Bad Religion: C or D?

Generator and No Substance are my least favorite BR albums of the post-Suffer era.

xpost also they still bring it live. they vary their setlist nightly, and no older songs are off limit at all. that's the joy of being a three chord punk band -- easier to have more material on the ready.

I agree on Process of Belief. If you're going to get ONE album that was released post-ATG, get that one. xp

xpost I really think the title track and Atomic Garden are the only songs I love off of Generator.

I mean, fucking "Sorrow" man...it doesn't get much better than that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Hb4bxF12E

Though No Control has grown to become my BR-album of choice, it was Generator that actually got me hooked to the band, so that's why it still remains one of my favorites, and I also have a place in my heart for The Grey Race, which was very poppy and the first five songs might be one of their best runs of songs on album.

I've seen them live in july in Amsterdam. They were great that night. Met some old punk-friends from years ago. Good times.

All Ages will always be my go-to BR album but No Control is probably their best proper release. Zero filler and more mature and developed than Suffer. Against the Grain also has an argument but the incipient tone-deafness of their bad '90s tracks is there even if their preaching is effective.

re: No Substance, I like Hear It, Shades of Truth, the title track, Sowing the Seeds of Utopia, Victims of the Revolution, Strange Denial, and especially In So Many Ways. That stretch in the middle of the album is pretty abominable though. Voracious March of Godliness...what were they thinking.

And huge OTM to Sorrow. That track is awesome.

I have a found spot for Generator, and the Gray Race because two the songs were featured in Crazy Taxi

This thread is really fucking with my head. I was 21 years old when I started it. For some reason that is freaking me out.

so you're my age then. ditto :/

Just opening this and put it in. I LOVE the opening track. off to a very good start with a burst of energy.

Dissent of Man, that is

streaming here. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=49280

Greg is singing in a higher register than I expected (a good thing).

gonna take a few listens on this one. first reaction is that the songwriting isn't as tight as it was on the last few releases. it's definitely a slower album, which isn't inherently a bad thing, but it's not catching my ear the same way the other post-Brett reunion albums did. It may take me another few listens.

yeah #4 and #7 are pretty weak so far.

I don't think this one's gonna make my classic BR list. I'm still seeing them at the end of the month though as they always put on great shows.

second listen is much kinder to this album. It just ends so meekly compared to the way it begins. Ultimately, I can say I do enjoy this one, even love spots of it, but it definitely falls short of the last few efforts.

It really goes to prove that the 'formula' they've etched isn't as effortless as they made it seem, as we took for granted.

I'll be seeing them on 10/30, can't wait to see what the setlist is like.

Holy shit! The band is selling a 15-LP vinyl box set to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Most notable inclusion? The first new pressing of Into the Unknown since 1983. I'm almost considering dropping the $200 for this.

I hope they don't those horrible remasters...

Yeah, I really wish there was a way to know more about the remastering before it comes out. Of course the price goes up to $225 next Tuesdaym before they ship.

Here's the details.

Good news if true...

http://vinylcollective.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=55616&page=2#923650

I'm probably going to end up getting this.

I gotta try and convince my wife that I should spend $200 on punk records.

Between nuclear disaster, civil war in Libya, the anti-union shenanigans in Wisconsin, and the failure of a gay marriage law at home, it's just feeling like a Bad Religion kind of month.

Every month is a Bad Religion kind of month.

did anyone end up buying that huge box set?

i haven't played Dissent of Man probably since my last post itt. Probably their first real misstep since New America, although it does start out sooooooo good. The material really doesn't do anything live either, and it sticks out like a sore thumb when played between stuff like, say, "Generator" or "Modern Man".

What are people's thoughts on the Gray Race? It was one of my formative albums growing up (and third BR album after Stranger Than Fiction and All Ages) and I think it's pretty much perfect, but things you love when you're 13 tend to stick with you. "Cease" is one of their best album closers.

