|
Sean
Murphy/Epitaph Records
Los
Angeles punk pioneers, Bad Religion, prove
to audiences and critics that they still
have what it takes to make a great record.
The
godfathers of modern punk are at it once
again
By
Gerry Wachovsky
Daily Forty-Niner
Whether
or not you happen to agree with their politics,
Bad Religion's newest morsel of tasty goodness,
"The Empire Strikes First," is
undoubtedly another great album from some
of the founding fathers of modern punk.
Setting
their sights on such targets as politics,
the church and the exploitative nature of
television news, "Empire" has
something for everyone.
Starting
off with "Overture," a short instrumental
piece, and going straight into the blistering
fast "Sinister Rouge," you are
immediately flung into the album at breakneck
speed. The first single from the album,
"Los Angeles Is Burning," has
been heard on the radio dial for quite some
time, but it is truly not indicative of
the entire opus.
Some
of the songs, such as "To Another Release"
and "The Quickening," sound like
they are straight from the recording sessions
of the band"s 2002 release, "The
Process Of Belief," but this is not
a bad thing by any means.
The
album's title track, "The Empire Strikes
First," features such social commentary
as, "We strike first and we're unrehearsed;
Here we go again to stage the greatest show
on heaven and earth." Bad Religion's
politics are extremely liberal, but even
if you identify more with conservative politics,
you will still appreciate this album. Their
opinions are far from hare-brained and are
not haphazardly strung together in an attempt
to convey a message, and they deserve to
be heard, regardless of your personal politics.
"All
There Is" and "Beyond Electric
Dreams" are catchy, foot-tapping tunes
that you will find yourself singing long
after your listening session is over. These
are definitely standout tracks on the album,
and the final track "Live Again (The
Fall Of Man)," is a perfect end to
an almost flawless album.
Vocalist
Greg Graffin never falters in his punk crooning,
and the band itself sounds great. Sizzling
guitar solos and typical galloping drumbeats,
as well as the obligatory background 'oohs
and aahs' by the rest of the band, all join
to form one punk masterpiece. Like most
fine wines, these old punks really do get
better with age.
|
