Generator

by

Bad Religion

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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.