Out Of Step: Faces Of Straight Edge – Empire Press – 2007

It isn’t too frequently that we receive books to review. In fact, I think HYE? has only ever received three books ever. In the case of books, the quality out weighs the quantity. What Southern Empire Records is presenting here is a glimpse into the lives of straight edge men, women and children outside of the hardcore show. There are 60-70 black and white photos with very minimal text describing each image — basic information like name, age, how long edge and occupation.

Overall, Faces Of Straight Edge is a great coffee table piece. The pictures are intriguing with great sets and interesting stances. Most of the pictures are so powerful that they don’t really required text blurbs. The format is also a nice touch. It’s no DIY cut and paste zine, but the simple layout really lends itself nicely to a high quality table book. One you don’t mind if your nosy neighbors or grandparents flip through.

All this praise doesn’t mean the book is flawless though. I certainly have a few points to pick with it. First and foremost were some questions I couldn’t get out of my head while looking at these pics, “Who are these people? Where did they find them? Why should I care about them and are they still straight edge now?” Maybe my PMA has gone dull, but that’s all I could think about.

At times, it feels that the photographer has gone WAY out of his way to track down these individuals. I mean, c’mon, an “anarchist primitivist,” a “bike punk/sex worker” who has been straight edge for one year … It’s as if he dug out all the weirdos and wackos in order to take a prettier picture. I understand he is trying to show how the straight edge community is built upon the backs of unique individuals, but this guy is really stretching. Call my PMA into question again, but I don’t think I would want to feature any person who has been straight edge for less than 5 years, or is under the edge 21. I’ve known too many people who have been “true to 21” to think otherwise. But hey, that’s just me.

The other part of that repeating question was “who are these people and why should I care?” This book features over 60 people and after flipping through it, I would say I recognized only 3-4 people. A few I have met and a few I only know through the internet or via their reputation. The rest of the individuals are complete strangers to me. I’m sure the anonymity of the individual was the goal of the book (hearkening back to the “it takes all kinds” sentiment), but after checking out the pics, I still wonder, “why should I care?” I don’t know this chef, I don’t know that repossession agent. I wouldn’t say I’m a big name scenester or anything (my head hasn’t swelled that much), but I know a lot of people, coast to coast, continent to continent. And to know so few people in this book leaves it a little flat for me.

Now I’m not looking for a book with 400 pictures of Tim McMahons, Sweet Petes and Larry Ransoms. That’s probably been done a million times before. This one is thinking outside of that box, I know this. I know this. But some sense of familiarity would be nice.

Past those question, my other point of criticism is the overall lack of hardcore community. In my mind, without a hardcore show or inclusive hardcore scene, these people may as well just call themselves “drug free.” I understand that straight edge is about those 3 tenets but in my little world, straight edge is more like a brotherhood united by one thing: the hardcore show. To remove the show from these pics feels like removing the greater spirit. It probably didn’t help when the publisher told me, “I have an aversion to shows these days.”

Again, maybe it’s just me and my little world, but my sense of straight edge involves stage diving at local VFW halls on Tuesday nights which always then lead to Wednesday morning struggles at work. Like I said, without that sense of community where is the need for the straight edge label? Where is the need for any label, for that matter? I know a few happily married adults who neither drink nor smoke but they wouldn’t have any idea what straight edge is. In fact, I’m sure if I was to ask them, they wouldn’t even think to label their lifestyle.

Again, I’m sure the pictures were taken outside of this environment to show, “hey, we’re people just like you.” But what is the point to that? The audience this book is being sold to is more than likely straight edge kids between the age of 17 and 24. Most of those people don’t even own coffee tables. The “just like you” individual, is in fact one of the people who could be featured in this book. The casual reader is the straight edge individual.

Enough ranting and raving because in reality (outside my little world), this book is truly well done. It’s an interesting perspective on straight edge in America, the crazy cast of characters and the lifestyles they lead. The photos are top notch and the art direction is classically simple. Adding a few Xed hands and the title “straight edge” takes it from a nice photo album to a subculture overview via photographic evidence. I am a fan. The book hits shelves this month so make sure to go buy a copy now. Peace!