Customer Reviews

Generator

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When it comes to Bad Religion albums, everyone has their own idea of what the best album is. Most people tend to like their earliest stuff, and these tend to be those who have been long-time fans from the beginning. Not many at all prefer most of their latest stuff, perhaps mainly because the band was not "whole" at times (I think the band needs both Brett and Greg to achieve their best potential).

This album marked a kind of transition for the band, and falls in between. Although they have always been great lyricists, on this album they tone down the freneticism of their music so that the lyrics can take center stage. And they couldn't have done it at a better time, given that the most poetic lyrics they have ever written appear on this album. Even with this, the music doesn't suffer but takes on a new quality that I actually prefer to their older stuff.

The best song ever written by Bad Religion is on this album, and it is the title track "Generator." This is the most beautiful punk poem ever written about God... and it is an intensely personal account. With all of their screaming in the past about questioning everything and not believing in anything, this song reveals a desire to believe in something... perhaps that there really is a foundation to our existence, although we can't see it directly. As an agnostic philosopher myself, I can relate to every word in these lyrics... whether or not you can convince yourself to believe in anything through reason, there is always the desire and the emotion that is often-times impossible to ignore.

Another great song is "The Answer," perhaps their most honest and straightforward presentation of their attitude and life philosophy. It also closely matches my own thinking.

Aside from these songs, the entire album simply flows. The vocals are superior to other albums and have mysteriously soothing quality that seems to be missing from other albums. The songs actually sound like they belong together, as if it were Bad Religion's first attempt at an "album" instead of a collection of songs.

It is pure genius in my opinion how all of these aspects came together to create this work of art. Perhaps I am biased because of how the lyrics relate to me personally, but I believe this is Bad Religion's most brutally honest and heartfelt effort, and it is definitely reflected in the quality of the album as a whole.

One of the things I have learned about Bad Religion is that while their fans might love a half dozen or so of their albums, no one album stands are most admirers' favorite. I'm not sure that GENERATOR is their best album, but there is no Bad Religion album that I have enjoyed more over the years.

Bad Religion isn't for everyone. They are intensely leftist politically, overtly moralistic, and highly intelligent. I would bet cold hard cash that they are the only band in rock history to use the word "senescence" in a lyric. They are definitely a "message" band, and the message is: beware false prophets. They do want to raise people's consciousness, and definitely take political stands, as in "Operation Rescue," on another album, where they blast the anti-choice movement. But in a world where distressingly often people are apathetic or disinterested, it is refreshing to hear a band that so passionately opposes all forms of bad religion (not to be taken in a strictly religious sense).

But none of this would matter if Bad Religion wasn't also an absolutely superb rock band. They have a huge number of utterly first-rate songs, are a fantastically tight band, and exude almost overwhelming energy in their live shows. They aren't as well known as they deserve to be, but it might not just be a case of the record companies not promoting them sufficiently: it just wouldn't be in the spirit of the band to try to become an arena act.

This album contains many of my favorite Bad Religion songs, including the superb "The Answer," which I notice is available here as an MP3 download (get it now!). Probably no single song sums up their musical superiority and the moral sensibilities of the song.

Generator has received a lot of bad press and from many BR fans who were disappointed about its slower, less catchy style. And I can understand why, in a way. certainly it's not as instantly likeable as Against the Grain, as frenetic as No Control or as angry as Suffer, but it's actually my favourite Bad Religion album. It is much slower and more reflective than their previous albums, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It shifts the focus more onto the lyrics, which are the best the band have written before or since. Only Entertainment, Chimaera and No Direction are stunning social comments from Greg Graffin, whilst Brett's lyrics are concerned less with attacking religion on this album, leaning intead towards darker, more mysterious numbers such as Generator and Two Babies in the Dark. All in all, the less angry approach helps to give the songs more impact, and they are guaranteed to get you thinking. Musically, it's just as accomplished as the other efforts, with the slower pace providing ample opportunity for some superb solos (check out the fade out on Generator). Perhaps not the best album to start on, but once you're familiar with the others, give this a go with an open mind...

