It’s been 5 long years since the last Bad Religion studio album and when you are a rabid fan such as I, that’s quite a wait.
So, this is the taster for the new record – and hey, guess what, there’s a bit of a message not only in the lyrics but in the eloquently crafted video animation – every line of this song and every second of this video is astonishingly smart and true.
Some wank wombat on the youtube channel uttered these words: “I don’t need to know a band’s political views”… So why are you even watching a Bad Religion video? Duh. Their social & political opinions have been obvious throughout their entire history and are integral part of their music and philosophy. Missing the point here seems to be the order of the day for both casual punk fans and Trump voters: – this song ain’t for you – it’s ABOUT you! And if you’re here to defend the so-called “Alt-Right”, and/or to criticize the “Left”, well, then, you never really understood this band at all.
As always BR are intellectual, sarcastic, ironic and satirical – the cheesy pop-ishness of the song is intentional, as is the play on words & melody in the chorus and the bridge section – upbeat, like an anthem, but mocking.
The sound and message of this fit very well alongside other such protest songs like Come Join Us or American Jesus. Musically the band has altered their sonics since the True North album; Brook’s intricate drum barrage has been replaced with something more heavy hitting and weighty, whilst the guitars snarl and slash like Cap’n Crunch. Jay Bentley’s wonderful Entwistle-like bass run at 2.09 is an ebullient addition to the melee.
I want a new album… I want it quick.
by Richard Mackman
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