PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 2/20/22

SONG: "Suffer"

ARTIST: Bad Religion

ALBUM: "Suffer"

YEAR: 1988

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Los Angeles, California

YEARS ACTIVE: 1980 - present

WHAT DO I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Suffer" appears to be a song about the suffering that the masses of humanity have to endure each and every day. The world is basically split between the haves and the have nots and the haves wield the power and wealth to keep the have nots suffering. Funny how in 1988, Bad Religion was speaking almost of the very same class war that is rampant in our country here in 2022.

BAD RELIGION DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1982 - How Could Hell Be Any Worse? (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1983 - Into The Unknown (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1988 - Suffer (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1989 - No Control (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1990 - Against The Grain (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1992 - Generator (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1993 - Recipe For Hate (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1994 - Stranger Than Fiction (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #87 on the Billboard 200 on 9-24-94

* certified gold

1996 - The Gray Race (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #56 on the Billboard 200 on 3-16-96

1996 - Tested (Dragnet Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1998 - No Substance (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at # 78 on the Billboard 200 on 5-23-98

2000 - The New America (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #88 on the Billboard 200 on 5-27-00

2002 - The Process Of Belief (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #49 on the Billboard 200 on 2-9-02

2004 - The Empire Strikes First (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #40 on the Billboard 200 on 6-26-04

2007 - New Maps Of Hell (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200 on 7-28-07

2010 - The Dissent Of Man (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200 on 10-16-10

2010 - 30 Years Live (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - True North (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200 on 2-9-13

2013 - Christmas Songs (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #101 on the Billboard 200 on 11-16-13

2019 - Age Of Unreason (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #73 on the Billboard 200 on 5-18-19

MY THOUGHTS ON BAD RELIGION:

Bad Religion formed as a band back in 1980, hailing from Los Angeles, California. The band's debut album would be 1982's "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". While that debut showed major promise for this up and coming hardcore punk band, they followed the album up with a prog-rock album called "Into The Unknown". Not only did this change of sound alienate their fans, it eventually caused the band to break up. Vocalist Greg Graffin began to reassemble the band in 1986 however and in 1988, Bad Religion released "Suffer". This is one of the most important albums in punk rock history and a foreshadow of the hardcore/skate punk sound that would permeate throughout southern California in the 90's. The band would drop four more albums in a 5 year span, 1989's "No Control", 1990's "Against The Grain", 1992's "Generator" and 1993's "Recipe For Hate". All of their releases up to this point were on Epitaph Records which is a label that Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz formed in the early 80's. Epitaph is now synonomous with punk rock music. The major success of grunge music in the early 90's cleared way for a punk rock revival movement of the mid-90's which featured smash success albums by bands like Green Day, Rancid and The Offspring. Bad Religion would also ride that wave and get signed by major label Atlantic Records to release their 1994 album "Stranger Than Fiction". This album would be certified gold. The downside is that Gurewitz decided to leave the band to focus more of his time on Epitaph which was having major success at the time. Bad Religion released 3 more albums through Atlantic Records, 1996's "The Gray Race", 1998's "No Substance" and 2000's "The New America". 2002 saw the band go back to Epitaph and also saw the return of Gurewitz on guitar for the release of "The Process Of Belief". This album was part of a string of 5 top 50 albums, including 2004's "The Empire Strikes First", 2007's "New Maps Of Hell", 2010's "The Dissent Of Man" and 2012's "True North", the band's highest charting album reaching #19. The band would release a Christmas album in 2013 that is actually phenomenal! In the longest period between releases, it would take 6 years before Bad Religion would release their most recent album, 2019's "Age Of Unreason". In January of 2021, the band released the song "Emancipation Of The Mind" and there has been word that they are working on new material for a brand new album with no tentative date yet. Bad Religion is one of the most important bands in punk rock history. In my mind, one of the most important bands in rock and roll period! These guys laid the groundwork for what would become the punk rock revival in the mid 90's. They set the blueprint with fast, melodic songs. They were also not afraid to speak out about ills of society, religion, government and the environment. They were like punk rock scholars and their songs not only made you rock out, they also made you think. These guys are just at the top of the mountain when it comes to punk. I got into Bad Religion around 1993's "Recipe For Hate". Yeah, I was late to the party! I believe when I saw the "American Jesus" video I was hooked. At that time, I was all over the Seattle sound, but Bad Religion really introduced me to that California skate punk style that I totally fell in love with. It was Bad Religion that led me to love bands like No Use For A Name, Pennywise, Lagwagon, Good Riddance and Pulley. The 90's is still my favorite decade of music.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Pennywise

Lagwagon

No Use For A Name

Millencolin

Good Riddance

TEN BAD RELIGION SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Sorrow

2. American Jesus

3. Generator

4. The Devil In Stitches

5. 21st Century Digital Boy