After nihilistic and vulgar album Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Laura-Jane Grace went through a chatarsis and left us wondering what will follow up such an enriching post-punk momentum. Will it be a continuation or something pristine?
The answer is both. Shape Shift With Me sounds both familiar and strange simultaniously, but it never gets a seizure feeling like its predecesor.
Musically, it is more soft (which doesn’t mean it is soft), and lyrically it’s more girly (which doesn’t mean it’s for girls). The opening track Pro Vision L3 misleads you because it sounds like the tail of Transgender Dysphoria Blues. It is a piece that doesn’t fit into the puzzle. It also stands out due to its socio-political narrative (the title of the name refers to the human scanner used at the airports), and it is the most equivoval one. Laura burned her birth certificate at the concert a while ago, and now she is less politically charged, but she is still capable of putting a bewildering lyric that speaks about the world in latent way. The other example for it is a track called Suicide Bomber.
Now that we are done with politics and terorism, what’s left is love and sex. While her love songs are mildly eccentric, combining beautiful and emotional with explicit sex is something only Laura can do. Parts are left to the listener for interpretation, but songs are mostly straightforward. Two best tracks on the album are Rebbeca and Norse Truth. Since they are my absolute favorites, I will elaborate on them further (although, the rest of the album is also solid).
I just want to grab you by the skull
Rebecca, kiss me
But let’s not fall in love
These lines are just an example of Laura’s writing kunst.
You’re gigantic to me, become wet in my mouth again is the line whose meaning is left to your imagination. There is no right or wrong answer. Rebecca is an instant choice for concert because of its screaming name. Background vocal is bursting from energy and it completes Laura while she sensually sings Rebbeca, kiss me.
Norse Truth is a love song starting with Tits out for the boys.. Hard cocks…Hard cunts…Line ‘em up. Here, we can see a more vulgar Laura, especially in the continuation Last cock you suck to the last cunt you fucl…I am forever your girl, please, please say that you love me.
Shape Shift With Me is probably the most eloquent album by Against Me! The album grows on you as your ears get more and more wet.
