Mike Specht
The Lance

WINDSOR, Ont. (CUP) — After announcing in 2011 that singer Laura Jane Grace (born Tom Gabel) was a transsexual, Against Me! began work on what would be their first studio album with Grace as front woman.

The transition comes to the forefront of the group’s work as Transgender Dypshoria Blues is a ten-song concept album about a trans sex worker.

This is an interesting sound for Against Me! whose last two albums were very focused on power chord driven electric guitar riffs. On Transgender Dysphoria Blues, the band opts for a softer acoustic sound on many of the tracks including “Black Me Out” and “True Trans Soul Rebel.”

Do not confuse the acoustics for lack of edge, lyrically the album is as significant as anything Against Me! has written in their career. Shedding light on prejudice toward the LGBT community while portraying people who are trans as full characters.

“And you know it’s obvious, but we can’t choose how we’re made,” sings Grace on the album’s title track.

In many ways Transgender Dysphoria Blues is a return to form for Against Me! whose last effort White Crosses was not well received by critics or fans for its neatly packaged radio friendly sound.

This album is definitely grittier than anything Against Me! has released since the late 90’s which may have a lot to do with departure from a major label to Grace ’s self-started Total Treble Records.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues is thought-provoking, hard rocking, and brutally honest.  Though it may not get the radio play given to 2006’s New Wave, it may end up being one of the most significant records of 2014 because of its candid nature which tackles a topic typically ignored by the mainstream.