Against Me!'s latest album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, may be one of the most important records of the decade. We're deep in a cultural war for gay and women's rights, but we've barely scratched the surface regarding transgender issues. The coming out of someone in the public eye still qualifies as news, yet we rarely hear about folks in the process of a gender transition. So when Against Me! singer Tom Gabel became Laura Jane Grace in 2012, she did more than make a public announcement. She also wrote an incredible, moving album about the experience. And people took notice.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues is possibly the first record of its kind, providing a raw, visceral look into Grace's mind. The title track is a heart-wrenching look into Grace's struggles through an anthemic chorus with a biting edge -- "You want them to see you like they see every other girl / They just see a faggot / They'll hold their breath not to catch the sick."
