The more I listen to this, the more I feel this is Gabel's goodbye to punk rock, explaining that he's ready to grow and move on.
"I was a teenage anarchist
But then the scene got too rigid
It was mob mentality
They set their rifle sights on me
Narrow visions of autonomy
You want me to surrender my identity..."
A perfect example of this exact thing happening can be found in a number of songs' comments sections on this very website. I mean, in regards to AM!, the punk rock community has definitely turned into a mob mentality, and he's become public enemy #1.
Can't really blame Gabel for wanting to broaden his horizons and move on when his previous fan-base mostly consisted of fickle and jaded kids who are terrified of "their" bands changing outside of the strict expectations they place, hating on any band that doesn't sound the exact same forever.
Plus, if you look at Gabel's influences, it's not surprising that his music is taking a turn towards more of an 80s rockish sound. He's covered a few The Replacements tracks, even. Shouldn't be very shocking to anyone.
I'm all for changing sounds and experimenting with different things, but my problem has more to do with what this site is about: the lyrics. I know people change as they get older blah blah blah but this is a giant "fuck you" to his past, his friends, and his old fans. "The politics were too convenient." Honestly? That's the worst excuse ever. I would've rather him say "the cash was too easy" of all things..
I'm all for changing sounds and experimenting with different things, but my problem has more to do with what this site is about: the lyrics. I know people change as they get older blah blah blah but this is a giant "fuck you" to his past, his friends, and his old fans. "The politics were too convenient." Honestly? That's the worst excuse ever. I would've rather him say "the cash was too easy" of all things..
From watching some interviews with Tom about this new record and the way AM! has gone in the past few years I think he is saying "fuck you" to his former friends and former fans because he felt that he was ostracized for insignificant reasons. Here is one of the interviews youtube.com/watch
From watching some interviews with Tom about this new record and the way AM! has gone in the past few years I think he is saying "fuck you" to his former friends and former fans because he felt that he was ostracized for insignificant reasons. Here is one of the interviews youtube.com/watch
Tom talks about people he has known for years and "Now they won't even say hi to me in a public place...because my band is on a major label." "If that's what punk rock meant, than I don't want any part of it."
I couldn't agree more about that statement or those in the song. When "punk" kids (or whatever 'scene') view the world through a binary ideological lens than they become no different than those who contribute to the mainstream polarization of the two parties. It likely was a business related decision to sign to a major label, but what I think most "punk" kids don't understand is how complicated life starts getting out of highschool, especially 4 years out. You want to play music for a living and have a family, and be able to go to the dentist, and send your kid to college, or travel. You don't want to be 30 and trying to impress angsty teens about how legit you are.
The lyrics "it was a mob mentality" hit the nail on the head. There is no room for individuality in ideologically driven groups (e.g. anarchists) when the principles of the ideology are so limiting that they cannot allow the synthesis of other viewpoints.
More power to him (and the rest of the band) for growing up and having the strength to follow their own identities. And I dig the sound of the album too.
I understand the two views expressed above. I really do. I understand that AM! looks to be doing both of these things. I problem this the song has to do with the lyrics "was an anarchist" Why not fault the scene for not be anarchist? Why piss on it and deliver to everyone their worst fears. I hear this song and I think it means "Yeah, I'm a sell-out. Deal with it." This is the worst attitude to take. I get that the working class have very little options to live the good-life, but there is a way to...
I understand the two views expressed above. I really do. I understand that AM! looks to be doing both of these things. I problem this the song has to do with the lyrics "was an anarchist" Why not fault the scene for not be anarchist? Why piss on it and deliver to everyone their worst fears. I hear this song and I think it means "Yeah, I'm a sell-out. Deal with it." This is the worst attitude to take. I get that the working class have very little options to live the good-life, but there is a way to do this and not come off as part of the problem. Hell! Green Day is more punk (for me meaning has more integrity) than AM!
If he really wanted to he could continue the class war by pointing out that anyone who makes there money with their back or their brain is a worker...that everyone has a boss...that the capitalist will sell you the rope you hang him with...starting his one minor label...continuing to push new bands... supporting on-line piracy.... basically using his new found ability to reach larger audiences to continue to promoting subversive thought...
I could give a funk if AM! is on a major...So were nearly ALL of the first wave punk bands at some point...What I hate is a turning of the back to class antagonism.
does anyone remember a dude named bob dylan? he was called a "protest singer". he was thrown into the role of "the voice of a generation", something he never wanted. he completely changed his sound and his fans FLIPPED SHIT. they called him a sell out, they said they hated him. i like that. he did what he wanted to do and didn't let anyone shape his music into what they wanted it to be. an artist makes ART. if you don't like it, don't listen. every great band changes their...
does anyone remember a dude named bob dylan? he was called a "protest singer". he was thrown into the role of "the voice of a generation", something he never wanted. he completely changed his sound and his fans FLIPPED SHIT. they called him a sell out, they said they hated him. i like that. he did what he wanted to do and didn't let anyone shape his music into what they wanted it to be. an artist makes ART. if you don't like it, don't listen. every great band changes their sound, gets signed to a bigger label, and lose all their "fans" who, as tom says in this song, are too rigid. punk rock isn't about anarchy, it's about expression. it's about being listened to and empathized with. knowing that people out there feel and think the same way that you do. i love this song, and i'm excited to see AM! develop as a band and as people. bands/artists that don't develop get old fast (ex: eminem. we get it, you're angry). if you don't like this song, this song is about you.
