Cheap Empire Strikes First (+1 Bonus Tracks) (Music) (Bad Religion) Price

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Customer Reviews of Empire Strikes First (+1 Bonus Tracks)

There is more to punk than hardcore. The Clash were never hardcore. The Ramones were never hardcore. The Sex Pistols were never hardcore. Iggy Pop was never hardcore. Are they not punk enough for you either? Are they "corporate punks"? I get so tired of you self-appointed punk police.

There is nothing wrong with melodic punk that has harmonies to it. It's musically sound, it's lyrically incredible, and it's just great music. You're missing out, man.

Oh yeah, and how can they be "corporate punks" when they're not on a major?

1. Overture: Very eerie, very cool. Great tone-setter for the disc.
2. Sinister Rouge: BR have always had amazing album openers, from Generator to Incomplete to Gray Race to You've Got A Chance to Supersonic to Sinister Rouge.
3. Social Suicide: I heard it on Punk-O-Rama 9 before I heard the album, and I knew then and there how much I was looking forward to TESF. It's a catchy melody with great vocals (as always) from Greg.
4. Atheist Peace: The title is great, a play on religious war. Of course, I tend to disagree that the opposite of religion is atheism, but I am well aware that Greg and Brett understand that. Good song.
5. All There Is: One of those many BR songs that sort of grows on you. I didn't really like it at first, but it crept up on me and I really dig it.
6. Los Angeles is Burning: Best BR song since Infected. Hands down. My new Top Three BR songs are American Jesus, Infected, and LA Is Burning.
7. Let Them Eat War: I heard the preview track of this about a week before I got the CD, and I really enjoyed Sage Francis' guest spot. All in all, one of the best songs on the disc.
8. God's Love: Eh. It's alright.
9. To Another Abyss: BR always have a couple crappy songs right in a row on every CD except STF. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that on TESF, they had the presence of mind to put a good song, To Another Abyss, between the two duds.
10. The Quickening: I kept hoping that this one would grow on me like so many BR songs do. But it didn't.
11. Empire Strikes First: Classic. Easily in my top 10 BR songs of all time.
12. Beyond Electric Dreams: Another one that I didn't like at first but crept up on me. When I'm just skimming through my favorite songs on TESF, I go Sinister Rouge, LA Is Burning, Empire Strikes First, and Beyond Electric Dreams. The end (a magazine referred to it as an "extended coda"--sounds musical) is the best part.
13. Boot Stamping on a Huma...:Long title. Comes from Orwell, I guess. You know, I couldn't tell you what the hell the lyrics mean, but I really like the song.
14. Live Again: I didn't know it was about suicide bombers till I read this magazine article (find the article on the Epitaph website.) I knew it had to do with religion. Anyway, it's yet another great album closer in the tradition of Walk Away, Only Entertainment, 21st Century Digital Boy, All Things Must Cease, Don't Sell Me Short, and Bored and Extremely Dangerous.
15. This bonus track, I haven't heard. I'd like to. Perhaps I will download it. Perhaps it will be on Punk-O-Rama 10, like they did with Shattered Faith and Who We Are--great songs, btw.

better than you could hope a new album would be
For a band that's been around as long and has put out as many albums as bad religion has, they've put out a very impressive new album. I was horribly disappointed with The New America, pleasantly surprised with Process of Belief and fully impressed with this. I agree with what the first reviewer said and fully suggest buying this album. Don't expect another No Control, but don't expect another season 5 of the Simpsons, you know?

Just a comment...
"the golden years of 'Generator' and 'Recipe for Hate'."

The Golden Years?! That is a joke right? "Generator" was the clearest sign of the end for a once great band. "Recipe for Hate" was utter crap and the end of BR for good. Nevermind their attempt to be corporate punks at this point...

I tried to give Recipe away after one listen but no one would take it, so I threw it away. Bad Religion hasn't done a great record since "No Control". Only BR worth listening to are "How Could Hell Be Any Worse", "Suffer", "No Control" and all the early stuff they put into 80-85 (includes "How Could Hell..."). "Against the Grain" is ok. Anything else is a waste of money, including this new junk.