #9 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. Singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace has described Searching for a Former Clarity as a concept album. [1]

Contents

Label reaction

Fat Mike, on the other hand, thought the album was shit. He told me that he hated J.'s production style, didn't like the mix or the track listing, and that the cover art (a black and white photo of a Florida palm tree) was terrible. "Make the band name bigger!" This took the wind out of our sails a bit and started making me consider our next move. The reason we had stayed indie, signed no contract, and taken less money was for artistic freedom. But now we found ourselves with no contract, in a punk rock handshake deal, but still compromising and fighting with our label over things like artwork and songs.

Laura Jane Grace with Dan Ozzi, Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout

Composition

Searching for a Former Clarity is a punk rock and folk punk album, [2] that incorporates elements of dance-punk, [3] post-punk, [3] dub, [3] oi-punk, [4] and country. [5]

Commercial performance

Searching For a Former Clarity reached #114 on the Billboard 200. [6] As of 2007, the album has sold 52,000 copies. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Reaction to Searching for a Former Clarity was generally positive, with critics praising Grace's lyrics and the band's effective combination of different musical elements. Corey Apar of Allmusic gave the album four and a half stars out of five, calling it the band's "most introspective album to date. In both subject matter and song composition, they expand upon elements of previous releases without being afraid to veer away from expectations". [8] Though describing the tone of the album as "more sober and resentful" in comparison to their previous efforts, he remarked that "the passion, energy, and urgency Against Me! is known for is no less present. Instead, Searching for a Former Clarity is a more developed effort that is not only one of the best punk releases of 2005, but further establishes the band's growing importance within the punk scene." [8]

Aubin Paul of Punknews.org also praised the album, giving it four out of five stars and stating that "Unlike the simple shout-along melodies that adorned previous albums, ...Clarity demands repeated listens far more than any previous album." [5] He praised the band's ability to effectively combine punk rock, country, and folk music, noting that "with Clarity it seems the band has finally managed to fuse these elements seamlessly in a single track." He noted that the lyrics were more personal and "painfully confessional" than on the band's previous efforts, and that the political motifs were more individualistic, focusing on "the effects of politics on real people." [5] He summarized the album as "ambitious, fully realized and truly special. It's also a conflicted record; it's filled with internal ruminations, raw emotions and a distancing wall of sound, but it is nevertheless their most thoughtful and accomplished piece of songwriting and a record that grows more rewarding with each listen." [5]

One criticism which Apar and Paul shared was that both found the chorus of "Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners" to be "somewhat annoying", though Paul noted that the song had "a great opening and confessional lyrics". [8] [5] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone was more critical of the album, giving it three out of five stars and describing it as "a bizarro combination of Who's Next , an angry oi-punk record and some dude's blog." [4] He complimented Grace's lyrics as "both wordier and funnier than most rant-based punk" but also said that "over fourteen cuts, [her] Roger Daltrey bellow can grow wearisome". [4] He did, however, praise "Holy Shit!" as "a detailed critique of a stagnating rock scene" and said that "How Low", a slower song in which Grace describes attempts to give up drugs, "prov[es] that you can't get this deep into other people's shit without getting a little on yourself." [4]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Laura Jane Grace; all music is composed by Grace, James Bowman, Andrew Seward, and Warren Oakes

No.TitleLength
1."Miami"4:00
2."Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)"2:38
3."Justin"3:57
4."Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners"4:08
5."From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)"2:35
6."Violence"5:34
7."Pretty Girls (The Mover)"2:45
8."How Low"4:27
9."Joy"2:12
10."Holy Shit!"2:53
11."Even at Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)"2:53
12."Problems"2:40
13."Don't Lose Touch"2:55
14."Searching for a Former Clarity"3:25
Total length:47:00

Total Clarity

Total Clarity
Against Me! - Total Clarity cover.jpg
Demo album by
Against Me!
ReleasedMay 24, 2011
Recorded2004–2005, Goldentone Studios, Gainesville, Florida [9]
Genre Punk rock
Label Fat Wreck Chords
Producer J. Robbins
Against Me! chronology
White Crosses
(2010)		Total Clarity
(2011)		 Black Crosses
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Consequence of Sound B [11]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]

Against Me! released Total Clarity, a collection of demos and unreleased songs from the Searching for a Former Clarity recording sessions, through Fat Wreck Chords on May 24, 2011. [13] Fat Wreck Chords previously released The Original Cowboy , an album of demos from the band's 2003 album Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy , in 2009. [14]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Laura Jane Grace except where noted; all music is composed by Grace, James Bowman, Andrew Seward, and Warren Oakes, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Miami"3:37
2."The Shaker"3:05
3."Justin"3:15
4."Exhaustion and Disgust"2:49
5."Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners"4:01
6."The Energizer"2:14
7."Violence"4:48
8."The Mover"2:35
9."How Low"3:16
10."Joy"1:39
11."Holy Shit"2:11
12."Lost and Searching in America"2:38
13."Problems"2:28
14."Money Changes Everything" (written by Tom Gray; originally performed by The Brains)3:48
15."Total Clarity"3:25
Total length:45:44 [15]