Mech is absolutely right.
The more I listen to this, the more I feel this is Gabel's goodbye to punk rock, explaining that he's ready to grow and move on.
"I was a teenage anarchist But then the scene got too rigid It was mob mentality They set their rifle sights on me Narrow visions of autonomy You want me to surrender my identity..."
A perfect example of this exact thing happening can be found in a number of songs' comments sections on this very website. I mean, in regards to AM!, the punk rock community has definitely turned into a mob mentality, and he's become public enemy #1.
Can't really blame Gabel for wanting to broaden his horizons and move on when his previous fan-base mostly consisted of fickle and jaded kids who are terrified of "their" bands changing outside of the strict expectations they place, hating on any band that doesn't sound the exact same forever.
Plus, if you look at Gabel's influences, it's not surprising that his music is taking a turn towards more of an 80s rockish sound. He's covered a few The Replacements tracks, even. Shouldn't be very shocking to anyone.
I'm all for changing sounds and experimenting with different things, but my problem has more to do with what this site is about: the lyrics. I know people change as they get older blah blah blah but this is a giant "fuck you" to his past, his friends, and his old fans. "The politics were too convenient." Honestly? That's the worst excuse ever. I would've rather him say "the cash was too easy" of all things..
I'm all for changing sounds and experimenting with different things, but my problem has more to do with what this site is about: the lyrics. I know people change as they get older blah blah blah but this is a giant "fuck you" to his past, his friends, and his old fans. "The politics were too convenient." Honestly? That's the worst excuse ever. I would've rather him say "the cash was too easy" of all things..
From watching some interviews with Tom about this new record and the way AM! has gone in the past few years I think he is saying "fuck you" to his former friends and former fans because he felt that he was ostracized for insignificant reasons. Here is one of the interviews youtube.com/watch
From watching some interviews with Tom about this new record and the way AM! has gone in the past few years I think he is saying "fuck you" to his former friends and former fans because he felt that he was ostracized for insignificant reasons. Here is one of the interviews youtube.com/watch
Tom talks about people he has known for years and "Now they won't even say hi to me in a public place...because my band is on a major label." "If that's what punk rock meant, than I don't want any part of it."
I couldn't agree more about that statement or those in the song. When "punk" kids (or whatever 'scene') view the world through a binary ideological lens than they become no different than those who contribute to the mainstream polarization of the two parties. It likely was a business related decision to sign to a major label, but what I think most "punk" kids don't understand is how complicated life starts getting out of highschool, especially 4 years out. You want to play music for a living and have a family, and be able to go to the dentist, and send your kid to college, or travel. You don't want to be 30 and trying to impress angsty teens about how legit you are.
The lyrics "it was a mob mentality" hit the nail on the head. There is no room for individuality in ideologically driven groups (e.g. anarchists) when the principles of the ideology are so limiting that they cannot allow the synthesis of other viewpoints.
More power to him (and the rest of the band) for growing up and having the strength to follow their own identities. And I dig the sound of the album too.
I understand the two views expressed above. I really do. I understand that AM! looks to be doing both of these things. I problem this the song has to do with the lyrics "was an anarchist" Why not fault the scene for not be anarchist? Why piss on it and deliver to everyone their worst fears. I hear this song and I think it means "Yeah, I'm a sell-out. Deal with it." This is the worst attitude to take. I get that the working class have very little options to live the good-life, but there is a way to...
I understand the two views expressed above. I really do. I understand that AM! looks to be doing both of these things. I problem this the song has to do with the lyrics "was an anarchist" Why not fault the scene for not be anarchist? Why piss on it and deliver to everyone their worst fears. I hear this song and I think it means "Yeah, I'm a sell-out. Deal with it." This is the worst attitude to take. I get that the working class have very little options to live the good-life, but there is a way to do this and not come off as part of the problem. Hell! Green Day is more punk (for me meaning has more integrity) than AM!
If he really wanted to he could continue the class war by pointing out that anyone who makes there money with their back or their brain is a worker...that everyone has a boss...that the capitalist will sell you the rope you hang him with...starting his one minor label...continuing to push new bands... supporting on-line piracy.... basically using his new found ability to reach larger audiences to continue to promoting subversive thought...
I could give a funk if AM! is on a major...So were nearly ALL of the first wave punk bands at some point...What I hate is a turning of the back to class antagonism.
does anyone remember a dude named bob dylan? he was called a "protest singer". he was thrown into the role of "the voice of a generation", something he never wanted. he completely changed his sound and his fans FLIPPED SHIT. they called him a sell out, they said they hated him. i like that. he did what he wanted to do and didn't let anyone shape his music into what they wanted it to be. an artist makes ART. if you don't like it, don't listen. every great band changes their...
does anyone remember a dude named bob dylan? he was called a "protest singer". he was thrown into the role of "the voice of a generation", something he never wanted. he completely changed his sound and his fans FLIPPED SHIT. they called him a sell out, they said they hated him. i like that. he did what he wanted to do and didn't let anyone shape his music into what they wanted it to be. an artist makes ART. if you don't like it, don't listen. every great band changes their sound, gets signed to a bigger label, and lose all their "fans" who, as tom says in this song, are too rigid. punk rock isn't about anarchy, it's about expression. it's about being listened to and empathized with. knowing that people out there feel and think the same way that you do. i love this song, and i'm excited to see AM! develop as a band and as people. bands/artists that don't develop get old fast (ex: eminem. we get it, you're angry). if you don't like this song, this song is about you.