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Bad Religion

Suffer (1987)
Bad Religion

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Contributed by: Zeiter
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 23rd 2002

Let's face it, as the mid eighties became the late eighties the american punk scene was filled with loud, fast, but not so talented bands. Sure, there were some exceptions, but most of the new bands were pretty brutal at the time... enter the return of Bad Religion.

After 1982's "How Can Hell...", Bad Religion's production slowed dramatically, by 1985, the band was essentially inactive. In 1987, the four original members, plus Circle Jerk's Greg Heston, decided to have another go at the punk rock thing. The results have essentially changed punk rock music forever.

From the first power chord to the last, it becomes quite evident that this is a changed band. Gone is the screaming, grainy voice of a young Greg Graffin, it has evolved into a much more melodic sounding voice suplemented by ridiculously good harmonies. What makes this album so good is that the vocals and musical skill have increased since their debut, but the raw punk energy is still there. Some may say mixing skill with punk results in poppy sounding garbage (Blink 182 ring a bell?), but for BR, this just isn't the case.

Song for song, this album is solid, there are alot of great songs, and some that are just good, but there isnt a single song that you will want to skip. This is something that can't be said for the majority of records, most have at least one or two complete duds.

Based on the overalll strength of the album, and its lasting influence on punk rock, I can't give Suffer anything less than a perfect score.

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brendino (April 18, 2007)

This is Bad Religions best album hands down no questions asked....dont get me wrong the others are fantastic to but they wont compare to suffer

miff (November 2, 2005)

this is sucha great album and ahs been in my cd player for months and im stilll not bored by it no control just isnt quite as good and against the grain is a lot more melodic which kinda a detraction n i havent bothered to fork out £15 for geberator easliy the best album to come out of the late eighties do what you want is is my fav song n u r the government is good too n so is suffer fuck it all the tracks are amazing go buy if u dont already own it your life is not complete

Anonymous (December 21, 2004)

BR rocked until Stranger than Fiction - early/mid 90's were their downfall.

Against The Grain was their last great a,bum. Now you can find BR touring with the very bands and corporate suits they spent many years convincing me to rise above.

I wont call them sell outs because I have too much respect for them. But come on they are touring with no talented, cookie cutter coprorate rock made bands like jimmy eat world, blink 182, and it pains me to say it.... weezer uuggghhh!!!!

For now I will covet my three favorite Bad religeon Albums Against The Grain, Generator, and Suffer and you others can have.....

Anonymous (November 10, 2004)

Best For You is such a simple song but is so great

chrisafi (July 20, 2004)

Simply one of the best punk albums ever.
No question

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

I don't listen anymore the records of BR in generell. But this record still rocks!!

Anonymous (June 22, 2004)

must have!
but the show last time in zurich (switzerland) was pretty bad and boring.... but the record is cool :)

Anonymous (March 26, 2004)

Hahahahahaha thats awesome. (dude below me)

-c22

Anonymous (December 17, 2003)

Hey buy what you want, but just don't buy a PC.

IRQ's and config.sys files breed insanity

I'll sit 'round my Mac all goddamn day,

An ex-myopic PC owner with Plug-And-

Play what you must, DOS all you can,

Cram all your fucking ports and

Go to Hell with MSman and

Add like a Pentium, yeah hey!

Hey I don't care about your Windows 95,

But I'll believe in Bill when a Pentium can divide.

My model brand is Mac and I'm juicy to the core.

I'll multi-task your ass while you crash though the floor.

So play what you must, DOS all you can,

Cram all your fucking ports and

Go to Hell with MSN and

Add like a Pentium, yeah hey!

cawknocker (August 2, 2002)

to the guy who defended travis, thank u, that guys comment was ignorant. hate blink or not, he is an amzing drummer, and yea, i'm a drummer too. everything u said is right on. you should hear teh boxcar cd, it sux, but his drumwork onit may be his best yet. oh yea suffer. rock on bro, i'm stoked to see these dudes on 2 wks at warped.

Anonymous (August 2, 2002)

I've probably seen Bad Religion about 10 times in over the last 14 years and I still don't get it.

waste_elite (July 30, 2002)

break all the fucking rules and go to hell with superman and die like a champion yeah hey!

Anonymous (July 29, 2002)

"True sellouts"...come on...this band affected every "punk" album, somehow or other, that has come out in the 90's. Show some respect.

Anonymous (July 28, 2002)

To the guy below,
NO I'm certainly not a leader but I honestly enjoy bands that mature with age.Bad Religion during the late 80's & 90's definately proved that for themselves and took the chance and succeeded but after so many stupid ignorant fucks decided that they didn't like BR's music because there were few less thrash songs on it they were dimissed as sellouts.PLEEEASE!
Bad Religion should just call it a day now simply because they're bowing down to a bunch of elitest shitheads that they fought so hard against.They have to play thrashy songs now or else their so called fans will dismiss them.Now they're trult sellouts.

Anonymous (July 28, 2002)

comment to the guy at the bottom saying travis barker is not talented and any talented drummer would know that......

i've played drums for about 8 years, some studio work, many bands....do you actually have any rhythm knowledge yourself? i hate blink...but travis is fucking solid...his cymbal work is "funny" what the fuck....he places hits on appropriate offbeats, and the way he slides from high hat and back...do you know how long it fucking takes to actually do that well.....listen to his bass pedal...he doesnt usually play a standard beat...often he has a seperate rhythm sequence on certain measures...overall..his snare work...he incorporates offbeats and progressive rolls withing his overall pattern...and despite the horrid taste it leaves in my mouth...the fucking boxcar racer video shows an impressive use of standard rolls and more advance type rolls with one and both sticks in between quite challenging tom fills........it's not the little things...give me time in the studio it can all be done.....but live...can you fucking combine all that in one song....just the language you used describing his style shows your actual knowledge of the overall drum patterns rather lacking.....you want a beat per beat with fancy language comment posted as well....i hate people who feel they're so talented they can comment on someone's musicianship....i've never heard yours so don't take this as an attack on your skill...but guessing from your analysis of a decent drummer........