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [16] 114

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes. [17]

Band

Additional musicians

Production

Chart performance

ChartPeak
position
Billboard 200 [18] [19] 114
Top Independent Albums [20] 9

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Against Me!</span> American punk rock band

Against Me! is an American punk rock band, formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. That same year, Grace moved to Gainesville, Florida, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup has also included guitarist James Bowman. After releasing three studio albums through independent record labels, Against Me! moved to Sire Records for 2007's New Wave, which reached no. 57 on the Billboard 200. In 2011, the band launched the record label Total Treble.

<i>The War on Errorism</i> 2003 studio album by NOFX

The War on Errorism is the ninth studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX. It was released on May 6, 2003, through Fat Wreck Chords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lawrence Arms</span>

The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. They have released seven full-length albums and toured extensively.

<i>Revolutions per Minute</i> (Rise Against album) 2003 studio album by Rise Against

Revolutions per Minute is the second studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on April 8, 2003, by Fat Wreck Chords. After establishing a fanbase with their 2001 debut, The Unraveling, the band members wanted to record an album that distinguished them from other Fat Wreck Chords bands of the time. They chose Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore to produce the album, with whom they developed a strong rapport. Recording took place from November to December 2002 at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Disco Before the Breakdown</span> 2002 single by Against Me!

"The Disco Before the Breakdown" is the first single by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released in November 2002 by No Idea Records. It was the band's first release with bassist Andrew Seward, replacing original bassist Dustin Fridkin who had left the group several months prior. The lineup of Seward, Laura Jane Grace, James Bowman, and Warren Oakes would remain in place until 2009. The single was released as both a vinyl 7" and a compact disc. It is typically listed as an EP, though its format is typical of a single.

<i>Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy</i> Album by Against Me!

Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy is the second studio album by the punk rock band Against Me!, released on November 3, 2003 by Fat Wreck Chords. It was the group's first release for the label and their first album with bassist Andrew Seward, who had replaced original bassist Dustin Fridkin the previous year. The album was produced by Rob McGregor, who had also produced their first album Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose (2002). Two singles were released in support of the album, "Cavalier Eternal" and "Sink, Florida, Sink", though each features different versions of the songs than those found on the album. As the Eternal Cowboy was Against Me!'s first album to reach the Billboard charts, reaching No. 36 on Top Independent Albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalier Eternal</span> 2004 single by Against Me!

"Cavalier Eternal" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the first single from their 2003 album Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy. While the album was released by Fat Wreck Chords, the 7-inch singles for "Cavalier Eternal" and "Sink, Florida, Sink" were released by the band's previous label No Idea Records, using alternate versions of the songs that differ from the versions on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sink, Florida, Sink</span> 2005 single by Against Me!

"Sink, Florida, Sink" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the second single from their 2003 album Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy. While the album was released by Fat Wreck Chords, the 7-inch singles for "Sink, Florida, Sink" and "Cavalier Eternal" were released by the band's previous label No Idea Records, using alternate versions of the songs that differ from the versions on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Jane Grace</span> American musician

Laura Jane Grace is an American musician best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me!. In addition to Against Me!, Grace fronts the band Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers, a solo project she started in 2016. Grace is notable for being one of the first highly visible punk rock musicians to publicly come out as transgender, which she did in May 2012. She released her debut solo studio album, Stay Alive, in 2020, followed by Hole in My Head (2024).

<i>Were Never Going Home</i> 2004 video by Against Me!

"We're Never Going Home" is the first DVD release of the Gainesville, Florida folk punk band Against Me!, produced by Jake Burghart and presented by Fat Wreck Chords. The feature presentation of the DVD follows the band on their United States tour that spanned from April 1 to May 2 of 2004 and also featured the hardcore punk band Planes Mistaken for Stars and the punk band No Choice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)</span> 2006 single by Against Me!

"From Her Lips to God's Ears " is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the second single from their 2005 album Searching for a Former Clarity. Like the first single "Don't Lose Touch", it was released exclusively on twelve-inch vinyl with a remixed version of the song as the A-side and the album version as the B-side. The A-side version was remixed by Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys. The single was limited to 3,185 copies. The lyrics of the song address then-United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the subject of the Iraq War, with lines such as "After all this death and destruction, do you really think your actions advocate freedom?" and "Condoleezza, what are we gonna do now?"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Lose Touch</span> 2005 single by Against Me!

"Don't Lose Touch" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the first single from their 2005 album Searching for a Former Clarity. Like the second single "From Her Lips to God's Ears ", it was released exclusively on twelve-inch vinyl with a remixed version of the song as the A-side and the album version as the B-side. The A-side version was remixed by German electronic music duo Mouse on Mars. The single was limited to 3,050 copies.

<i>Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!!</i> 2006 live album by Against Me!

Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!! is Against Me!'s first live album, released on Fat Wreck Chords even though the band was signed to Sire Records at the time. It was recorded on March 21, 2006, at the Mean Fiddler venue in London, England. The band played songs stretching as far back as their 2001 The Acoustic EP, all the way to their 2005 album Searching for a Former Clarity. The album also features the previously unreleased track, Americans Abroad, which would go on to be recorded for their 2007 album New Wave. The disc also features a music video for the song 'Problems' as a multi-media track. It is Against Me!'s final release on Fat Wreck Chords before their major label debut on Sire Records.

<i>My Republic</i> 2006 studio album by Good Riddance

My Republic is the seventh studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 27, 2006 through Fat Wreck Chords. It marked the band's return from an almost three-year period of inactivity, during which singer and primary songwriter Russ Rankin had been active in his new band Only Crime while guitarist Luke Pabich had started a side project called Outlie. It also marked the return of drummer Sean Sellers to Good Riddance, replacing Dave Wagenschutz who had played on the band's two previous albums Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit (2001) and Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection (2003). Sellers had previously been a member of Good Riddance from 1996 to 1999, playing on A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion (1996), Ballads from the Revolution (1998), and Operation Phoenix (1999), and had played with Pabich in Outlie during Good Riddance's hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Scare Industries</span> American punk rock record label

Red Scare Industries is a punk rock record label. The label was started in San Francisco by former Fat Wreck Chords employee Toby Jeg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Against Me! discography</span>

The discography of Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me! consists of seven studio albums, four EPs, two live albums, two DVDs, fifteen singles, five demos, and sixteen music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Was a Teenage Anarchist</span> 2010 single by Against Me!

"I Was a Teenage Anarchist" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the first single from their 2010 album White Crosses. The single was released as a four-track digital download through various online music stores on April 6, 2010, including the additional album track "Rapid Decompression" and two B-sides from the album's sessions, "One by One" and "Bitter Divisions". A 7" single was released on April 17 in conjunction with Record Store Day, with an acoustic version of "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" featuring as the B-side.

<i>Transgender Dysphoria Blues</i> 2014 studio album by Against Me!

Transgender Dysphoria Blues is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band Against Me!, released on January 21, 2014 by Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile Recordings. The album deals with gender dysphoria, following Laura Jane Grace's gender transition and coming out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Bowman (musician)</span> American musician

James Robert Bowman is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the punk rock band Against Me!. Starting as a solo act in 1997, Against Me! eventually expanded into a quartet, having currently released seven studio albums.

<i>Tranny</i> (book) Autobiography of Laura Jane Grace

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout is an autobiography by Laura Jane Grace, co-written with Noisey editor Dan Ozzi and published by Hachette Books on November 15, 2016. Informed by extensive journal records, it covers Grace's childhood and early involvement in anarcho-punk, and her role as frontperson of Against Me! from the band's founding to her publicly coming out as a transgender woman in 2012.

References

  1. ↑ Dworken, Arye (2010-07-20). "The Self-Titled Interview: Against Me!". Self-Titled Daily. Archived from the original on 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  2. ↑ Raymer, Miles (April 27, 2006). "Against Me!". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Heisel, Scott (November 17, 2005). "Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Hoard, Christian (2005-10-20). "Review: Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Paul, Aubin (2005-09-06). "Review: Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  6. ↑ "Against Me!". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  7. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (2007-05-03). "Against Me! Optimistic But Defiant On Sire Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Apar, Corey. "Review: Searching for a Former Clarity". Allmusic . Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  9. ↑ Lord, Joseph (2012-03-01). "Music | The Courier-Journal". courier-journal.com. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  10. ↑ allmusic
  11. ↑ cos
  12. ↑ punknews
  13. ↑ Gabel, Tom (2011-02-12). "Total Clarity". Blogspot . Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  14. ↑ "Against Me! to release The Original Cowboy on Fat this summer". Punknews.org. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  15. ↑ Total Clarity (CD booklet). Against Me!. San Francisco, California: Fat Wreck Chords. 2011. FAT 744-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ "Against Me Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Searching for a Former Clarity (CD). Against Me!. San Francisco: Fat Wreck Chords. 2005. 684-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  19. ↑ Harris, Chris (2005-09-14). "50 Cent's Beefed-Up Massacre Can't Top Kanye's Latest". MTV. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  20. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Top Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.