Update: two articles on blabbermouth.net and brooklynvegan.com provide some more insight:
The recording of the song was done remotely. Graffin's initial vocal and piano tracks augmented by the band's co-songwriter Brett Gurewitz who added additional instrumentation including guitar. The strings were added by Stevie Blacke (BECK, LADY GAGA, GARBAGE) and the drums played by BAD RELIGION drummer Jamie Miller while producer Carlos de la Garza added additional production and a mix.
As the band's singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains: "I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom's piano. I've been home a lot and so I started recording a bunch of our songs that way. Brett [Gurewitz] thought 'Faith Alone' was particularly relevant for this moment. For me, it exemplifies what's special about the band, which is that we write songs that go to the spiritual and intellectual aspects of human existence."
Gurewitz explains: "I think the message of 'Faith Alone' really resonates with everything that's happening right now. Racial injustice, Trump, the COVID pandemic, the rejection of science, none of these things can be solved by burying our heads in the sand. We've always believed problems can be solved through reason and action, not faith and prayer. It's what we've been writing about since the band started."
Although at the time of this writing it's not yet posted on Bad Religion's social accounts, thanks to Brett we were notified about a new/old song that was released today.
It's a 2020 rendition of Faith Alone!
It's on youtube, Spotify and Apple Music (and probably other streaming services as well).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5T_vmpqxE
So what do think?
coop
Infected
![]() ![]() Location: Finland Status: Offline Posts: 1574 |
Well the placement of that reddish spreadage is quite odd if it is coming from his mouth :) and also seems not to spread very far from his head. And people today.. it just might be that idiotic as it seems. But only God or mr brett knows.
08/16/2020 at 10:06
Well the placement of that reddish spreadage is quite odd if it is coming from his mouth :) and also seems not to spread very far from his head. And people today.. it just might be that idiotic as it seems. But only God or mr brett knows.
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Priesterseminar
Billy Gnosis
![]() ![]() Location: None Selected Status: Offline Posts: 1251 |
I guess you are wrong. Not because i am right, but considering the lyrics and theme of the song, there is nothing at all indicating something that juvenile..
The virus of faith seems like a more fitting metapher..
08/16/2020 at 06:24
I guess you are wrong. Not because i am right, but considering the lyrics and theme of the song, there is nothing at all indicating something that juvenile..
The virus of faith seems like a more fitting metapher.. |
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coop
Infected
![]() ![]() Location: Finland Status: Offline Posts: 1574 |
To me that is a very clear message they are trying to send with the image. I hope that im wrong because that is not the... Bad religion.
08/15/2020 at 14:27
To me that is a very clear message they are trying to send with the image. I hope that im wrong because that is not the... Bad religion.
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Priesterseminar
Billy Gnosis
![]() ![]() Location: None Selected Status: Offline Posts: 1251 |
About the cover artwork depicting the assasisnation of trump..
i never saw it that way.. that orange stain was symbolising the spread of lies and blind faith to me.. like some john carpenter thing..
But the other interpretation is legit as well though i dont think intended..
08/15/2020 at 10:11
About the cover artwork depicting the assasisnation of trump..
i never saw it that way.. that orange stain was symbolising the spread of lies and blind faith to me.. like some john carpenter thing.. But the other interpretation is legit as well though i dont think intended.. |
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Pac
Lost Pilgrim
![]() ![]() Location: Canada Status: Offline Posts: 25 |
This is a pleasant surprise.
Faith Alone has always been one of my favorite and I was fortunate to hear it once live, 25 years ago. Maybe this release will have a ‘You’ effect and it will be played more often?
I always thought that this song fitted perfectly with the humanity’s excesses sung on “Against the Grain”. And it was shrewd too to put it right after ‘Flat Earth Society’ on it.
For a while it was this song that I recommended to friends who wanted to discover BR (recently it has been more ‘Before you Die’. Plus I usually add a warning to neophytes to stay away from “The New America”, even if ‘Whisper in Time’ is a good song, but not a good BR one – but that’s another topic).
So I’ve recommended this song partly because it is catchy, the back vocals are robust and the riffs are solid. But mostly because BR’s topic of predilection (Science and Religion) is as straightforward as it can be in this one.
There could have been a third verse to it to complete the Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis’s essay rule but the current dichotomy says it all, and anyway the synthesis is in the chorus.
I wasn’t expecting a new song – these troubled times make us reflect on the past and the present, and anxiety is not usually favourable to creation.
So this 2020 version fits perfectly with the Covid ambiance. I’m an atheist but I listen to this version and I reflect on life; of where I’m at right now, of my kids, of Hesse, of Ken Chinn and of Jaurès.
All in all kudos to Brett for wanting to re-record this one - the same guy who pushed for re-recording 21st Century four years after its original release so I trust his wit and vision.
08/12/2020 at 08:06
This is a pleasant surprise.
