Suffer
by Pizza

sputnikmusic.com, January 22, 2006

The excellent classic punk band known as Bad Religion was started in the year 1980 in San Fernando Valley of LA. Greg Graffin and fellow band members didn't fit in with everything going on back in that time and place, and they decided to make music to show it. Their first EP was made in 1980, and at that time the band started their own record label known as Epitaph. Epitaph rose over time and is now a fairly major label. The beginning of Bad Religion wasn't so great, as their musical talent wasn't very good, but with the make of their first full-length album, their sound improved and showed that they had musical talent that must be used. The band continued song writing, and released Into The Unknown in late 1983. This album is much different than the Bad Religion most people know, due to the fact that it isn't very punk-like, with slower songs and the use of organs and pianos. Two members of the band left, but in the following year Bad Religion was still able to put out a new record that was now the band's hardcore punk side. Several years went by, and with a one of a kind lineup, they released Suffer in 1988.

Bad Religion is (was):
Jay Bentley - Bass Guitar
Greg Hetson - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Greg Graffin - Lead and Backing Voices
Mr. Brett - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Pete Finestone - Drums

Suffer is one of the most important albums in punk music. It brought the revival of punk in the 80s, and boosted its popularity into the 90s. Suffer was the album of the year to Flipside and Maximum Rock and Roll, and it gained Bad Religion some popularity as well. It is such an influential album for the music scene and it saved punk music from becoming nothing. It brought many followers that are well known today, that may have been nothing if it wasn't for Suffer.

Every song on this album is necessary, and none of them should be considered poor. The whole album flows well, with great duel guitar work, solid drumming, fast bass lines, and of course, great lyrics and vocals. No point on Suffer is the low-point, and all is the high-point. The dueling guitars work very well and on tracks like Land Of Competition and Best For You it shows. Fast, distorted, and catchy guitar riffs are present throughout the album, with no ugly spots. They never get old and they won't anytime soon. Most of the album has fast drumming that is done very well, with no flaws. Not the best drumming in the world, as it is punk music with pretty repetitive stuff, but still done very well and doesn't get old even with the stereotyping of punk drumming getting boring very fast. The bass on the album is done superbly; very fast and very catchy. Jay is one of the best bass players in the genre, and he shows it here. Vocals are the best part of the album. Greg Graffin has one of the best voices in punk music and he also writes some of the best lyrics of true punk. No where do the lyrics to any song get cheesy or annoying. What he has to say is important stuff and should be thought about and not forgotten. Among all of the great things on Suffer, there are also a few guitar solos, with a neat little one in Land Of Competition and a scratchy sounding one at the end of Best For You to close out the song.

Song Ratings:
You Are (The Government) 5/5
1000 More Fools 5/5
How Much is Enough? 5/5
When? 5/5
Give You Nothing 5/5
Land Of Competition 5/5
Forbidden Beat 5/5
Best For You 4.5/5
Suffer 5/5
Delirium Of Disorder 5/5
Part II (The Numbers Game) 5/5
What Can You Do? 4.5/5
Do What You Want 5/5
Part IV (The Index Fossil) 5/5
Pessimistic Lines 5/5

Anyone into punk music at all that does not have Suffer needs to get it as soon as possible because they are missing out. There really is nothing bad about this album, except the fact that only 4 songs are over the two minute mark. For a fan of fast music, great bass work, excellent lyrics/singing, and catchy yet simple guitar riffs. If anyone is curious and wants to test them out first, download You Are (The Government), Give You Nothing, Suffer, and Do What You Want.

Suffer = 5/5 = CLASSIC

5.0 (classic) / 5