I really like the first five songs, maybe one of their best opening runs on any BR-album. The album does start to sag in the middle.

I adore Bad Religion. Still think they're an excellent live act.

'Against The Grain' is my favorite moment from them, crunchy and poppy like drinking Cherry Coke with Pop Rocks.

New album has only one track over 3 minutes long, and seven tracks under 2 minutes. The overall sound might be a bit too No Substance for some people (not a problem for me) but the pacing should make up for it. As usual, the longer the song and the slower the tempo, the worse the results. I have always wished that they would just rip through tracks like on Suffer and Against the Grain and this is as close to that as they have come in a long time. It's pretty amazing how well Graffin's voice has held up.

The sound of No Substance wasn't the problem. It was the no substance that was. (Their worst album by some margin imo.)

Looking forward to checking this one out.

It doesn't get any lamer than "The Fuck You" song.

I love the video, a modern take on the Replacements' infamous "Bastards Of Young" clip; the solitary Bastard listening to the vinyl smokes a cigarette and trashes the place in days of yore while the 21st Century Digital Boy checks his smartphone and dresses for the cold in layers.

I want to wait on getting the new album until the band comes to town next month and buy it directly from them, but based on this song - a throwback to my favorite era of the band, the "Against The Grain" days where the vocal harmonies and Greg Graffin's highfalutin lyrics propelled the tunes as much as the influenza-catchy riffs - I may not have the patience.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/bad-religion-find-their-true-north-premiere-20130213

I just relistened to Against the Grain last night. As a big fan at the time, I found it disappointing, and quit buying their records after that. Now, with hindsight, I think there are a lot of great songs on there (and a few real stinkers). It was probably them experimenting the most, with the best results. After that one, I do own Generator (don't care for it) and New Maps of Hell (that one stands up well).

Nothing will ever sound to me like Suffer did to my high school ears. And even that one is a slick piece of product compared to How Could Hell Be Any Worse.

As usual, the longer the song and the slower the tempo, the worse the results.

that's so funny - like, why can't they write a longer/slower song?

(it seems accurate - just funny)

i think the secret of this band is that they are basically rush

They do have a few good low/mid-tempo tracks over 3 minutes...but not many... Faith Alone (which seems to be a template for much of their post-Gurewitz output), The Streets of America, No Direction, American Jesus, Victims of the Revolution, a couple No Substance tracks, and of course Sorrow which is one of their best. I actually don't like Infected very much.

Not over 3 minutes, but a killer mid-tempo BR tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfoHrq4tNmI

And 3:01 of dirge-like Germs worship:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ5GsGiAKuY

Sorry for getting all Youtube-happy last night. I know you guys know these songs...

Good choices

I think The True North was a vast improvement on Dissent of Man, which was the first post-Gurewitz reunion BR album that I outright didn't like; sure, there were some that were more 'good' than 'great', but I outright disliked that one. I mean, they have a sound, they're sticking to it, but True North was a step back in the right direction.

seeing them open for Offspring tonight. fourth time. and then again Saturday. I hope they play "Sometimes It Feels like ##%$#%@$@"

I adore Bad Religion.

Me too. Still my favorite punkrock band. Saw them last year and they were in good form.

holy fuck what a set tonight. "Best For You"? "You are the Government"? "Anesthesia"? "Skyscraper"? "You"?

Holy God that was such a great show.

Part 2.0 tonight. They're in FL AGAIN on Tuesday. if it weren't for pre-planned hangouts w/ friends I'd be tempted to go a third time.

only thing I miss is their banter. Dr Graffin and company wisely pack as many songs in as they can for their fans since they're an opener but I usually enjoy their convos with the crowd when they're headlining.

nowhere near as good a setlist last night :/. oh well

went back through their whole discography over the last week or so.

No Substance wasnt great but In So Many Ways has a nice chuggy riff I fell in love w all over again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z545sqbROtI

this good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HPeBWjSlc

Legendary riot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_chzBNmTHQ