If you're looking for brainless, angry punk like Sex Pistols or the Misfits, this is not the CD for you. HOwever, if you want an AMAZING, solid, ingenious punk album with a great sound, then this is definetly it. This CD will never get boring to you, and it will also make you think alot.

I hate how everyone says they are( bad) just because they slowed down and mellowed out. Come on, a band has to change its style sometimes at least, you're poking fun at them because they're a unique punk band. The lyrics are just about the smartest you can find in punk music, thanks to Greg Graffin (Cornell...hehe). The music has some added little programming tricks and some weirder vocals. Don't buy this if you're gonna be a Bad Religion fan, get No Substance instead. If you want one of the best CDs ever made, buy it.

My favorite songs are Two Babies In The Dark, Generator, Chimaera, and Only Entertainment....

The title of this review cannot be applied to Bad Religion's entire career; through the 90's and especially now, they've run out of things to sing about, which may not affect a less politically-motivated band.

But on this album, everything comes together. It's not a relentless assault in the style of "Suffer" or "No Control" (solid albums in their own right); there's some of that, but there are several well-placed numbers that are more mellow and contemplative.

I found the songs penned by guitarist/Epitaph big-shot Brett Gurewitz to be the most powerful. "Generator" haunts me every time I listen, with its decadent poetry and squealing guitars (that sounded really emo. The song is NOT emo...I just can't think of better words right now). "Two Babies in the Dark" is messier, but equally evocative. "Heaven is Falling" is just as relevant with the new "King George," and "Atomic Garden" perfects the mad-scientist tone.

Of course, Greg Graffin provides the majority of the intellectual bulk, giving social and political clout to the frenzied music. Graffin always has a lot to say, and it shows most awkwardly on the preachy "No Direction." Yet just when you think he's going to make an altar call, Graffin turns around and concedes, "no Bad Religion song will make your life complete."

In a genre where you can learn all you need to from the song's title (the odious Anti-Flag has a song on their new album entitled, "You can kill the protestor, but you can't kill the protest"), Bad Religion delivers the goods, complete with nuance, skill, and power.

What can be said about this CD that already hasn't been said? This is one of the greatest albums in (almost) recent punk history. From beginning to end, Bad Religion kicks serious ass on this album. I love every song more than the next and less than the one before it. As always, their lyrics are very political and directed at a treacherous government (ours), religious views (Christians), and trying to understand the meaning of life and answers to why we're here. Sounds like everything out today and everything before it, but Bad Religion makes it sound extremely f*cking awesome. Greg Graffin is one of the best vocalists out today as well as when this album was launched and his lyrics are very inspiring and motivating. This album should not be passed up by any means.

Being introduced to Bad Religion with Recipe for Hate and then this awesome peice of work i guess you could say i embraced the experimentalism and tempo shifts more than some other fans did at the time. Generator definately has a different sound than the earlier albums, some describe it as darker. They've also slowed down slightly but it still remains well within the realms of punk. Standouts include "atomic garden", "chimaera", "only entertainment" and the title track may be the best opening track on any BR album and thats saying a lot.

I'm a relatively new BR fan, so I didn't have the original release of 'Generator'. I picked this up the other day, though, and it was really worth it. All the songs are great, and it even comes with 2 "alternative takes", of Fertile Crescent and Heaven is Falling. The alternative takes might even be better than the originals.

The best songs from this CD are, in my opinion, Generator (obviously), No Direction, Tomorrow, Heaven is Falling, Atomic Garden, The Answer (one of their absolute best songs), Fertile Crescent and Only Entertainment. This CD probably isn't for you if you have the original release, unless you are a hardcore fan that wants every edition of all of BR's albums. If you are a new fan, or down own a copy of Generator, I highly recommend picking this one up

Very good. One of the best. Melodic-punk. The beats are very original, and the lyrics are outstanding.