Anti-Flag – The Bright Lights of America
RCA
5/10
I have to admit, I was pretty excited about Anti-Flag’s new album Bright Lights of America. The few tracks I’d heard, coupled with the hopes that their last album, “For Blood and Empire” was just a very cruel and unorthadox practical joke, led me to my aforementioned excitement.
So out comes “Bright Lights…” and immediately one thing became apparent: they are trying to be epic as FUCK. There’s pianos, and children’s choruses, and I think I might’ve actually even detected a kitchen sink thrown in there (It’s a percussion instrument, what of it?)
Half the tracks are inspired, seemingly, from some of the tragedy thats befallen the band over the time-frame since “For Blood…”. The thing is, the other half drag on too long, and wear what was a good idea thin and taut.
While I’m relieved that Anti-Flag seems to be aiming more towards longevity with this album; most of the tracks do nothing but cement the criticism they’ve recieved over the years that they are firmly based in “cookie-cutter” politics, and their sloganeering is akin to that of the administration they so vehemently despise.
While there are some good, heaty classics here (see title track,) there is just something missing. Maybe there’s a lot left to be desired because subtelty can be such a resourceful tool, and the approach taken with Anti-Flag, the band as a whole, is beating their audience with their messages over the head.
Anti-Flag are obviously earnest, talented and hardworking individuals, but it’s so hard to really be into an album that can be so polarizing. It seems they just recycle their fan base once the older crew has graduated high school. But there isn’t really anything wrong with that, if you take Anti-Flag as nothing more but a gateway band to other politically minded and active acts.
Overall, the album isn’t bad…it just tries way too hard. Not that effort should be looked down upon, but for a band that’s made a reputation out of energetic live shows and making simplicity sound genuine and calculated, this is just not up to par.
Aaron Hale
(aaron@racketmag.com)