"Push back with every word and every breath."

The long-awaited fifth album from punk band Against Me! is nothing if not a logical step up from their first major label record, New Wave. With new drummer George Robelo (of Hot Water Music) on board, it was almost a given that this album would be different from anything they've done before. The band's sound on the album is not only a big change, but many of the tracks on White Crosses come off sounding overproduced and lacking in passion.

One thing that seems to be missing completely from AM!'s new effort is the band's signature folk punk sound. What we get instead is a mishmash of boring guitar riffs and cookie-cutter drums -- probably the most disappointing aspect of the entire album. If you are expecting something that is musically great, you won't find it on White Crosses. This album also features the cleanest vocal delivery I've ever heard from lead singer Tom Gabel. This is neither a good nor a bad thing, and it definitely goes hand-in-hand perfectly with their new style. The lyrics, at times, are laughable, especially on "We're Breaking Up," in which Tom sings, "We used to like all the same bands. We used to have all the same friends. What do we have left in common? Just shared memories of good times long since past." Clearly, little room is left for interpretation and I would even go so far as to call it lazy songwriting. Alternately, the political issues touched upon in songs like "High Pressure Low" would probably fall on deaf ears.

The first two tracks on the album, title track "White Crosses" and first single "I Was A Teenage Anarchist," are solid songs that make for a strong opening. Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. "Because of the Shame" tells an amazing story but something is missing in the music itself that would probably make the song good instead of just alright. The middle of the record is one huge 'What the hell?' moment, with songs that feature piano, strange background whispers and chants, and very little feeling behind the delivery. However, the band redeems themselves a little with the final three tracks, ending on a high note. "Spanish Moss" and "Rapid Decompression" are easily the catchiest (and maybe the best) songs on the album.

Overall, the songs on White Crosses don't flow well. It's as if the band wrote song titles on slips of paper, threw them into a hat, and chose at random, leaving a handful of sub-par tracks sandwiched in-between the better songs. Either way, at least half of the album is worth a listen or two; it might get old fast or it might grow on you.

Verdict: 2/5
Sounds like: Someone sucked the soul out of punk rock
Favorite tracks: "Bamboo Bones," "Rapid Decompression"