Against Me! singer Tom Gabel has turned the amplifiers down for this solo, semiacoustic mini-album. Inspired by America’s political landscape in the lead-up to the 2008 Presidential election, Gabel has put a lot of political content in the lyrics. At first, Gabel’s raw and loud, punk-suited voice sounds misplaced with the stripped-down arrangements, but it soon reveals itself as a potent combination. Featuring guest appearances from ex-Hot Water Music singer Chuck Ragan and Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, the seven songs on this record grow on you with every listen. 3.5/5 Noah Cross