Search - Bad Religion :: Generator

The best album overall

Sannah Zay | San Jose, CA USA | 06/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Maybe not the best by Bad Religion, but my personal favorite

Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 01/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The proof that slower CAN be better

Robert Moore | 01/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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..."