Anonymous (July 27, 2002)

Regarding the issue about the year of release... check this out:
http://www.cdcovers.cc/Covers/Audio/B/Bad_Religion_-_Suffer-cd. jpg

Anonymous (July 27, 2002)

We should "wake the fuck up" just because you tell us to ? Who are you, some kind of leader ?

Anonymous (July 27, 2002)

YOU ARE ALL INSANE.............
Wake the fuck up!
It's 2002 already..........
Bad Religion should honestly call it a day.
Sorry folks but that's just my honest opinion and if you like it then oh well.....I think they made their point already and should just leave it at that.
Suffer was good but I think their best achievements were Stranger Than Fiction,No Control,Against The Grain,Generator,and Recipe For Hate.

Anonymous (July 26, 2002)

Check badreligion.com, it says it was released in november 1987, so it must have been recorded in 1987.

Anonymous (July 25, 2002)

in mny liner notes it says 1987, so you shut the fuck up

Anonymous (July 25, 2002)

In the liner notes of the CD booklet it says "Recorded At Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, CA, April, 1988"

So shut the fuck up, it's 1988...

Anonymous (July 25, 2002)

This album was released in november 1987 according to the BR official website so the reviewer is right.

waste_elite (July 25, 2002)

i completely agree with the guy below me regarding blink and BR.

-

the holy trilogy:
1. suffer
2. no control
3. against the grain

easily their best albums

Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

i read an interview with bad religion somewhere that when green day got famous, they were hesitant to take BR on tour and the same thing with The Offspring....And blink just asked them to go on tour with them...im not a fan of blink but i respect them for doing that, even if blink should be opening for them for suuuure.

Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

Blink has nothing to do with Bad Religion- they have a different sound, they are a different kind of music and Bad Religion actually have talent so lets drop the blink subject.

Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

both suffer and no contorl are my favourites

and i think you implied that blink have skill. no, no they dont. id say the same about less than jake though (and i love them), so dont flip out. they may write fun songs, but it takes a hell of alot more to be recognized by having skill.

cawknocker (July 24, 2002)

the dude in strung out is def. a drummer to jizz over

Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

SUFFER was recorded in April 1988 ... not 1987

Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

This record is good but not their best as everyone seems to think.Sorry,but that's just my opinion
Stranger Than Fiction is their greatest album of all time and to be honest with you Process Of Belief is my least favorite.

QGJREVIVED (July 23, 2002)

uhh

"Some may say mixing skill with punk results in poppy sounding garbage"

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

It's funny how Good Riddance always seems to get the best drummers

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

Bashing Blink 182 will never get old.

waste_elite (July 23, 2002)

this album is fucking incredible. that's all that needs to be said...

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

Somebody below said something about Blink's drummer (travis) being "Super Talented".. Thats funny. I like how people who know nothing about drumming always say this. This guys drumming is so simple, Dave Grohl looks like Danny Carey in comparison. Honestly, you'd never here any drummer with his weight in salt, say that Travis Barker is "Super-Talented" .. I won't lie, they sound super tight, but that can be attributed to the ease of the material they play. Barker fits his purpose. The simple Pop-Rock drummer. Don't over exaggerate his purpose or meaning. He's nothing to jizz over, but he's pretty solid. I give him credit for that. His cymbol work is funny.

cawknocker (July 23, 2002)

ever hear nofx' surfer? thats some funny shit. party enema. damn classic tune if u ask me. and yea this album is very bomb, but not as good as 'surfer'.jk sorta

evildeadalive (July 23, 2002)

Definate 10 in every way. This album changed punk rock forever. (For better or worse I am not sure...) One thing I am sure of is how damn good this album is though. It's as good as a really good album. Maybe even gooder.

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

haha...matt...ur sexy. And...OMG!!! How can u be bashing blink!!!! I hope u die!! hahahahahaha....jj..Blink sucks goat ass...

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

its greg hetson

hes not related to charlton heston

zeiter (July 23, 2002)

I didnt have my name on that last post, thats mine.

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

OK guys, my bad. Bashing Blink isnt cool, i was just using them as an example of a mainstream band classified as pop punk who drew influence from Bad Religion, calling them crappy is my own opinion and has no place in my review on Bad Religion. I personally may not like Blink, but i shouldnd use a Bad Religion review as a place to express that.

cawknocker (July 23, 2002)

yea cool album, very influential. and yea stop talking about blink. everyone. i've heard every possible attack and defense of these guys, its getting fuckin dumb. keep the posts to bad religeon.

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

stop with all the lame cheap shots at blink..give it a rest already....it's an unpunk thing to do anyway...

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

i have to disagree with you about that blink thing...'cause their drummer is super talented,one of the best in the scene today,but others in the band pretty much suck on their instruments..blahblah...by the way:suffer is "pretty" good :)

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

Blink 182 have skill?!?!? What planet do you come from? Blink are about the most ubntalented band in history- punk or not. And Bad Religion are nothing like any of the pop punk bullshit today- I'd have to say this album is their best, along with No Control, Generator, and Against The Grain.

TheOneTrueBill (July 23, 2002)

i like no control better, but this record is still great

Anonymous (July 23, 2002)

Great album, but I hate you so much....

Maybe even more then Scott.