Faith Alone has always been one of my favorite and I was fortunate to hear it once live, 25 years ago. Maybe this release will have a ‘You’ effect and it will be played more often? I always thought that this song fitted perfectly with the humanity’s excesses sung on “Against the Grain”. And it was shrewd too to put it right after ‘Flat Earth Society’ on it. For a while it was this song that I recommended to friends who wanted to discover BR (recently it has been more ‘Before you Die’. Plus I usually add a warning to neophytes to stay away from “The New America”, even if ‘Whisper in Time’ is a good song, but not a good BR one – but that’s another topic). So I’ve recommended this song partly because it is catchy, the back vocals are robust and the riffs are solid. But mostly because BR’s topic of predilection (Science and Religion) is as straightforward as it can be in this one. There could have been a third verse to it to complete the Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis’s essay rule but the current dichotomy says it all, and anyway the synthesis is in the chorus. I wasn’t expecting a new song – these troubled times make us reflect on the past and the present, and anxiety is not usually favourable to creation. So this 2020 version fits perfectly with the Covid ambiance. I’m an atheist but I listen to this version and I reflect on life; of where I’m at right now, of my kids, of Hesse, of Ken Chinn and of Jaurès. All in all kudos to Brett for wanting to re-record this one - the same guy who pushed for re-recording 21st Century four years after its original release so I trust his wit and vision. |
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ComicSans
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Canada |
Wow! I guess I was expecting something more in keeping with the NMoH deluxe; this has a distinctly American Lesion vibe (although maybe it’s just the timing with the reissue).
No firm opinions yet, but it’s great to hear that Greg has been recording lots of BR material and that he and Brett are in creative contact!
08/10/2020 at 08:32
Wow! I guess I was expecting something more in keeping with the NMoH deluxe; this has a distinctly American Lesion vibe (although maybe it’s just the timing with the reissue).
No firm opinions yet, but it’s great to hear that Greg has been recording lots of BR material and that he and Brett are in creative contact! |
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fformenti
Incomplete
![]() ![]() Location: Brazil Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
I loved it. An amazing version for an amazing song
Please do more
08/09/2020 at 19:10
I loved it. An amazing version for an amazing song
Please do more |
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Warstub
The Same Person
![]() ![]() Location: thebrpage Status: Offline Posts: 2340 |
It's like they're either too poor to afford a good cover designer (probably bought too many expensive houses), or they're trying to be oh-so-punk because [i]y'know we're so hip yo[/i]
08/09/2020 at 00:13
It's like they're either too poor to afford a good cover designer (probably bought too many expensive houses), or they're trying to be oh-so-punk because y'know we're so hip yo
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Bad Brett
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Sweden |
[quote=coop]Oh and the "cover art" is dumb.[/quote]
Dude, did they actually make a Trump assassination cover? That's not bold, just poor judgement. It's bizarre, somehow they appeared to be more mature 40 years ago.
It's quite ironic, I've listened to BR since I was 7 years old and were one of my greatest influences. They made me think for myself. And now they've turned me against them.
Anyway, this version is nice but the arrangement could have been better. As always, Millers drumming sounds kind of... off.
08/08/2020 at 22:03
Dude, did they actually make a Trump assassination cover? That's not bold, just poor judgement. It's bizarre, somehow they appeared to be more mature 40 years ago. It's quite ironic, I've listened to BR since I was 7 years old and were one of my greatest influences. They made me think for myself. And now they've turned me against them. Anyway, this version is nice but the arrangement could have been better. As always, Millers drumming sounds kind of... off. |
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Warstub
The Same Person
![]() ![]() Location: thebrpage Status: Offline Posts: 2340 |
[quote=Joe Dawson]My "Page is full of ... hate ! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ...
I like it. It's good. Good song !
But knowing about the recording i'm aaa ... aaa... disappointed ? :(
it should be
recorded by the " Brett ang Greg " band and i wouldn't mind it.
" Brett and Greg " Yes, but to me it's not Bad Religion.
[/quote]I agree.
08/07/2020 at 04:08
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Warstub
The Same Person
![]() ![]() Location: thebrpage Status: Offline Posts: 2340 |
[quote=coop]Oh and the "cover art" is dumb.[/quote]I agree.
08/07/2020 at 04:06
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Joe1553
Incomplete
![]() ![]() Location: male Status: Offline Posts: 9 |
I rarely post and have been listening to the band for 25 years and I have been coming to this page since the Tierranet days, and I love this version of Faith Alone! I think this is the best acoustic/non-punk version of a BR song the band has ever done. It’s clear how much effort was put in to recompose this. In fact, I was not a big fan of the original version of Faith Alone, and I can’t stop listening to this version. I’d be very excited if the band has re-recorded more songs this way. And ya, I posted this in the forum, but in case someone from the band was looking here, I wanted to make sure they saw how much some of us love this :)
08/07/2020 at 02:40
I rarely post and have been listening to the band for 25 years and I have been coming to this page since the Tierranet days, and I love this version of Faith Alone! I think this is the best acoustic/non-punk version of a BR song the band has ever done. It’s clear how much effort was put in to recompose this. In fact, I was not a big fan of the original version of Faith Alone, and I can’t stop listening to this version. I’d be very excited if the band has re-recorded more songs this way. And ya, I posted this in the forum, but in case someone from the band was looking here, I wanted to make sure they saw how much some of us love this :)
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Joe Dawson
Blenderhead
![]() ![]() Location: Poland Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
I mean ... Mr Baker could play some super hard Blues - Conventional Rock
Solo and You would put it in the song and it would be more Bad Religion.
