I will turn 50 in November of this year, so my project for 2023 will be to listen to and review one album from each year of my life, 1973 to 2022. The only qualification is that it has to be an album I’ve not reviewed previously.

2014

Top Grossing Albums of 2014:

1989 – Taylor Swift
Frozen – soundtrack
x – Ed Sheeran
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith

Grammy Award for Album of the Year of 2014:

Morning Phase – Beck
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
BEYONCÉ – Beyoncé
x – Ed Sheeran
G I R L – Pharrell Williams

Other Albums I’ve Reviewed from 2014:

PLECTRUMELECTRUM – 3rdEyeGirl
Tayi Bebba – Clap! Clap!
Black Messiah – D’Angelo and the Vanguard
Rips – Ex Hex
Give the People What They Want – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Brill Bruisers – The New Pornographers
St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Album: Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Artist: Against Me!
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Label: Total Treble, Xtra Mile
Favorite Tracks:

Transgender Dysphoria Blues
True Trans Soul Rebel
Osama bin Laden as the Crucified Christ
Dead Friend
Paralytic States

Thoughts: By happy coincidence, this review comes just a few days before Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31). This is the 6th album for the Florida punk rock band Against Me! but the first after the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Laura Jane Grace came out as transgender. Naturally the lyrics deal with Grace’s gender dysphoria and transition as well as the not always supportive response of the punk community. These songs really rock, a style of melodic punk I really enjoy, topped with the growl of Grace’s voice.

Rating: ****