The New America | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 9, 2000 | |||
Recorded | October–December 1999 | |||
Studio | Victor's Barn, Kauai, Hawaii | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:11 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer | Todd Rundgren | |||
Bad Religion chronology | ||||
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International edition cover | ||||
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The New America is the eleventh studio album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album (to date) on Atlantic Records.
The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, then-former and now-current guitarist Brett Gurewitz co-wrote and played guitar on the song "Believe It". The album was re-released by Epitaph Records on September 15, 2008. Like its predecessor, none of the album's songs would develop into live staples; only the title track is performed live occasionally.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
The album was initially titled The Last Word, before being changed to The New America as a large number of people thought the band was breaking up. [4] The album marks a departure for the band, as some of the songs are personal, rather than political in nature, and more optimism is employed. Topics range from singer Greg Graffin's recent divorce to his past growing up as a punk kid in the early '80s. Apart from Brett Gurewtiz's guest contribution, it is the only Bad Religion album solely written by Graffin.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
The New America was recorded from October to December 1999 at Victor's Barn, Kauai, Hawaii and produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren had been one of the musicians Greg Graffin looked up to while growing up. However, working with Rundgren proved to be a disappointment to the band and especially Graffin, because they did not get along well with each other. [5] Graffin however would later write in his book, Anarchy Evolution, that although Rundgren was difficult to work with, they remain friends to this day. Graffin reflected on the recording of The New America with Rundgren in an even more positive light in his 2023 memoir Punk Rock Paradox, calling it a "great experience."
The New America was released on May 9, 2000 and is the last Bad Religion album distributed via Atlantic Records to date. The release of The New America marked the band's fulfillment of their four-album contract with Atlantic Records, allowing the band to reconvene with former band-mate, Brett Gurewitz, for their next album, 2002's The Process of Belief , released on Epitaph Records. Shortly after the album's release, a music video was made for "New America", which features two children playing with action figures of the band. [6] The band promoted it with a supporting slot for Blink-182, and appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Core Culture. [7] [8] [9] In March 2001, the band toured South America, supporting Biohazard for two of the shows. [10]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alternative Rock | 9/10 [11] |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
Ox-Fanzine | Unfavorable [13] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Wall of Sound | 63/100 [2] |
The New America peaked at number 88 on the Billboard 200 album chart. [15] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that working with Rundgren "opens the band's already wide-screen sound into a whole new dimension of sonic insanity." [11]
All tracks are written by Greg Graffin, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "You've Got a Chance" | 3:41 | |
2. | "It's a Long Way to the Promise Land" | 2:29 | |
3. | "A World Without Melody" | 2:32 | |
4. | "New America" | 3:25 | |
5. | "1000 Memories" | 3:00 | |
6. | "A Streetkid Named Desire" | 3:17 | |
7. | "Whisper in Time" | 2:32 | |
8. | "Believe It" | Graffin, Brett Gurewitz | 3:41 |
9. | "I Love My Computer" | 3:06 | |
10. | "The Hopeless Housewife" | 2:59 | |
11. | "There Will Be a Way" | 2:53 | |
12. | "Let It Burn" | 2:44 | |
13. | "Don't Sell Me Short" | 3:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "The Fast Life" | 2:01 |
15. | "Queen of the 21st Century" | 4:17 |
No. | Title | Appears on | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lose as Directed" | "New America" single, 2000 | 2:30 |
2. | "Pretenders" | "New America" single, 2000 | 4:12 |
Adapted from the album liner notes. [16]
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [17] | 47 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [18] | 38 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [19] | 16 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [20] | 53 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [21] | 69 |
US Billboard 200 [22] | 88 |
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilities and extensive use of three-part vocal harmonies. The band has experienced multiple line-up changes, with singer Greg Graffin being the band's only constant member, though fellow founding members Jay Bentley and Brett Gurewitz have also been with the band for most of their history while guitarist Brian Baker has been a member of the group since 1994. Guitarist Mike Dimkich and drummer Jamie Miller have been members of the band since 2013 and 2015 respectively. To date, Bad Religion has released seventeen studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs. They are considered to be one of the best-selling punk rock acts of all time, having sold over five million albums worldwide.
The Process of Belief is the twelfth studio album by the American punk rock band Bad Religion. It was produced by its leaders Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz, and was released on January 22, 2002, through Epitaph Records. After touring in support of its previous studio album, The New America (2000), Gurewitz re-joined Bad Religion in 2001 after a seven-year hiatus. The band re-signed with Epitaph, and then began work on its first album for the label in over eight years. The album also marked the first album to feature Brooks Wackerman, who replaced former drummer Bobby Schayer.
Generator is the sixth studio album by the punk rock band Bad Religion. Although the album was completed in the spring of 1991, it was not released until 1992; the band was not happy with the artwork and packaging, and went through several ideas that were eventually scrapped. Generator was the band's first release with drummer Bobby Schayer, who replaced Pete Finestone during the Against the Grain tour.
Brett W. Gurewitz, nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician and record producer best known as the co-founder and guitarist of the punk rock band Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and a number of sister labels. He has produced albums for Bad Religion as well as Epitaph Records labelmates NOFX, Rancid, and Pennywise, among others. Gurewitz also had a project called Error, which also featured Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, and Greg Puciato. He is also the co-founder of comic book and graphic novel publisher, Black Mask Studios.
Stranger than Fiction is the eighth full-length studio album and major label debut by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released in 1994. It was a major breakthrough for Bad Religion, being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and becoming the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at 87.
No Control is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on November 2, 1989, through Epitaph Records. Bad Religion began work on the album while touring in support of their previous album, Suffer (1988). No Control is stylistically faster than its predecessor, owing more to hardcore punk. Additionally, it was the first Bad Religion album not to feature a lineup change from the previous album.
Recipe for Hate is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on June 4, 1993. It was their last album on Epitaph Records for nine years and the band had switched to Atlantic Records, who re-released the album several months after its release.
The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction.
No Substance is the tenth full-length album by the punk rock band Bad Religion. It was the band's third release on Atlantic Records, and their second studio album since guitarist Brett Gurewitz's departure.
Into the Unknown is the second studio album by Bad Religion, released in August 1983 through Epitaph Records. The album marks a distinct departure from the band's previous album; instead of featuring hardcore punk, the album is characterized by slower tempos, use of electronic organ and pianos, and a prog-influenced hard rock sound. Into the Unknown is the only Bad Religion album to feature Paul Dedona on bass and Davy Goldman on drums. Dedona was ejected from the band before their next recording and replaced by Tim Gallegos, while former drummer Pete Finestone returned to the band in 1986. The album also features Bad Religion's longest track to date, "Time and Disregard", which is seven minutes long.
The Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on June 8, 2004. The album is heavily influenced by the then-current Iraq War and also has some nods to George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the latter most likely inspired by the Patriot Act.
All Ages is a compilation album by the American punk rock band Bad Religion. It was released on July 26, 1995, through Epitaph Records. The compilation contains songs from How Could Hell Be Any Worse? to Generator, and two live tracks recorded during their 1994 European tour, which were the first tracks to feature guitarist Brian Baker.
Punk Rock Songs (The Epic Years) is a compilation album by Bad Religion, released in 2002. All songs on this compilation are from their tenure on Atlantic and Epic Records from 1994 to 2000, in addition to four live tracks and both the English and German versions of "Punk Rock Song". Punk Rock Songs was released by Epic without any input from the band members, as Bad Religion had already returned to Epitaph Records, and as of 2017, it has not been released in the United States.
New Maps of Hell is the fourteenth studio album by Bad Religion, released on July 10, 2007.
Let the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid, released in June 2009 by Hellcat/Epitaph. It is their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.
30 Years Live is the second live album from the band Bad Religion, which was released on May 18, 2010, therein documenting the band's 30th anniversary tour. It is the band's first live album in 13 years, since Tested in 1997. Rather than a standard release, it was originally available for free download to members of Bad Religion's official mailing list.
The Dissent of Man is the fifteenth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released on September 28, 2010. It was their first album in three years, following the release of New Maps of Hell in 2007. The band commenced writing new material in 2008, but would not begin studio work until May 2010. The writing and recording process spanned two years and was slowed down considerably by touring schedules. The album was finally finished in June 2010. Some of the material was originally performed live by Bad Religion on its 30th anniversary tour in early 2010. "The Devil in Stitches" was released as a single to accompany the release of this album, while "Cyanide" and "Wrong Way Kids" also received radio airplay. Clocking in at 43 minutes, The Dissent of Man is Bad Religion's longest album to date.
Christmas Songs is the third EP album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released October 29, 2013 on Epitaph Records. It is their first full-length Christmas album, featuring eight covers of seasonal songs and an "Andy Wallace mix" version of "American Jesus". This is also the first Bad Religion album not to feature Greg Hetson on guitar since 1983's Into the Unknown, although he appears on "American Jesus", and the first time they recorded as a five-piece since 2000's The New America. Christmas Songs is also Bad Religion's final release with Brooks Wackerman on drums.
Age of Unreason is the seventeenth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on May 3, 2019. It is the band's first studio album to feature guitarist Mike Dimkich and drummer Jamie Miller, replacing Greg Hetson and Brooks Wackerman respectively, and the first one to be produced by Carlos de la Garza, thus ending their collaboration with Joe Barresi, who had produced, mixed or engineered every Bad Religion album since 2004's The Empire Strikes First; Barresi did, however, mix "The Kids Are Alt-Right", which had already been released as a one-off single in 2018.
Citations
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