You're 60, You have kids, young wifes ... ( i'm a 38 old bachelor, no kids
{ o.k. - o.k. so technically it's still 37 :p } ) ... so You don't want the contact.
Sorry ( now, i get it ).
But BR is 6 men band, and it's 2020 and you could do it Virtual with
Jay and Brian ( don't forget Super Mike ! ).
Now i'm drunk and i look to it from the different way. Safety First !
Sorry !
08/06/2020 at 19:57
I mean ... Mr Baker could play some super hard Blues - Conventional Rock
Solo and You would put it in the song and it would be more Bad Religion. You're 60, You have kids, young wifes ... ( i'm a 38 old bachelor, no kids { o.k. - o.k. so technically it's still 37 :p } ) ... so You don't want the contact. Sorry ( now, i get it ). But BR is 6 men band, and it's 2020 and you could do it Virtual with Jay and Brian ( don't forget Super Mike ! ). Now i'm drunk and i look to it from the different way. Safety First ! Sorry ! |
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Joe Dawson
Blenderhead
![]() ![]() Location: Poland Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
My "Page is full of ... hate ! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ...
I like it. It's good. Good song !
But knowing about the recording i'm aaa ... aaa... disappointed ? :(
It's something what all the singers are doing now. Like the polish singer that
is stealing his band's song and recording it with his Sonny and it's super O.K.
Mr. Bentley have the voice too you know ( and actually pretty good one ) and
believe it or not but Mr. Baker can do something with the guitar...
Did you call to your tall friend from the high school ??? ( i doubt it )
Steve Blacke ... aaa ... Steve Blacke is awesome but aaa ... aaa... it's not Bad Religion !
You all know what i feel about Brett Gurewitz ( My American Dad !!! :) ) and
Jamie Miller ( "Supper Jamie" ! ) but without Mr. Bentley and Baker
it just not it.
( Super Mike :) i didn't forget about you ! )
The point : The Song is Super and i really, really like it !! but it should be
recorded by the " Brett ang Greg " band and i wouldn't mind it.
" Brett and Greg " Yes, but to me it's not Bad Religion.
I'm just a guy who needs full band. Sorry !
08/06/2020 at 17:22
My "Page is full of ... hate ! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ...
I like it. It's good. Good song ! But knowing about the recording i'm aaa ... aaa... disappointed ? :( It's something what all the singers are doing now. Like the polish singer that is stealing his band's song and recording it with his Sonny and it's super O.K. Mr. Bentley have the voice too you know ( and actually pretty good one ) and believe it or not but Mr. Baker can do something with the guitar... Did you call to your tall friend from the high school ??? ( i doubt it ) Steve Blacke ... aaa ... Steve Blacke is awesome but aaa ... aaa... it's not Bad Religion ! You all know what i feel about Brett Gurewitz ( My American Dad !!! :) ) and Jamie Miller ( "Supper Jamie" ! ) but without Mr. Bentley and Baker it just not it. ( Super Mike :) i didn't forget about you ! ) The point : The Song is Super and i really, really like it !! but it should be recorded by the " Brett ang Greg " band and i wouldn't mind it. " Brett and Greg " Yes, but to me it's not Bad Religion. I'm just a guy who needs full band. Sorry ! |
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coop
Infected
![]() ![]() Location: Finland Status: Offline Posts: 1574 |
Oh and the "cover art" is dumb.
08/06/2020 at 13:00
Oh and the "cover art" is dumb.
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oldmrfletcher
The Devil In Stitches
![]() ![]() Location: CA Status: Offline Posts: 310 |
Sounds like it was taken off the Deluxe Edition of New Maps of Hell
08/06/2020 at 12:11
Sounds like it was taken off the Deluxe Edition of New Maps of Hell
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jruland
Incomplete
![]() ![]() Location: San Diego Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
I have to say the halo of pink mist around Trump's head is bold AF and I love it.
08/06/2020 at 11:20
I have to say the halo of pink mist around Trump's head is bold AF and I love it.
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BrandonSideleau
The Devil In Stitches
![]() ![]() Location: Darwin, AU Status: Offline Posts: 403 |
Its cool. I love Faith Alone and Greg sounds amazing. But I hope there are some actual new songs coming.
08/06/2020 at 11:07
Its cool. I love Faith Alone and Greg sounds amazing. But I hope there are some actual new songs coming.
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coop
Infected
![]() ![]() Location: Finland Status: Offline Posts: 1574 |
Where is this coming from? What does it mean? I don't like faith alone, in fact i hate it. So would very much like to hear this kind of versions from other songs too. But im really confused about this.
08/06/2020 at 07:18
Where is this coming from? What does it mean? I don't like faith alone, in fact i hate it. So would very much like to hear this kind of versions from other songs too. But im really confused about this.
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