[skitso]

submission courtesy skitso

Band: Bad Religion
Album: Suffer

15 tracks, 25 minutes, and one of the most influential punk albums of all time, Bad Religion?s ?Suffer? is the archetypal So-cal punk album, and has directly affected most punk fans for 15 years.

Bad Religion were started by Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Ziskrout and Jay Bentley in 1979, and recorded their debut EP in 1980 on their own label, Epitaph Record, through which they also released their debut LP, ?How could Hell be any worse?? on a $1000 load from Greg?s father. After adding a member, Greg Hetson, Bad Religion recorded their second album ?Into the unknown?. This album saw Bad Religion loose most of their following, as it not only contained ballads, but also synthesisers. The punk fans that they had acquired quickly deserted them. The band split up, and all followed different paths. Things looked bleak until, in 1984, the two Gregs got together and decided to re-unite the band. They released a punk record, ?Back to the known?, which was very successful. Brett decided he wanted to make Epitaph a serious label, and saw Bad Religion as the vehicle for this. He and Jay rejoined in 1986, and the original line-up was back together (with the exception of Ziskrout, who was replaced by Pete Finestone.)

And then, in 1987, Bad Religion released an album that is still believed by many to be their best work, ?Suffer?. Featuring a striking cover of a boy on fire in a suburban neighbourhood, the album?s lyrics reflected the band?s political stance and angst, while still remaining heartfelt and intelligent, a feat few punk bands have managed to achieve. After an explosion of success for Epitaph in the early nineties, Brett once again quite the band. He fought with drug addiction for a long time, eventually ending up in jail, but he slowly got clean. He rejoined the band, and they are still together to this day, having released on of their most successful albums, ?The process of Belief?. Bad Religion influenced almost every punk band who came after them, from NOFX to Alkaline Trio, and continue to be a relevant force in punk, 24 years after their creation.

You Are (The Government)
2. 1000 More Fools
3. How Much Is Enough?
4. When?
5. Give You Nothing
6. Land Of Competition
7. Forbidden Beat
8. Best For You
9. Suffer
10. Delirium Of Disorder
11. Part II (The Numbers Game)
12. What Can You Do?
13. Do What You Want
14. Part IV (The Index Fossil)
15. Pessimistic Lines

[randomorwhat]

A good band, doubtless. 25 minutes? Damn thats short!

[skesal]

Great band and a great album.

My favorite Bad Religion album is still The New America, but many say that's one of their worst.

[chaos_ross]

I'll need to pick that one up sometime (as my dad owes me an album)

The only Bad Religion I've heard is 'Stranger than Fiction' which I believe is a big blend of a lot of their songs put on the one album.

Pretty Good though

[AJackknifeToASwan]

[modred]

Who cares if it is short that's part of its beauty. My favorite of theirs is still No Control. And New America is still better than the aptly titled No Substance.

[LaDodgersFreak88]

I still think they're best is probably "Against The Grain"

[timeforheroes]

Stranger than fiction is such a good album, its got such a combination of different things..plus a song with tim armstrong! ace!

[galrash]

I do like some Bad Religion =)

All Ages is a good mix album.

[Will_Wood]

Another great band with great music.

Absolutely stellar.

[garagerocker04]

i like Stranger Than Fiction the best, but that's just me. Suffer is also amazing.

[seansdadj]

Oh bad religion, they never disappoint me!