I listened to the new Anti Flag album today.

[Ill Communication]

Okay, 2 weeks ago I went to the NOFX/Lawrence Arms/Loved Ones show (which kicked all forms of ass), and Fat Mike was very tongue in cheek about the status of Anti Flag. So much so, I'd say that he flat out called them sell outs.

For those who don't know, Anti Flag proport to be uber punk, then sign to a major label. They cause a major furor whenever stories about them get posted on punk news.

Now ... I like Anti Flag, but for the exception of 3 or 4 songs, the album was mediocre at best.

[Harry]

I liked The Terror State. How did this compare?

[Patient Boy]

http://static.flickr.com/50/106648978_5808e591b3.jpg

[Adam Crocker]

Okay, 2 weeks ago I went to the NOFX/Lawrence Arms/Loved Ones show (which kicked all forms of ass), and Fat Mike was very tongue in cheek about the status of Anti Flag. So much so, I'd say that he flat out called them sell outs.

Wait...

...you went to a NOFX concert?

GHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY!!!!

[Ill Communication]

One of the funnest shows I've ever been to.

[Adam Crocker]

One of the funnest shows I've ever been to.

Dude, you saw NOFX. And you claim to be more punx than me? SELLOUTZ!!!

Now ... I like Anti Flag, but for the exception of 3 or 4 songs, the album was mediocre at best.

So is Anti Flag's entire recorded output. What's your point?

[(A)//(E)]

So is Anti Flag's entire recorded output. What's your point?

signed2345

[Generic Eric]

Anti Flag signing to a major label just means that the band members don't have to have day jobs or have to be constantly on tour. From what I've heard about thier record contract is that they don't even have to comprimise thier artistic integrity. Besides don't most of Antiflag's fans move on to other music when they graduate high school?

[Adam Crocker]

signed2345

Eh? I believe that post is a bit too oblique for me to decipher.


Besides don't most of Antiflag's fans move on to other music when they graduate high school?

I do believe that Anti-Flag has just been 'PWNED.'

[(A)//(E)]

Eh? I believe that post is a bit too oblique for me to decipher.



I do believe that Anti-Flag has just been 'PWNED.'

Oh. ok.. "I agree." Better for ya? :p

[Ill Communication]

Dude, you saw NOFX. And you claim to be more punx than me? SELLOUTZ!!

You're boardering close to snobbery, Adam.

I NEVER claimed I was more "punk" than you. I claimed that you've eaten retard sandwiches because you don't understand the greatness of Boxcar!

COME ON!

There is nothing wrong with Green Day, Nofx, and Blink-182 up to and including Enema of the State. Great, great, great punk-pop that's fun to listen to.

Besides don't most of Antiflag's fans move on to other music when they graduate high school?

No, I discovered Anti-Flag 3 years ago. Ten years after I graduated high school, after I found out about Tom Waits. Anti-Flag was good antiestablishment music, who, I really believe, were trying to make a difference. I don't think any punk band that has signed to a major label has put out consistantly great music as they had when they were on indie labels.

[Adam Crocker]

You're boardering close to snobbery, Adam.

I'm only bordering snobbery!? That's vile slander and you know it!

I NEVER claimed I was more "punk" than you. I claimed that you've eaten retard sandwiches because you don't understand the greatness of Boxcar!

Pffffttt..."Boxcar."

There is nothing wrong with Green Day, Nofx, and Blink-182 up to and including Enema of the State. Great, great, great punk-pop that's fun to listen to.

Sure there is. For one thing it sucks. And it's not fun to listen to either.

[Ill Communication]

Sure there is. For one thing it sucks. And it's not fun to listen to either.

uh, no mayo on that sandwich, extra retard though.

What, pray tell, is your beef with the aforementioned bands?

[Adam Crocker]

What, pray tell, is your beef with the aforementioned bands?

Well to switch gears to a more serious tone: I simply don't find them engaging musically or lyrically. To paraphrase Steve Diggle, it sounds like a parody of seventies punk bands, trying to ape them rather than do something new. I actually articulated this thought on previous discussions on this board (I don't expect you to have known about them though): that the problem with a lot of modern punk is that it apes punk whereas the older punk bands built up their style from disparate sources be it late 60s early 70s proto punk bands like the Stooges and the Velvet Underground, 60s garage rock, 60s British guitar pop, 50s rock'n'roll, glam, free jazz, and even girl group. For a such simple form of rock, the old punk stuff showed a surprising amount of stylistic variety.

Yet every modern pop punk song I hear tends to blur together, being distinguished only be speed and small variations on attack. It seems like they are all using the same five power chords and don't have anything to add to it beyond the same brand of bratty humour. (Now compare the respective musical and lyrical styles of the Ramones, the Jam, the Undertones, the Buzzcocks, the Only Ones, and the Descendents.) And I liked it better when the Damned did it by using black humour or utter absurdism than focusing on the same slacker worldview.

So can I go back to ripping off jokes from Nothing Nice To Say now?

[Generic Eric]

No, I discovered Anti-Flag 3 years ago. Ten years after I graduated high school, after I found out about Tom Waits. Anti-Flag was good antiestablishment music, who, I really believe, were trying to make a difference. I don't think any punk band that has signed to a major label has put out consistantly great music as they had when they were on indie labels.
Sorry, that's just a dumb ongoing joke I have. I know alot of people who cite Anti Flag as thier favorite band as teenagers, but as they grew up thier political views changed and they now view Anti Flag as sort of a guiltry pleasure.