Sink, Florida, Sink

Sink, Florida, Sink; the original version of this song was an acoustic rendition featured on Against Me!'s second album, As The Eternal Cowboy. For this seven inch release, the band used the electric version of "Sink, Florida, Sink" and "Unsubstantiated Rumors Are Good Enough For Me (To Base My Life Upon)". Both solid as acoustic tracks, I feel like the electric versions bring something to the table as well.

The title track, "Sink, Florida, Sink", starts off with Tom's guitar and Warren's drumming. As the bass comes in, you can tell this version is something completely different. Tom's singing becomes Tom's shouting at points in the song, his voice even cracking in the verses. The verse is pretty similar to the album version, albeit with the inclusion of more instrumentation, but once the chorus comes in, there's a lot of backing vocals and shouting. As much as I appreciate the acoustic version, like a throwback to early Against Me!, I think I like the electric version more. You get a sense of the band really putting their all into the recording of it.

The electric version "Unsubstantiated Rumors Are Good Enough For Me (To Base My Life Upon)" opens with a great bass line, courtesy of Andrew Seward. Much like the title track, the formula is obviously similar to the original; but, the electric version has so much more within the song. Catchy backing vocals, a groovy bass line throughout, the twin guitar sounds, and Warren's snare rolls, all making a solid, energy-filled recording.

Thanks to the use of a full band, these two Against Me! songs show just what they're known for; their energy. These electric versions show what kind of catchy folk punk/punk rock songs Tom and associates can write.

7/10

http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/releases/againstme_sink.php

You can purchase this 7" from No Idea records. It's only four bucks. It's way cheap for an amazing record from a great, released on an awesome label.