thepolkapunk (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} thepolkapunk) wrote,@ 2005-01-24 23:51:00 |
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CD Review: Bad Religion: The Empire Strikes First
Bad Religion: The Empire Strikes First
Bad Religion has been around for ages, and probably has had more ups and downs musically than any other punk band. Thankfully, their latest, The Empire Strikes First lies closer to the quality end of the spectrum than it does to the mediocre edge, but does not quite capture the greatness of their early or mid-career tunes.
With a good mix of fast and furious songs and a couple of slower and mellow tunes, Bad Religion has tried to rekindle the spirit of their middle years. Unfortunately, they’ve used a bit too many of the musical techniques that they picked up during their tryst on Atlantic. Tracks like Atheist Peace, To Another Abyss, God’s Love, and Empire Strikes First reek of the generic tones that plagued Bad Religion throughout the quagmire of their last few albums on Atlantic. On many of the album’s other tracks, it seems as if BR has completely ignored the verses, instead using them simply to shout off their lyrics, waiting for all the tone and musical interest to congregate in the short bursts of chorus, like in All there Is, Angeles is Burning, and Quickening. I don’t have issues with verse simplicity; a 4-chord Ramones song can hold my interest indefinitely. It just seems like Bad Religion is too often using verses to merely as a tool for their lyrics, pushing the music to the background both in volume and quality.
Though there is quite a bit of garbage to wade through on this album, there are a few good songs, and two songs that a full of the spirit and rebellion of BR’s days of yore. Sinister Rouge has an interesting haunting tone that is emphasized by an interesting (but slightly overpowering) full choir. Social Suicide, though using a chord progression found in many punk songs, still ends up being interesting by throwing in some weird rhythms and tempo changes.
By far, the two greatest songs on the album are Beyond Electric Dreams and Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever. Although Beyond Electric Dreams uses some unnecessary effects on vocals, the odd distortion used on the guitars sits perfectly with the complex harmonies belted out. Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever is probably a completely new direction for Bad Religion musically. It's a shame the rest of the album doesn't follow its inventiveness or passion. I can’t remember a BR song this mellow. Nor can I think of a song where Greg belts out lyrics with such emphatic emotion or wild abandon. Of all songs on this album, this one has the tightest connection between lyrics and music. You can actually feel the miasma trapping the brains of the people sung of in this track.
Thankfully, all of the lyrics on this album radiate the poignancy and thought-provoking skills of Boot Stamp. Empire Strikes first features a less preachy tone than has been present in the last few BR albums making it shine a bit more. I would consider the purpose of these songs to be more educative than most of the band’s previous offerings, more intent on teaching people what is wrong with the world than telling people what they are doing wrong. As usual, they reference many of the most important social and political issues occurring in the world with flair you’ve come to expect. Continuing in the fashion of The Process of Belief, this album finds Bad Religion’s proclivity towards perspicacity that beleaguered a copious number of their albums has mercifully been quashed (trans. They don’t use as many big words). No longer does one need to keep liner notes in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The lyrics are definitely impressive, but sadly not enough to pull up all the disappointing songs.
I am giving Bad Religion: The Empire Strikes First a listen at your friend’s house rating. Although this album is far from their worst, it does not quite possess the magic, power, and intensity of their earlier albums. I definitely think it is worth a listen, but too much of it pales in comparison to their former glory for me to recommend spending your money on. While there are a few good songs to the album, I cannot justify purchasing an entire album for only a few tracks. If you give it a listen first, maybe you can weed out the best songs and buy them in separately online. There is no reason to pay full price for an album where the majority of songs aren’t worth more than a single listen.
The Empire Strikes First gets a mediocre 42 thumbs up.
Bad Religion: The Empire Strikes First
Bad Religion has been around for ages, and probably has had more ups and downs musically than any other punk band. Thankfully, their latest, The Empire Strikes First lies closer to the quality end of the spectrum than it does to the mediocre edge, but does not quite capture the greatness of their early or mid-career tunes.
With a good mix of fast and furious songs and a couple of slower and mellow tunes, Bad Religion has tried to rekindle the spirit of their middle years. Unfortunately, they’ve used a bit too many of the musical techniques that they picked up during their tryst on Atlantic. Tracks like Atheist Peace, To Another Abyss, God’s Love, and Empire Strikes First reek of the generic tones that plagued Bad Religion throughout the quagmire of their last few albums on Atlantic. On many of the album’s other tracks, it seems as if BR has completely ignored the verses, instead using them simply to shout off their lyrics, waiting for all the tone and musical interest to congregate in the short bursts of chorus, like in All there Is, Angeles is Burning, and Quickening. I don’t have issues with verse simplicity; a 4-chord Ramones song can hold my interest indefinitely. It just seems like Bad Religion is too often using verses to merely as a tool for their lyrics, pushing the music to the background both in volume and quality.
Though there is quite a bit of garbage to wade through on this album, there are a few good songs, and two songs that a full of the spirit and rebellion of BR’s days of yore. Sinister Rouge has an interesting haunting tone that is emphasized by an interesting (but slightly overpowering) full choir. Social Suicide, though using a chord progression found in many punk songs, still ends up being interesting by throwing in some weird rhythms and tempo changes.
By far, the two greatest songs on the album are Beyond Electric Dreams and Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever. Although Beyond Electric Dreams uses some unnecessary effects on vocals, the odd distortion used on the guitars sits perfectly with the complex harmonies belted out. Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever is probably a completely new direction for Bad Religion musically. It's a shame the rest of the album doesn't follow its inventiveness or passion. I can’t remember a BR song this mellow. Nor can I think of a song where Greg belts out lyrics with such emphatic emotion or wild abandon. Of all songs on this album, this one has the tightest connection between lyrics and music. You can actually feel the miasma trapping the brains of the people sung of in this track.
Thankfully, all of the lyrics on this album radiate the poignancy and thought-provoking skills of Boot Stamp. Empire Strikes first features a less preachy tone than has been present in the last few BR albums making it shine a bit more. I would consider the purpose of these songs to be more educative than most of the band’s previous offerings, more intent on teaching people what is wrong with the world than telling people what they are doing wrong. As usual, they reference many of the most important social and political issues occurring in the world with flair you’ve come to expect. Continuing in the fashion of The Process of Belief, this album finds Bad Religion’s proclivity towards perspicacity that beleaguered a copious number of their albums has mercifully been quashed (trans. They don’t use as many big words). No longer does one need to keep liner notes in one hand and a dictionary in the other. The lyrics are definitely impressive, but sadly not enough to pull up all the disappointing songs.
I am giving Bad Religion: The Empire Strikes First a listen at your friend’s house rating. Although this album is far from their worst, it does not quite possess the magic, power, and intensity of their earlier albums. I definitely think it is worth a listen, but too much of it pales in comparison to their former glory for me to recommend spending your money on. While there are a few good songs to the album, I cannot justify purchasing an entire album for only a few tracks. If you give it a listen first, maybe you can weed out the best songs and buy them in separately online. There is no reason to pay full price for an album where the majority of songs aren’t worth more than a single listen.
The Empire Strikes First gets a mediocre 42 thumbs up.
