If Florida somehow decided to fall into the ocean instead of California (which is looking increasingly more likely), good experimental original rock music would be at least half gone and we would all be stuck with a dangerous imbalance of New England and So Cal core - much of which is driven by what I like to call phoney angst or "phangst" for our purposes.

Wow, what do ya know, I was actually right about something for once. Remember a couple months ago in my Bear vs. Shark review when I said that Lumberjack core would be the next evolutionary step in semi-pop music and in the process become the next poster child for music critics? (Come on - at least 1 of the 9 people who read this site must remember?) Even I had become doubtful of the validity of this theory until I saw that the almighty Spin magazine took the time to put this album in the review section, giving it mad props. Now everyone is going to start exploring local national parks and make Pabst Blue Ribbon their beer of choice, and obviously these Floridian Lumberjacks have perfected the drunken accent to the fullest. AMP, a popular magazine sold at Hot Topic (yes fucking Hot Topic - even I love to wear pants with chains and twelve zippers) said boldly on the cover Against Me! is "our generation's The Clash." Wow this is mighty heady praise to live up to.

Against Me! now have transformed from a standard Florida post hardcore butt-rock band into a more agro folk creation (like fellow Gainsvillers Rumbleseat of yesteryear or Leatherface meets Flogging Molly) which the critics are more than likely going to eat up because indie bands going huge is so hot right now. This kinda makes me kick myself in the ass for not buying their first album from No Idea mail order four years ago. I was close to buying it but probably bought an Acrid record instead. I know if I would've bought it then that I would have more street cred than other random Roys reviewing this on one of those other sites. But the truth is I'm still a baby fan to these guys.

Against Me! went from No Idea to Fat which means going from Hot Pockets to veggie wraps. Judging by the blatant anti-war song "The Energizer" it sounds like Fat Mike had a talk with the boys before signing them to his label. The anti-war movement in music is so hot right now it's bordering on annoying and cheesy. Nevertheless hearing chants about Condoleezza Rice were a nice change from girlfriend poems. In all seriousness looking at how Bush handled those poor bastards in New Orleans I'm even tempted to move to Mexico, purchase the anarchist's cook book and launch homemade SCUDS at the FEMA headquarters. Whoa sorry about that I got a little too political. Fuck politics anyway, Sorry. No more Hot Topics, I promise.

I heard that Axle Rose actually heard about their first album ("Reinventing Axle Rose") and was curious, so he sent out one of his minions to get it before his 5:20 bingo game with Sebastian Bach and Ricky Rocket. Once he had it he put it on and all types of shit was sucked through the fan and flung upon the walls. I guess he got super pissed and broke the CD over his cornrow braids and squatted to piss on the remains. Rumors were even circulating that Axle created a Voo Doo doll of the band. Obviously the doll didn't work because these guys are rocking harder than Axle ever did and are putting on pounds of respect with each new day.. Shit, I don't know, if you like punky shit with not so punky instrumentation then buy this record beeotch.