White Crosses | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 8, 2010 [1] | |||
Recorded | August–October 2009 | |||
Studio | Eldorado Recording, Burbank, California [1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:06 | |||
Label | Sire, Total Treble (Reissue) | |||
Producer | Butch Vig, Alan Moulder (mixer) [1] | |||
Against Me! chronology | ||||
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Singles from White Crosses | ||||
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White Crosses is Against Me!'s fifth studio album, and their second to be released on Sire Records. As with its predecessor, 2007's New Wave , the album was produced by Butch Vig. [4] It is also the only Against Me! album to feature George Rebelo, drummer of Hot Water Music, following the departure of previous drummer Warren Oakes.
Recording began in August 2009, finishing two months later. The mixing and mastering of the album finished in February 2010, and it was released June 8. [1] The initial pressing of the record included four bonus tracks. [5] This is also the last album prior to Laura Jane Grace's transition.
On March 17, 2010, their first video from the album, "Rapid Decompression," was released online via AOL Spinner. [6] A four-track digital EP for "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" was released as the first single from the album, on April 7, 2010. [7]
The two outtakes from the White Crosses sessions are "David Johansen's Soul", [8] [9] of which an acoustic version was released on Black Crosses, and "Dead Generations", [10] which remains[ as of? ] unreleased in any form.
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 77/100 [11] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AbsolutePunk | 83% [12] |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B+ [13] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [14] |
LAS Magazine | 9.4/10 [15] |
PopMatters | 7/10 [16] |
Punknews.org | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 7/10 [2] |
White Crosses received generally favorable critical reception, [11] despite being leaked three months before its retail release date. [18] The album was mainly praised for its success in merging Against Me!'s long-time punk rock style with, according to critics, a newfound ethos of "arena-" or "radio rock", through its melody and "big" sound. [12] [15] [13]
All tracks are written by Laura Jane Grace
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "White Crosses" | 3:36 |
2. | "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" | 3:15 |
3. | "Because of the Shame" | 4:21 |
4. | "Suffocation" | 3:56 |
5. | "We're Breaking Up" | 3:57 |
6. | "High Pressure Low" | 4:13 |
7. | "Ache with Me" | 3:38 |
8. | "Spanish Moss" | 3:51 |
9. | "Rapid Decompression" | 1:46 |
10. | "Bamboo Bones" | 3:35 |
Total length: | 36:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
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11. | "One by One" | 3:34 |
12. | "Bob Dylan Dream" | 2:59 |
13. | "Lehigh Acres" | 3:33 |
14. | "Bitter Divisions" | 4:02 |
Total length: | 50:10 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Lehigh Acres" | 3:33 |
12. | "Bob Dylan Dream" | 2:59 |
13. | "One by One" | 3:34 |
14. | "Bitter Divisions" | 4:02 |
Total length: | 50:10 |
No. | Title | Length |
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15. | "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" (acoustic) | 3:38 |
Total length: | 53:48 |
Black Crosses | ||||
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Demo album by | ||||
Released | July 26, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2009, Goldentone Studios, Gainesville, Florida February 2010, Crescendo Studios | |||
Genre | Punk rock, alternative rock | |||
Length | 43:07 | |||
Label | Total Treble, Xtra Mile Recordings | |||
Producer | Against Me! | |||
Against Me! chronology | ||||
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In 2011 Against Me! launched their own record label, Total Treble Music, reissuing White Crosses with an added disc titled Black Crosses consisting of demos from 2009 (referred to as the Goldentone Studio versions) and acoustic sessions from 2010. The reissue features original artwork by Steak Mtn and a 32-page booklet with lyrics and additional artwork, and was released July 26, 2011, on compact disc and as a music download, and August 9 as a triple LP; [19] it became available in the UK and Europe in November from the band's UK label Xtra Mile Recordings. [20]
All tracks are written by Laura Jane Grace
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "White Crosses" (Goldentone) | 3:14 |
2. | "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" (acoustic) | 3:39 |
3. | "Because of the Shame" (acoustic) | 4:28 |
4. | ""The Western World"" (Goldentone; Demo version of "Suffocation") | 3:55 |
5. | "Strip Mall Parking Lots" (Goldentone) | 2:21 |
6. | "High Pressure Low" (acoustic) | 4:18 |
7. | ""Hot Shots"" (Goldentone; officially untitled [22] ) | 1:49 |
8. | "Spanish Moss" (Goldentone) | 2:22 |
9. | "Rapid Decompression" (Goldentone) | 1:45 |
10. | "Soul Surrender" (Goldentone) | 2:06 |
11. | "Lehigh Acres" (Goldentone) | 3:36 |
12. | "David Johansen's Soul" (acoustic) | 2:49 |
13. | "One by One" (acoustic) | 3:35 |
14. | "Bitter Divisions" (Goldentone) | 3:10 |
Total length: | 43:07 |
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [23] | 34 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [24] | 87 |
Greek Albums (IFPI) [25] | 23 |
Bryan David "Butch" Vig is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter who is the drummer and co-producer of the rock band Garbage. Known for producing the diamond-selling Nirvana album Nevermind (1991), Vig also produced for several other alternative rock acts of the 1990s, including the Smashing Pumpkins, L7, and Sonic Youth. Some notable production credits of Vig include L7's Bricks are Heavy (1992) and the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream (1993).
