Hole In My Head

Chronique

Hole In My Head opens with a shot of pure exhilaration: The title track is classic, racing punk rock with an absolutely great hollered chorus. It's furious and thrilling and perfectly sets the tone for the second solo album from Laura Jane Grace, the anarcho-punk singer of Gainesville, Florida's Against Me! who came out as transgender in 2012. Grace sounds fantastic—her voice less smooth and less shredded, but as passionate and aggressive as ever. "Dysphoria Hoodie" shifts gears back to the folk punk that Against Me! pioneered and perfected in the early aughts, when they defined the sometimes acoustic genre with strident attitude and a flair for the dramatic. Grace has explained that "Any trans person out there knows what a dysphoria hoodie is—it's the hoodie you wear when feeling low and dysphoric and you don't want the world reading your gender … Instant protection from the outside world." The fitful acoustic track has the spirit of a protest song even as it begs for comfort: "Dysphoria hoodie, please do swallow me … Plenty reasons to fear whеn you don't fit the mold/ You are my armor when facing thе world." 

Flaunting muscular rock 'n' roll guitar riffage, "Birds Talk Too" is likewise personal, inspired by Grace's decision to shave off her hair—an identifying marker of femininity—and have renowned Japanese tattoo artist Gakkin ink her head with a bird of prey. "Tacos & Toast" is an easy acoustic amble, but Grace never goes easy, belting, "You will be written as a clear mistake/ I think I'll get a line tattooed through your name." It's nothing but a compliment to say it feels like a cousin to the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack. Other playful tracks recall the delirious whimsy of the Modern Lovers, like "I'm Not a Cop," with its jittery rockabilly stylings, fun and slinky bass (courtesy of Drive-By Truckers' Matt Patton) and Grace yelping, "I'm not a fucking cop-cop-cop-cop-cop." Ditto "Cuffing Season," which finds Grace trying to recapture a youthful exuberance. Stripped down but revved up, "Punk Rock in Basements" also longs for the wild freedom of youth: "It's been a long, long time since we used to play/ Punk rock in basements ... that's where we used to bare our heart and soul/ Could never hear the microphone/ But we knew every single word." And restless "Hard Feelings" comes with an anarcho underdog chorus meant to be worn like a heart on a sleeve: "Mother, mother, mother, I've ruined my brain/ with alcohol, weed, porn and cocaine." Thoughtful, provocative and full of catchy hooks, Grace is expert at commanding an audience. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz