Acting as “project mentor,” Rundgren worked with Graffin, guiding him on the songs that would end up comprising the disc for quite a while before the actual recording sessions began. According to Graffin, “[Todd] taught me so much about the reason to make records and why certain records are great and others fail.” Bad Religion should be very proud: The New America is a great record.
From the opening strains of the future non-anthem of a generation, “You’ve Got A Chance,” to the closing notes of the solemn “Don’t Sell Me Short,” this record never goes stale. With surprising sonic twists abounding throughout, songs such as “A World Without Melody” take the punk genre and raise it entirely to a new level. Todd was the producer for the New York Dolls’ first album, so he’s no slouch when it comes to opening doors to new aural experiences. On The New America, however, he truly manages to take a band that many folks have sold short for years and give them the chance to capture some radio airplay. Hopefully they’ll end up with a whole mess of new fans while they’re at it.
“A Whisper In Time,” a beautiful song about memories that linger, has one of those haunting hooks that you just can’t seem to get out of your head. “I Love My Computer” could become popular as well, being a true love song to the one that many of us get along with better than anyone else. A true tale of self-examination, on both a cultural and individual nature, The New America is Bad Religion’s masterwork. As Graffin himself says in the album closer, “...Like a mystery that’s here to stay, some people never go away, ‘cuz they’ve got something to say. Don’t sell me short.”
Bad Religion has been here for years. Where have you been?
The New America
(Atlantic)
reviewed by j bloomrosen
