New Wave | ||||
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Studio album by Against Me! | ||||
Released | July 10, 2007 | |||
Recorded | October 1–December 23, 2006 at Paramount Studios, Hollywood | |||
Genre | Punk rock, alternative rock | |||
Length | 33:33 | |||
Label | Sire | |||
Producer | Butch Vig | |||
Against Me! chronology | ||||
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Singles from New Wave | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AbsolutePunk.net | (81%) |
AllMusic | |
Blender | |
IGN Music | (7.8) |
Kerrang! | |
Okayplayer | |
Pitchfork Media | (5.5/10) |
Punknews.org | |
Rolling Stone | |
Spin |
New Wave is Against Me!'s fourth full-length studio album and their debut album on Sire Records. Produced by Butch Vig of Nevermind fame, it was released on July 10, 2007. The album debuted at #57 on the Billboard 200 on the week of its release. The album's first single, "White People for Peace", was released in May 2007, prior to the album's release. A second single, "Thrash Unreal", followed in July 2007.
New Wave is the first Against Me! full length to not feature any acoustic tracks.
In August 2007, Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee covered the entire album and released it as a free MP3 download on his blog. Explaining why he decided to cover the album, Lee said "I fell in love with the album. Really. Like, couldn't stop listening to it. As heavy and gnarly as it sounds at times, it is unmistakably a pop masterpiece." Lee's wife, Ione Skye, would later direct the music video for the band's song "333" in 2016.
The album was #1 on Spin Magazine's Album of the Year and #9 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.
New Wave is the band's first album with major label Sire Records. Some fans responded negatively to the decision, calling them "sell-outs". Singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace commented on this, saying "It's just kind of a self-defeating, shoot yourself in the foot-like attitude to have. I find it completely frustrating and off-putting and it turns me off of the punk scene really because people are very closed minded."
The album was originally scheduled for release in the spring of 2007, but was delayed due to mixing issues. Mixing was due to start on February 1, 2007 but it was pushed back to February 9. The band had to start touring on the February 20, so they ended up mixing for ten days before they had to leave. While on tour, producer Butch Vig and mixer Rich Costey would email the band a song which they would then listen to and comment back on.