The New America - Atlantic 2000

7 / 10

Feel free to raise that grade to an 8 with the caveat that at least half of these melodies have already been used by Bad Religion on previous albums. Still, the lyrics are overwhelmingly and surprisingly positive, mostly concentrating on the idea that if you stay true to yourself and be proud of who you are, then even if you don't become a huge success, at least you'll have made your own important mark on the world. Or some crap. Also, the vocal melodies and harmonies sound effervescent, bubbly and filled with bubbles, and there seem to be more fast bits on this one than on the last one. It essentially sounds exactly like Bad Religion. As my girlfriend put it, "Is this a new album? It sounds just like their other albums! Why do they bother making new albums?" Presumably to give Todd Rundgren a reason to not shoot himself in the face.

- Mark Prindle