The Semi-Acoustic Folk EP Tom Gabel wrote documents Tom Gabel’s political stance, and stories that aren’t what we already heard from Against Me! The EP opens up with n almost new wavish type song called Random Hearts. Probably one of the worst songs off the album, Random Hearts is the most optimistic song. Talking about teamwork (“We’re in this together Random hearts that beat for each other”) and wars only in the movies (“The only war you’ll ever know is what you see in the movies,”) this song can only prove one thing; Tom Gabel is delusional. After listening to the new wave version of Random Hearts, I put the acoustic version on and this version was a lot better. Normally different versions of a song won’t change how I like it, but the acoustic version was a plus side.
With Conceptual Paths as the next song, I can only ask Tom Gabel one question; How can I get what I want? Do I have to steal? I can get 3-5 if I rob a bank. I’d rather not serve time in jail, Tom. All Gabel does in this one song is whine about how we can get what we want without paying rent to a “Slumlord.” No Tom, we need to pay them if we are renting. Otherwise we are homeless. I’d rather not live on Queens Blvd begging for change. If we are not paying for rent, we are buying a house. In this terrible economy, most people can’t buy houses so they’ll have to rent.
The Coward Sleeps at Night is an Anti-McCain song. Gabel talks about how McCain should shut up about being in Vietnam. Note this is the guy who wrote Baby, I’m an Anarchist. Now I’m not calling Gabel a hypocrite, but he is definitely two faced. One day he’s an Anarchist and now he votes.
Amputations, one of the better songs of the album, tells the story of an American Solider and he’s missing his soul. He cannot do everyday things anymore. Indeed catchy, Amputations which is only a 2 minute track, should have been longer.
Anna is a stool Pigeon is the best track off the album. I had to listen to this track 3 times to make sure what he was saying was what I was hearing. It tells the story in a Bob Dylan folk type manner with his harmonica and steel stringed acoustic guitar. Eric McDavid, Zachary Jenson and Lauren Weiner were activists who were being spied on by a student. The student (Anna) later told the FBI of there plans of burning down the Nimbus dam. The story is here: http://www.wombles.org.uk/article2007091261.php.
Harsh Realms is the ballad of not giving up in the most stressful times. An all acoustic song, this is what I expected from Tom Gabel. His voice echoed though a decent acoustic guitar riff played over and over again. A plus side for this album.
The albums ends with 100 Years of war. A song about doing something that you believe in about the world. Protest it now while it’s happening rather than 100 years later. This song was a great way to end the album.
Despite lyrical flaws, this album was a pretty solid album. 3.5 out of 5.
Suggested songs: Anna Is a Stool Pigeon, Harsh Realms, Amputations
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