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Bad Religion

Against the Grain
1990
Epitaph

Bad Religion - Against the Grain (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Drizzt7_drek
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Epitaph Records (Logo)

Published on February 13th 2002


On the heels of two outstanding albums, Bad Religion released what is quite possibly their finest album. This whole album is a question about the things that mark us as human, whether it be lust ("Get Off"), courage ("Walk Away"), beliefs ("Faith Alone"), or general insecurity about the future ("21st Century Digital Boy").


This album seems quite a bit more personal than any of their previous work, and they question themselves as much as outside forces. You can almost hear Graffin's disgust with himself in "Get Off" or Mr. Brett beginning to tire of drug addiction ("Anesthesia"). This was the peak years of Graffin/Gurewitz, before the break up (well, before the BIG break up at least), before the Offspring, before the fights, before famous producers, this IS Bad Religion at it's finest.


Not only were the lyrics good, but the music was Bad Religion at their most inspired. Hetson and Gurewitz actually seem to be playing off of each other, two guitar parts playing different lines (again, check out "Anesthesia"), and Bentley playing off of that. Let's not forget about Finestone (my favorite B.R. drummer) who sounds like he's having a ball.


They have release many fine albums, both before and since, but this one is the only one that makes me shiver. Fuck Nirvana, this was the album of the 90's.





People who liked this also liked:
Bad Religion - SufferBad Religion - No ControlNOFX - Punk In DrublicNOFX - The DeclineBad Religion - The Process Of BeliefBad Religion - Stranger Than FictionDescendents - Milo Goes To CollegeThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Operation Ivy - Operation IvyBad Religion - Generator



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    Posted by fletcher70 on 2008-09-27 08:29:46
    My Score:

    i wouldnt say this is better than `no control` i wouldnt say `no contol `is better than `suffer` what i will say... three fuckin excellent albums.

    Posted by timfischer on 2007-10-16 16:53:36

    easily my favorite bad religion album

    Posted by facetofacereunion08 on 2007-07-27 14:06:33

    i actually got this cd after hearing joey cape pick "anesthesia" to play of a fat wreck podcast. great cd.

    Posted by Albert_Belle on 2007-07-20 23:57:44
    My Score:

    Had to change my score.

    Posted by Albert_Belle on 2007-06-09 14:08:39
    My Score:

    No Control...is better.

    Posted by clamum on 2007-02-21 20:46:35
    My Score:

    Just had to comment on this sick fuckin record. You don't like punk if you don't like this.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 8, 2006 at 9:36 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    damn straight. 5* album from a 5* band, easily up there with suffer

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2005-12-03 16:20:46

    This is my favorite BR album, out of the 6 that I have. They just keep getting better up until this, and their newest stuff isn't nearly as good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 9, 2005 at 11:24 PM (EDT)

    This is the best of the 5 BR albums I have heard.

    Posted by vivid on 2005-08-09 04:48:13
    My Score:

    this is a great album but then again so are all of bad religions allbums. although its not their best its great.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 28, 2002 at 4:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fucker

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 7, 2002 at 1:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    they really are gods to some, and that's exactly what they preach against.

    Is this supposed to be insightful? It's nothing but moronic.

    Posted by threesumpunk on 2002-03-24 11:27:56
    My Score:

    awesome review. i love this cd.

    Posted by Destiny on 2002-03-21 16:40:47
    My Score:

    I for one, couldn't agree with you more on your review. You said out loud, what I always thought. I have had that album pretty much since it came out, but I actually hadn't heard it in years until recently. It is so ironic for me to read your review, because once I began playing it again, I remembered just why I love this one. I also feel it is one of their best. It is definately a close tie with Suffer!

