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| Bad ReligionSuffer1988 Epitaph 
 Review by: AtomicGarden See others by this writer Bad Religion - Official Site (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on June 24th 2001
There has been a mix of brand new reviews, to the classic punk rock album to the brand new ones released. I've figured its about time I reviewed something classic - and this album is the perfect one to do. As Fat Mike put it, this was "the album to change everything". While I'm not a punk historian, I'd have to agree. This ushered in the "modern" style of punk, which deeply influenced modern bands like [insert almost any punk band from the 90's SoCal scene]. The influential aspect to this album deserves a score of "11" itself, but what about the actual music? To tell you the truth, when I became a fan of Bad Religion, my favorite albums were Against the Grain and Generator. Their earlier works like No Control and Suffer actually had to grow on me, but that's simply because I didn't give it a chance. Let me tell you that little story... when I first got into punk rock, it was from listening to The Offspring's Americana (one of the worst albums ever made, ever, which is ironic). Then, while walking into the hardcore punk rock store known as "Fred Meyer", I saw Bad Religion's ALL AGES CD on sale for $9.99! I bought it, and the rest is history. Anyway, the reason I bring that up is because there were only two (maybe three) songs on Suffer, and I thought they were too simple, too plain sounding. Their later Epitaph albums seemed to be a lot, well, deeper sounding. I've come to realize Suffer's brilliance though, and part of it was it's simplicity. This was a groundbreaking album, and yet its very simple. So now I actually appreciated the album, but I still didn't enjoy it that much. Finally, I decided to really sit down and listen to it - each song with all my attention focused on it, because it was a Sunday morning and I was bored. It starts out with "You Are (The Government)", which I immediately enjoy since it was on the ALL AGES compilation (which, if you don't know, is just a 20-or-so song cd of their best songs on Epitaph, put together by Mr Brett in 1995 or so). The rest of the songs sort of blend together in my head until I hear "Suffer", which was also on ALL AGES. Again, the rest blend together until I finally hear "Do What You Want", the third song on that compilation. But as I listened to that album, the songs that blended together... they started to sound more like individual songs to me. So I decided to listen to it again, only this time with the lyrics in my hand. Singing along furiously, I realized the brilliant lyrics was one of the reasons this band stands alone as one of the greatest of all time. Now, I'm listening to this album 3 times a day just like it's brand new and I've never heard it before. I'm completely addicted, and each time I listen I wonder to myself: "how did I not fall in love with this album the first time I heard it?". I really can't answer this. Every single song is perfect, but in a different way. While I still think "Against the Grain" (1990) is their greatest effort, this is a fucking incredible album... and of course, it was the effort that changed everything. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
alright, i got this. its pretty good. Bad Religion is so unique its kinda hard to rate them on any real scale. sometimes the desparity and intellectuality can get overdone. but the album artwork is awesome. and for the lyrics sheet they wrote the lyrics entire lyrics out on one wall somewhere and took a picture. i think i'll buy this tomorrow bad religion bounced back with this....back from the unknown!!brilliant album it was really good but it dosent compare to no control, dont think any of the songs stand out except for "do what you want" yeh the person below may be the same person but if not u still have a silly point of view no no control was better listen to it, this suffer dosent sound as good it has some slow songs and a horrible guitar solo in one of them it is a good cd through ignore the person below me they lie no control is better!!!! how the fuck could surfer not be based on suffer Bad religion kicks so much ass. they are one of the best bands which ive ever heard. In my opinion when suffer first came out it was ahead of its time. I think that if you like this you should check out their new CD "The Empire Strikes First". does anyone else need to check a dictionary when they listen to BR albums? this is my favorite one too. somehow I can't get past how this band wants to be the beach boys with political ideas. it's still great though. does anyone else need to check a dictionary when they listen to BR albums? This was my first BR Album and I still think one of their best That is the thing with BR. I love everything they have ever done but never when I first heard it....There songs have this strange power and addictiveness that will get you after a couple listens. At first there all kind of the same but with repeat listening they all turn into something unique. Very good review, amazing album. that was the worst piece of english ive ever seen "Have you guys seen the NOFX 'surfer' record? Obviously Bad Religion has no shame for blatantly stealing the cover and name?" Uh??? this is the dumbest thing ive ever