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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No typical BR album, February 2, 2001
Although this album is not considered to be one of Bad Religion's better albums, I rank it first on my list for the simple reason that I listen to it the most. The songs are not typically sung in Bad Religion's fast paced style as showcased on earlier recordings. For that I urge you to pick up Suffer. Recipe for Hate however has more melodic songs, and is different in that it is a complete album. The tracks relate to each previous track's theme. To better define what I mean, this album is like reading a book and appreciating the story. Lyrically it is their best effort. The album deals with topics of politics (of course), religion, and really focuses on self examination. What hits me the hardest is when Gregg sings about his frustration over how people enter into cliques, and how he can't seem to fit into any structure because he is such an individual..."I scoff at labels,I defy censuses and despise group mentality." He admits he is an outsider, accknowledges that he will suffer from not belonging, but claims he will never belong even if he's destined to suffer. On a personal level I can relate to Gregg. Being a teenager, I see people sporting the popular name brand appearal, or praying for the weekend so they can get drunk and hit the parties, hoping to score some action with a drunk girl who will be out of their life after that one night. I have been combating this typically shallow way of life for "normal" teens, and constantly stuggle with it, but this album has made it alright and even great to be different. I mean, that is what this punk thing is all about anyway. I know I'm not alone when I say that it feels like I am on the outside looking in (check out "Looking In - track 10"). As Gregg says in the album, "Observing those around us, desiring to belong, beneath the guise of salvation, we suffer all along the way." In conclusion, this album is not for everyone. If you have share similar views with me (feeling like an outsider), then pick up this album. If you are just getting into BR, get Suffer, No Control and especially All Ages, which covers all the classic BR songs from the Epitaph days. But please don't buy the album if you are only into heavy punk with idiotic, meaningless lyrics. (Just cuz they toured with Blink dont make Blink good!) Bad Religion's stuff is meant to stimulate the mind. Recipe for Hate is your recipe for exactly that.
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