"I was a teenage anarchist" - Against Me!

[Chicano Shamrock]

So I searched for a thread and didn't see it. Against Me has a new song and it seems like Tom Gabel has finished his gradual 180 away from anarchism. For those who haven't heard it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZprVPg06-YM

Lyrics:

I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution.
I had the style, I had the ambition.
I read all the authors, I knew the right slogans.
There was no war but the class war.
I was ready to set the world on fire.
I was a teenage anarchist, looking for a revolution.

Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?

I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient.
In the depths of their humanity all I saw was bloodless ideology.
And with freedom as the doctrine, guess who was the new authority?
I was a teenage anarchist, but the politics were too convenient.

Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?

I was a teenage anarchist, but then the scene got too rigid.
It was a mob mentality, they set their rifle sights on me.
Narrow visions of autonomy, you want me to surrender my identity.
I was a teenage anarchist, the revolution was a lie.

Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?

I was a teenage anarchist.



------------------------

He even wrote a blog post explaining the meaning of the song here:

http://ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-was-teenage-anarchist.html

Tom is trying to rebel against the "anarcho-punk" scene but it seems that this song and his explanation are just an extension of that punk rock bullshit with lines like:

"For if it's heresy for an Anarchist to say "FUCK Anarchy" then Anarchism is truly just another flag, and I say burn it along with the rest of them.

I have never been a fan of the whole punk rock scene thing. What's with people wearing tattered clothes on purpose? Is this part of a problem with people linking radical politics and punk rock? When people grow out of their "punk" phase does the politics ride the same wave out?

Putting the lyrics aside the song is just shit. It sounds like a shit copy of the Killers. I think the Killers are decent but that has never been AM's style and they don't pull it off well.

[this is an invasion]

Fuck Tom Gabel.

[Ele'ill]

Tom is trying to rebel against the "anarcho-punk" scene but it seems that this song and his explanation are just an extension of that punk rock bullshit with lines like:


I have never been a fan of the whole punk rock scene thing. What's with people wearing tattered clothes on purpose? Is this part of a problem with people linking radical politics and punk rock? When people grow out of their "punk" phase does the politics ride the same wave out?

Putting the lyrics aside the song is just shit. It sounds like a shit copy of the Killers. I think the Killers are decent but that has never been AM's style and they don't pull it off well.



The 'punk scene' isn't such as the punk scene is so broad you cannot possibly stereotype the people in it. Are there fuck-up hipsters in it? Yes- lots. In fact I think I can get away with using the word most. This doesn't mean that if you listen to punk or go to a show that you're a hipster dumbslut.

Tom could have just been a scenster that's growing up and realizing how skeezy it makes him feel not understanding or actually agreeing with whatever belief it is, in this case apparently it's anarchism. Perhaps had he actually done organizing part time he'd have experience with it.

I think Tom's problem is that he's lost faith in the idea of pure anarchism. I don't blame him. I'm pretty sure he's still an anarchist and probably more radical in the right ways.

Consider Zach De La Rocha's change as well. Similar.

[Os Cangaceiros]

the revolution was a lie!

lol! fooled u guise!

[ed miliband]

"For if it's heresy for an Anarchist to say "FUCK Anarchy" then Anarchism is truly just another flag, and I say burn it along with the rest of them"

The fuck does this even mean? He's probably one of those chumps who think it is authoritarian to say AnCaps are not anarchists - "omg anarkism is 'bout thinkin' whatever you want!!!".

[Foldered]

I hate this song and everything that it stands for. As far as I can tell, Tom Gabel is a fucking idiot.

Saw them live one day because I had free tickets, heard this song, and almost left. That, and they had a ghost player in the dark part of the stage playing the leads.

And that quote is just tautological; it makes no fucking sense. It sounds like some idiot who smoked a joint for the first time and "figured out the world" or some inane bullshit like that.

[Invincible Summer]

I'll admit the song is catchy, but the lyrics make me so goddamn angry.

What happened to "Baby, I'm an Anarchist" Against Me!? Then they did that whole "Vote plz lol!" thing with their song "Stop!"


Ugh...

The song sounds really condescending and makes it seem like anyone who is revolutionary is just a kid who doesn't know shit.

[#FF0000]

HAVING ANY PRINCIPLES OR AN ORGANIZED SET OF IDEALS ISN'T ANARCHIST. CONFORMING 2 NONCONFORMITY = STILL CONFORMITY!!!!!!

what a tool.

[HEAD ICE]

Well at least he was class-strugglist.

[nuisance]

I reckon someone should offer to debate Tom Gabel on what he thinks anarchism is and isn't. I'm sure it'd provide many a lol.

[Tablo]

That is fucked up. I liked some of their old music, but I'm not surprised their new stuff is like this.

[Foldered]

That is fucked up. I liked some of their old music, but I'm not surprised their new stuff is like this.
Yeah, I actually listened to some of their older stuff, forgot about them, then heard this newer stuff. It hurts my ears and brain.

[Tablo]

Yeah, I actually listened to some of their older stuff, forgot about them, then heard this newer stuff. It hurts my ears and brain.
I know right? Their new stuff doesn't even mildly sound like punk. I can't stand them.

[No pasarán]

Against Me are shite, I once had the chance to go see them for free at CBGBs when I was travelin in the states and passed on it. Pathetic, shite music by people who just exploited the scene they came from.

Not all 'anarcho punk' is bad though and some of the most active anarchists I know are 'punx'.

[Foldered]

I know right? Their new stuff doesn't even mildly sound like punk. I can't stand them.
There wasn't even that much of a progression (regression?) either; they just all of a sudden got really terrible somewhere along the line.

