Here are 10 career-spanning, must-hear songs from Laura Jane Grace

The longtime frontwoman for the Gainesville-grown band Against Me! has a catalog of well over 100 songs to shuffle through that span two decades of work.

Now working on what will eventually be her 10th album − and third record since the band's hiatus − Grace has solidified herself as a multidimensional artist who can tackle a range of sounds for whatever vibe you're feeling.

In preparation for her upcoming tour, which includes six Florida stops, here are 10 notable songs from the rockstar worth listening to.

Disclaimer: Some of the songs contain strong, adult language.

More: Laura Jane Grace speaks candidly about Tom Petty influence, Ron DeSantis and her biggest life regret

'Sink, Florida, Sink'

It's a crowd favorite and staple closing song for many Against Me! shows. But while the song "Sink, Florida, Sink" was released on the album "As the Eternal Cowboy" under the label Fat Wreck Chords, an alternative, more stripped-down version came out in 2005.

It was initially only released on a 7-inch record through the Gainesville-based No Idea Records, but now is available on streaming platforms.

'Manic Depression'

Venturing off in 2018 under the name Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers, the singer/guitarist released this honest track that dives into her thought process when dealing with depression and anxiety. It also came with a live music video from AudioTree that was recorded in a dive bar.

Grace has said Tom Petty was a heavy influence on her album "Bought to Rot," which features the song.

'The Ocean'

Back in 2007 when Against Me! released "The Ocean," few at the time likely overanalyzed the song's lyrics. But it has a significant message.

"And if I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman. My mother once told me she would have named me Laura," sings Grace.

Just five years after the song's release, Grace came out to the world as transgender in a Rolling Stones article. She took on the name Laura − just as her lyrics described − as well as her mother's maiden name.

'Androgynous'

A hidden gem to many, Grace sang and played along Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for this Replacements cover. The track is one of the few more upbeat love ballads featuring Grace. It is the second to last song on Jett's album "Bad Reputation" and accompanies the documentary film under the same title that follows Jett's Hall of Fame career.

'Walking is Still Honest'

Released on the band's first classic album "Reinventing Axl Rose," this song is a must. While the rebellious recorded version is faster and heavier, Grace has been known to play the song during acoustic sets.

"Walking is Still Honest" − as well as a bulk of the first album − was recorded in Gainesville during late December 2001 and early January 2002 at Goldentone Studios in Gainesville by Rob McGregor.

'Swimming Pool'

The first time Grace played this song live in front of a crowd was during Fest 18 at the Civic Media Center a year before its official release. The mystery set was in between her band's two-album, two-night sets where fans heard four Against Me! albums played in full.

At the time, it was unclear that Grace was working on the solo album "Stay Alive," which was eventually released during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Swimming Pool" is the opening track to the mostly acoustic album.

'Black Me Out'

As one of Grace's more direct and more angry songs, "Black Me Out" is another fan favorite that regularly has the crowd yelling lyrics back at the band throughout its entirety.

The song is on Against Me's 2014 album "Transgender Dysphoria Blues."

'Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners'

In 2005, Against Me! returned with its third studio album "Searching for a Former Clarity." Despite its title, the song seems to have a double meaning and largely uses sex as a metaphor to describe how the business side of music can take the fun out of the art.

The album reached No. 114 on the Billboard 200.

'Yesterday Pt. II'

In 2021, Grace surprised fans with more music, this time as a seven-song, extended play format. The last song, "Yesterday Part 2," is a short, but sweet track where the lyrics seem to be a repeated plea to stop a breakup, reflecting on the recent fond memories.

"I know I sound insane. I know I sound Insane. But it was only yesterday ...," Grace sings.

'Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%'

One of Against Me's earliest and more underrated songs with arguably the greatest song title, "Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%" was released in 2002 on the three-song EP called "The Disco Before The Breakdown."

The EP was recorded at The Rec Room in Gainesville and released on No Idea Records. It was the band's first release with bassist Andrew Seward. The band's member lineup with him remained consistent throughout 2009. Seward left the band in 2013 but returned in 2018.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 10 career-spanning songs from Laura Jane Grace of Against Me