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THE NEW AMERICA
Bad Religion
(WEA/ATLANTIC)
Enlisting production whiz Todd Rundgren to helm Bad Religion's latest punk-rock communique is akin to hiring the world's top neurosurgeon to relieve a minor headache.
Rundgren is surely overqualified for the gig, probably his easiest in years; nevertheless, he underscores the band's firm grasp of melody, knits some nifty sounds effects into I Love My Computer and coaxes out some actual vocal harmonies from these veteran California rabble-rousers.
Otherwise, The New America is representative of Bad Religion's recent output.
This is strictly old-school anthemic punk in the early Clash/Stiff Little Fingers vein, featuring literate, empowering lyrics about searching for truth, being true to yourself, maintaining one's lust for life and resisting the lure of violence.
This is the sort of punk rock record that parents should urge their kids to hear.
Notably, estranged guitarist Brett Gurewitz returns to co-write and play on one track, Believe It.
Track Listing
01. You've Got A Chance
02.It's A Long Way To The Promise Land
03.A World Without Melody
04.New America
05.1000 Memories
06.A Streetkid Named Desire
07.Whisper In Time
08.Believe It
09.I Love My Computer
10.The Hopeless Housewife
11.There Will Be A Way
12.Let It Burn
13.Don't Sell Me Short