    Posted by savesthedaypunk on 2002-03-15 23:55:18
    My Score:

    i don't see a single thing wrong with penny wise, this album is awesome though...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 10, 2002 at 8:09 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this album is pretty good... still suffer is better

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-03-04 14:44:18
    My Score:

    Hey, I definately agree the world needs another Suffer. By saying we need another Nevermind, I wasn't saying we neccasarily need another Nirvana so much as we need to eliminate nu-metal from existance. Be it whatever it may, as long as it's got some artistic merit behind it, and get's rid of all the fucking jock rocking date rapers making music right now, I'll be happy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 4, 2002 at 11:01 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Generator Is better...maybe short, but better.

    Posted by AtomicGarden on 2002-03-04 01:22:16
    My Score:

    Great review, sums up how awesome this CD is inside and outside the ... cd. Uh, yeah. As for the next Nevermind... check out Vendetta Red. That's my prediction for the next big band... I predict they'll wipe out most nu-metal. :)

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 6:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this makes me think how shitty it is that most of the bands BR influenced totally blow, namely the truckers collectively known as Pennywise.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 6:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this album is a classic. i heard all ages before this though which is kind of a shame cuz alot of its on there but it is still one of the best br albums.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 6:25 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    To the person below the world doesn't another nevermind it needs another suffer.

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-03-03 15:41:07
    My Score:

    The reason Nevermind was the album of the 90's was because it changed the world. Kurt died almost 8 years ago, and metal is just now recovering. I love Against the Grain, and listen to it more than Nevermind, but, to be honest, it didn't really do anything for the music scene that BR's previous albums hadn't already done. Obviously I could go on about this topic, but I hope you already get my point.

    Ps - The world needs another Nevermind, people seriously need to understand that this nu-metal shit fucking sucks!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 9:11 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Against the Grain is good, a more "solid" rock album, but not as good as "Suffer" or "No Control".

    Posted by SaYnE_GuY on 2002-03-02 21:46:27
    My Score:

    Fucking Awesome! This is the album that got me into punk rock, and still remains one of my favorites of all time

    Posted by Drizzt7_drek on 2002-03-02 21:40:19
    My Score:

    Uhh, yeah me again. Actually, I'm very fond of Nirvana and the Unplugged album is one of my favorite albums, period. However, Nirvana gets too much credit for having the "album of the 90s." This Bad Religion album is, in my opinion, much better than Nevermind. Rather than just saying that, I thought I would make a stronger statement or whatever. Heh.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 2, 2002 at 5:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    He wasn't bashing Nirvana, he's just saying he thought this album was a lot better than Nevermind(considered by many to be album of the 90's), as did I.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 2, 2002 at 10:35 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    um... why did the reviewer nonsensically bash nirvana in the end? isn't this site supposed to be respectful of all things punk? why bash them? just cuz you didn't like them? big deal. some people do, some don't. don't be a dick.

    -TheRightClique

    Posted by Drizzt7_drek on 2002-03-01 18:41:23
    My Score:

    Yeah, I can dig the fact that not every album of their's is a 10. However, I thought that this one was (it is my favorite, after all).

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 1, 2002 at 7:34 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This is without a doubt the greatest BR album. Nothing against suffer, no control etc., but this is where it all came together. Fucking brilliant !!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 4:37 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love all BR albums (even New America and No Substance) and this is without a doubt up their with suffer, no control, generator and POB.

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2002-02-28 16:25:11
    My Score:

    apparently fathead has come back, tho he hasn't actually logged in yet, so i don't believe it's really him.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 3:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I mean FATHEAD..great album though

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 3:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I thought FATHAD was dead?

    Posted by sickboi on 2002-02-28 12:43:35
    My Score:

    The riot video sucks....good to check out at a friend's house, but not to own... i have a bootleg from san fran in 94 that is incredible....

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 12:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Good review, Bad Religion knows whats up.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 28, 2002 at 12:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    its got some good songs, but not every BR album is a ten, people. they really are gods to some, and that's exactly what they preach against. Suffer was the best.

    Anyone seen the Riot video yet? is it worth buying?- fathead