This reviewer thought that the shift from typical punk topics to romantic relationships and their dynamics was a good transition to make. After the band signed on to a bigger label, he thought that Laura Jane Grace’s transition could help bring back a sort of “ragged edge” to the band’s music. He liked this album more than Transgender Dysphoria Blues, which seems to be the general consensus. Unlike Doyle, he doesn’t feel that Crash was a particularly strong song, and that the midsection of the album was “phenomenal.” A lot of the criticisms of this album revolve around how it sounds more pop-punk, but Mark Grondin counters this with a simple, “Who cares? It’s great pop punk,” speaking specifically about the song Rebecca. However, like most reviewers, Norse Truth didn’t really stand out to him. Additionally, he says that the backup vocals for songs such as “Suicide Bomber” weren’t particularly good, but Grace’s passion and emotion make up for it.
He describes the songs as love songs that are informed and influenced by the trans experience, but not solely about them. I had never really separated these two, and having the difference clearly described helped me to understand that difference. It helped me look more closely at how the perspective informs the lyrics.
Media Project 