Searching for a Former Clarity | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 6, 2005 | |||
Recorded | April 18 – May 16, 2005 | |||
Studio | The Magpie Cage in Baltimore | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:00 | |||
Label | Fat Wreck Chords | |||
Producer | J. Robbins | |||
Against Me! chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Searching for a Former Clarity | ||||
|
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]
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
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]
Searching For a Former Clarity reached #114 on the Billboard 200. [6] As of 2007, the album has sold 52,000 copies. [7]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
Punknews.org | [5] |
Rolling Stone | [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]
All lyrics are written by Laura Jane Grace; all music is composed by Grace, James Bowman, Andrew Seward, and Warren Oakes
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Demo album by | ||||
Released | May 24, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2004–2005, Goldentone Studios, Gainesville, Florida [9] | |||
Genre | Punk rock | |||
Label | Fat Wreck Chords | |||
Producer | J. Robbins | |||
Against Me! chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
Consequence of Sound | B [11] |
Punknews.org | [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]
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. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
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] |
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [16] | 114 |
Adapted from the album liner notes. [17]
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
Billboard 200 [18] [19] | 114 |
Top Independent Albums [20] | 9 |
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.
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.
The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. They have released seven full-length albums and toured extensively.
The Unraveling is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on April 24, 2001 by Fat Wreck Chords. Following the release of the extended play Transistor Revolt in 2000, the band signed with Fat Wreck Chords and began working on the album at Sonic Iguana Studios with producer Mass Giorgini. Musically, The Unraveling is rooted in melodic hardcore, which later came to be the band’s signature style; conversely, its lyrics differ from their more politically-driven later work, focusing more on personal relationships and issues.
Brendan Kelly is the bassist/vocalist of Chicago-based punk band The Lawrence Arms, as well as guitarist/lead vocalist in The Falcon and Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds. Kelly's former bands include Slapstick and The Broadways. He is known for his raspy vocals, drunken demeanor, and onstage witticisms.
"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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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).
"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.
"From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)" 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?"
"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.
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.
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.
Red Scare Industries is a punk rock record label. The label was started in San Francisco by former Fat Wreck Chords employee Toby Jeg.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)