heard. if someone release an album in the with a similar name to "life won't wait" e.g. will you say rancid stole him from them? Yeah, I always thought he said "SICK COW" too. oh yeah, nobody mentioned the album art! that cover has gotta be the coolest thing i have ever seen. any suburban punk can relate. priceless. this is my favortie BR album. there's just something about it that i love. i don't know what it is but it's fucking incredible. Shit, I didn't know you reviewed stuff here damien.... great album and good review. So americana got ya into punk? Well I guess that makes me twice as punk as fuck as you, since it was smash that got me into punk, oh, and Stranger than Fiction too... heard "shades of truth" on the radio and liked BR ever since. So when are you going to review some SELF-INDUCED shit? mmmm... self promotion.... tasty... well I've got to go put on my punk as fuck vans and listen to my punk as fuck mxpx records, cya. The beginning of the holy trilogy - no my favourite album of the 3, but still damn good. two things here. i'm hoping that the lawrence guy was joking but in case he wasn't, the title of the nofx album "surfer" and it's cover were meant as parodies of "suffer". it was a joke. and im not quite sure what that one guys rant was about BR hating christians and jews was all about. first BR has never knocked judaism as far as i know, and their "crossbuster" logo is meant as an anti-religious thing, not a specifically anti-christian thing. even if it is meant as an anti-xian thing, who cares? if any punk has had problems with a religious faction, it's christianity. i know i have. growing up in a christian school and raised in a christian church, i've seen it for what it really is. it's like religious fascism. they're fucking nazis. i could rant on about it for hours but i won't for your sake. still, it is incredibly distressing. you dumb fuck larry lawrence Cant wait for the new album to come out You know what, Larry and Rory, go jack around on your word processor, not reviews like this. "Surfer" was recorded this year. "Suffer" was recorded thirteen years ago. How the hell are they techno? Got to hell, all of you! Have you guys seen the NOFX 'surfer' record? Obviously Bad Religion has no shame for blatantly stealing the cover and name? What's next? Will they steal AFI's 'Very proud of ya' and make it 'so prided to be you'? Of course, AFI totally sucks, so this probably won't happen, but you get the idea... Now I've heard bad techno, but this album takes the cake. I thought the whole rave scene was over. I guess not. Well at least I'm not the only one that hates BR... Why is it so cool to only hate Christians and Jews when they say they're against all religions? Where are the derogatory references to Buddhists or Muslims? Jehovah's Witnesses? I just don't see what's wrong with the only religions that aren't trying to convert everyone on the planet by conquering it (Cough, the Jihad) or going door-to-door to convert you (Cough, Jehovah's Witnesses). Why are Bad Religion like Gods these days? Go to ANY punk concert and there will always be at least one person with a Bad Religion shirt on. I dont think I could ever talk shit about them, sure some of their albums have been mis-steps, but look at where all the other bands from their era are? Dead Kennedys, gone. Black Flag, gone. Minor Threat, gone. X, gone. Minutemen, gone. Germs, gone. Fear, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks are all just still on & off touring for nostalgia. Only a handful of bands have existed from that scene that can still make a decent album, and Bad Religion is at the top of that list of survivors. And thats why Bad Religion are gods to so many punks. They've remained vital for 21 long years. Listen to "Struck a Nerve" off of Recipe For Hate and tell me he isn't saying "Watchoo!" right before the solo. i think he's saying "one two" or maybe "watch out", i dunno about "watchooo"- fathead watcho Suffer = Good shit on all levels. But let's not forget the equally shit kicking 80-85 "comp." yes yes...bad religion kicks major ass....and it was a very influential album but that was 13 years ago.there are other BR albums you know. It seemed since bad religion left epitaph for atlantic, they were branded the infamous mark of..."sell out". Now there back on epitaph...so what now? Are they still sell outs? they never were...Bad religion has been doing it for 20 years now...and they will probably be punking it out well into their 40's. So please give it up to a huge force in punk rock both in the past, today and in the future. If you don't own this album you shouldn't be visiting this website....be gone! Were all gonna die for our arrogance. what else can you say but SUFFER!- fathead I think you have too much time to think about stupid things =;-) Jesus man, you and I are too much alike... I, like you, was originally introduced into the world of punk rock through the "All Ages" album. Soon enough, I was buying all of their albums. You know what? I am still a big fan. Their newest album, "New America" is really, really awesome. Although it's quite different from their original style, it's good. Bad Religion suck my left nut Suffer is incredible, great record, i love all bad religion albums on Epitaph and i hope the new one will be as good as the old ones Great review....i had the same fuckin thing LOL |
