Against Me! shows appreciation to fans by releasing special video

So Spin debuted the worldwide premiere of the Fan Appreciation Version of the new Against Me! single "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" today online. Sadly I cannot put it up so check it out here!

Needless to say the song is different while staying completely the same (if that makes any sense). The track is more polished than early AM! (obviously) but keeps that certain style that makes it a AM! song in the first place. There is no labeling these dudes, they'll do whatever the heck they want so the term "sell out" doesn't hold any value for them and it shouldn't. Layering the vocals and instruments adds a depth most couldn't even imagine existing before and yet somehow was known to always exist. The sound is still there. The heart beats just as strong underneath it all, pulsing through the entirety of the song giving it meaning. Singer Tom Gabel's lyrics still speak strictly about his experience and worldview creating a vibrant and bitter hope perfect for the jaded idealist. The lyrics are brilliant. Wistful and sad but always progressing. Taking in the nostalgia of once treasured beliefs ("Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?"), the rude awakening, and feeling wise for living through the experience. "Teenage Anarchist" seems to be the natural evolution of the band itself. The musical equivalent to actual its actual history. Honest and heartbreaking, spirited and inclusive "Teenage Anarchist" speaks volumes about what it means to believe in something and watch it fail you.

Directed by Jason Thrasher, the video (shot in basic black and white) focuses more on the fans and the music than the individual members of the band. This is made more prominent close up footage of the audience crowd surfing, singing along, and even one fan up onstage singing in the microphone. All shots of the band are at odd angles, close ups of hands playing instruments, or back of the head eye-level views out into the crowd. The video captures the energy of a AM! show flawlessly.

The official video for “I Was A Teenage Anarchist” will be premiering on Myspace.com May 6