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.
Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose is the debut album by the American punk rock band Against Me!, released on March 5, 2002 under No Idea Records. It was the group's first release as a full band with electric guitars, bass guitar, and drums. The album was produced by Rob McGregor, who would also produce the band's second album Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy (2003). The album's title references Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose, illustrated on the cover.
"Sex Is Not the Enemy" is a song by American alternative rock band Garbage, released as the second single from their fourth album Bleed Like Me (2005) in the UK.
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 ", 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.
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.
Against Me!, also known as The Acoustic EP, is the second widely distributed release by the punk band Against Me!. No tracks on the album contain any electric instruments or drums, only acoustic guitars and an acoustic bass. The original vinyl version, released November 2001, had four tracks, and two extra songs were included on the CD version released in February 2003. Electric versions of several songs appeared on the band's debut full-length Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose.
Against Me!, the self-titled 12" EP by punk band Against Me! was their first EP release. It was released twice as an EP. There were originally 500 copies printed. However, due to a mastering defect or "recording error" on the vinyl, only 145 copies were originally released to the public, 50 of which were sold at the record release party. Thus, actual copies of the record are extremely rare, though the tracks are widely circulated on the internet. The remaining 355 copies were eventually released through personal sales by the band.
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.
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.
New Wave is Against Me!'s fourth full-length studio album and their debut album on Sire Records. Produced by Butch Vig of Nevermind fame, it was released on July 10, 2007. The album's first single, "White People for Peace", was released in May 2007, prior to the album's release. A second single, "Thrash Unreal", followed in July 2007.
"Stop!" is a single by punk group Against Me!. It is the third single from their album New Wave. The video game Rock Band features this song as downloadable content.
Heart Burns is the debut solo extended play by American singer-songwriter Laura Jane Grace, released under her birth name. It was released October 28, 2008 on Sire Records.
"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.
"White Crosses" is the second single, from the album of the same name by Against Me!, released exclusively in the United Kingdom as a digital download, made available from August 31, 2010, on iTunes.
"High Pressure Low" is the third single from Against Me!'s fifth studio album White Crosses, released as a 7" vinyl single on December 21, 2010 on Sabot Productions.
"Russian Spies" / "Occult Enemies" is a single from Against Me!, released as a 7" vinyl single on June 14, 2011 on Sabot Productions.
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.
They're vets now, but they're still an evolving band that's yet to figure out anything as big as the world or as small as their own sound. And they're probably better for it.
Diehards in the punk scene won't like it specifically because it's meant to be inclusive, but based purely on music and message, New Wave and White Crosses prove that powerful albums don't have to sidestep the mainstream.
…whaddaya know, it is possible to merrily sing along with lines like 'We were bashing our brains out on a kitchen cabinet.'
White Crosses is no retread. Rather, it's an even more focused, equally compelling follow-up to 2007's arena-punk juggernaut New Wave. Maybe even better.
White Crosses is a huge, mainstream rock album that draws as much from Bruce Springsteen and U2 as it does from Against Me!'s own folk-punk roots. Sorry, bitter old-school fans, but it's really, really good.
It's a logical growth from New Wave, with Butch Vig again manning the soundboards, but it's one that I can't grow with.
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