Tom Gabel

Taking a break (or a detour) from his role fronting Florida punk rockers Against Me!, Tom Gabel plays it loose, yet hardly mellow, with his first solo EP, Heart Burns. Though minimalist and mostly acoustic, Gabel's punk fury and powerful lyrics are heard loud and clear. Aside from a damn catchy electro rocker in "Random Hearts" that vaguely recalls late '70s/early '80s punk when new wave overtook it and a Clash-esque rock 'n' roll number called "Amputations," Gabel sticks closer to acoustic-folk-with-backbone on tracks like "Harsh Realms," "100 Years of War" and "Conceptual Paths."

Even on the comparatively lighter tunes, there is a certain grit and muscularity that permeates the music, led by the raw urgency in Gabel's voice. But the hands down star cut is "Anna is a Stool Pigeon," an eminently hooky tune—with a soulful harmonica to boot—about imprisoned environmental activist and anarchist Eric McDavid, allegedly the victim of an FBI informant. It is a prime example of Gabel's masterful blend of poignant lyrics and immediately memorable songwriting that stimulates the brain and puts a fire in the belly. Heart Burns is punky folk with balls and a message that begs to be heard.

—Scott Alisoglu
01.08.09