[#FF0000]

I liked New Wave tbh

[Chicano Shamrock]

I liked New Wave tbh
I thought New Wave was good aswell. Not amazing and I didn't exactly like where the politics were going but just as a standard rock album it was fine.

I might even like the new album if I ever decide to give it a listen. Whoever produced his solo album and this new single is a fucking moron. The drums sound like drum loops and everything is way too sterile sounding. It sounds metallic like a tin can and the reverb is too noticeable. There is no feeling in the music. Really awful but very catchy.

[AK]

Clearly Tom was never an actual anarchist.

[Blackscare]

Now he's a grown-up dillhole. Who cares.

[IllicitPopsicle]

Hey, I'm surprised. No one's compared AM! to Chumbawamba yet. :cool:

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Hey, I'm surprised. No one's compared AM! to Chumbawamba yet. :cool:

Because I've never heard Chumbawamba say "Fuck Anarchism" or anything of the sort.






I miss the old Against Me!:(

I went to see Against Me! at Summerfest here in Milwaukee on July 4th and when they played that song my middle fingers went up (pretty nail polish included! :thumbup1: Pink and black!)

[IllicitPopsicle]

Because I've never heard Chumbawamba say "Fuck Anarchism" or anything of the sort.

This is true. Da Chumba's been pretty consistent, politically. Even when they were on the major label.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

This is true. Da Chumba's been pretty consistent, politically. Even when they were on the major label.

They even sold the use of their song to a car company for a comercial, then donated all of the money to some (environmentalist I think?) group that was leading a campaign against that very same car company.
That was pretty bad-ass, IMO.

[IllicitPopsicle]

They even sold the use of their song to a car company for a comercial, then donated all of the money to some (environmentalist I think?) group that was leading a campaign against that very same car company.
That was pretty bad-ass, IMO.

Have you heard their most recent stuff? It's awesome.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Have you heard their most recent stuff? It's awesome.

Which albums? I have like 14 on my computer. My favorites are:

Jesus H. Christ

Neobilly

Anarchy

Showbusiness

WYSIWYG

Singsong And Scrap

[Qayin]

I get knocked down and i get up again...

[BeerShaman]

Total shit!

[IllicitPopsicle]

Which albums? I have like 14 on my computer. My favorites are:

Jesus H. Christ

Neobilly

Anarchy

Showbusiness

WYSIWYG

Singsong And Scrap

ABCDEFG? It's pretty good.

[IllicitPopsicle]

Total shit!

Which, AM! or Chumbawamba?

[bleh]

Well at least he was class-strugglist.

Doesn't sound like a class strugglist to me:

I was a Teenage Anarchist. When I was younger my opinions where very black and white, I was either for or against something, and that's how I defined myself. A lot of those opinions where formed by social influence from the scene I was a part of, being younger I felt the need to belong to something, a group of people, I wanted acceptance. Over time I realized how some people use their positions of stature to pursue their own personal agenda's, selling their own personal brand of self- serving revolution. This all being the complete opposite of what drew me towards Anarchism in the first place. I found that the people who professed the loudest that they were the most open minded individuals were in fact usually the most close minded. I feel like the revolution sold to me when I was a teenager by the punk scene, by the Anarchist scene was a lie. The real revolution was the political awakening. That initial spark that made me want to change the world. And that's what I'm interested in, maintaining that fire. That's what the song is about. I am an autonomous individual. I think for myself. I have no need to supplement my identity through belonging to a scene or exclusively endorsing any brand of political thought. And if anyone is offended by that I feel like it only reaffirms my conviction. Pretty hilarious really.
I loled at the response of user Mommy Dearest:

"I applaud this essay, Tom. I think every teenager experiences their overly rebellious stage, hanging with a tough crowd because they want to feel powerful and feel like they have control and they belong.

But every teenager grows up and has life experiences and their views and ideals mature. You have obviously done that. And I say kudos.
....
To the douche that's spewing hateful garbage while remaining "anonymous", you aren't a very good "radical" if you have to hide behind anonymity. I think you are hiding because you don't want your step in line, hardcore, "rock and roll" friends to know that you probably still appreciate Tom and the rest of the guys for all they have to offer. Why else are you still reading -and posting- on Tom's blog? To you I say, "fuck off and join a totally radical anarchy forum". Leave these posts to the true fans."Skimming through the comments gives a pretty good picture of what happens when the prol is demoralized and people turn to individualism for meaning.

My only beef with Against Me is that every time I googlenews for news on anarchy I repeatedly get articles relating to some AM gig/review/etc because of those two songs they wrote with anarchism in the title. It gets really irritating after a while.

[BeerShaman]

Which, AM! or Chumbawamba?
Tom Gabel

[Revolte_Wolf]

Hey, I'm surprised. No one's compared AM! to Chumbawamba yet. :cool:

ah, but Against Me! was never as good as Chumbawamba.

I took this song as nostalgia more so then anything else, of course Tom said it was about rebelling against anarcho-punk, so I was wrong.

I can't blame him though, honestly. Now I rarely ever called myself an anarcho-punk, I don't like the idea of punk rock and anarchism being linked as the same thing, it makes it that more annoying to explain to people what anarchism is. However I have been into punk rock and played in many punk bands for a good while now, but I was an anarchist before hand. Needless to say I listen to anarcho-punk, BUT in the last couple of years it has become a trend with punk crust and crust has taken over. The kids that listen to it don't care a lick about what the music is saying, they just like the noise, but yet, it's whats "in" in punk rock right now. So rebelling against it, makes sense to me.

[ZeroNowhere]

He thinks for himself now, and his mind is truly liberated, as a burning fire at sundown. The music's still shit, though. Perhaps he should get Buddy Lackey ('A Social Grace'-era) or somebody to think for him. In fact, why not Bach? That would be good.