Against Me – Transgender Dysphoria Blues

“No more troubled sleep, there’s a brave new world raging inside of me.”  Sometimes music transcends it’s genre.  It becomes a hell of a lot more important than words on a lyric sheet or notes in a song.  I think it’s fair to say that the latest Against Me album Transgender Dysphoria Blues could be placed into that category.  Telling the story of a women trapped inside the body of a man it follows lead singer Laura Jane Grace’s decision to come out as a transgender woman, it is a piece of music that tells much more than just the story hidden away within the songs.

Firstly I don’t think anyone can doubt the bravery that has been shown by Grace in the last couple of years.  For all it’s brilliance I don’t think there is any doubt that the world of punk, rock and roll and metal is one that has not always been known for it’s acceptance of certain styles of life.  While I like to think that is a thing of the past, with the likes of Rob Halford as widely respected as anyone else in the game, to make such a huge life decision while still in the public eye has got to be respected, no matter what world you inhabit.

Secondly heroic story or not this is a fantastic album.  Strip away all the politics and you still have something that is worth getting your hands on.  10 tracks, not one of which comes in at over three and a half minutes, of upbeat sounding punk goodness.  With the likes of “Talking Transgender Dysphoria Blues” managing to be bouncy, despite the horribly frank and honest nature of lyrics like “you want them to see you like they see any other girl they just see a faggot.”  While closer “Black Me Out” is a fist in the air moment as Grace sings, “I don’t want to see the world that way any more.  I don’t want to feel that weak and insecure.  As if you were my fucking pimp. As I was your fucking whore.”  If it fails to uplift you and make you want to stand next to Grace in solidarity you’ve got something wrong with you.

Alongside these we have the old school punk vibes of “Drinking with the Jocks” with it’s refrain of “wishing I was one of them.”  With Against Me also sticking to their more folk acoustic roots on “Two Coffins” which is a completely stripped back track where even the production sounds like it has been pulled back to allow the song to shine.

I don’t know if Transgender Dysphoria Blues can be called Against Me’s best album.  It’s probably not to be honest.  Which considering the turmoil that has gone on during recording (alongside Laura’s coming out members Jay Weinberg and Andrew Seward left the group) is really not a surprise.  There is no denying that there are a few tracks that pass you by despite their heavy subject matter.  With the likes of “Osama Bin Laden As the Crucified Christ” feeling a bit out of place with it’s rhythmic over produced sound.  However, despite all of  that it may well be their most important.  It represents a new stage in their career and a new look to a band that have been around for 17 years.  It also represents a new stage in the life of Laura who is going through a transition in her life where she attempts to become the person she wants to be.  If that isn’t punk I don’t know what is.