Against the Grain

by Bad Religion

Overview

The third in a flurry of releases that followed Bad Religion's 1988 reunion, Against the Grain found the band's edge honed sharper than it had been in years. Epitaph's 2004 remaster respects this. Increased clarity between mouthpiece Greg Graffin, guitarists Brett Gurewitz and Greg Hetson, and the rhythm section of Jay Bentley and Pete Finestone increases the inherent melodic tension and amplifies Graffin's righteous lyrical anger. "My path renewed/Against the grain/That's where I'll stay" -- for many, Graffin's resolve over Grain's martial pace was a restatement of purpose, a refueling of belief in the punk and hardcore ethos as a new decade dawned. "21st Century (Digital Boy)" was a throaty, gritty, gang-vocal anthem that name-checked No Control and bitterly dismantled middle-class complacency in the technology era. One of Graffin/Gurewitz's pet themes, it also guided cuts like the rapid-fire opener, "Modern Man" ("I'm a cyborg just like you"), and the acerbic anti-greed rant "Quality or Quantity." Bad Religion had always warned against the excesses of the future and the assimilation of individuality. But the gospel cut deeper with Against the Grain. Songs began in an instant, with the single crack of a snare drum signaling the beginning of another screed. The guitars came in, twining between fiery leads and urgent, sometimes hyper chording -- the album seemed like a signal fire to the lost tribes of hardcore. Its best moment might be "Turn On the Light." As a thick, trademark Bad Religion melody rips in the background, Graffin spits out lyrics that define ideology with literate pacing, even as they ignite the genre's base emotions. "I'll construct a rack of tempered beams and trusses and equip it with a million tiny suns," Graffin sings. "...and I'll burn like a Roman f*cking candle." ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	03/04/1993
Label:	Epitaph
UPC:	0045778640911
Rank:	15525

Tracks

1. Modern Man
2. Turn on the Light
3. Get Off
4. Blenderhead
5. Positive Aspect of Negative Thinking
6. Anesthesia
7. Flat Earth Society
8. Faith Alone
9. Entropy
10. Against the Grain
11. Operation Rescue
12. God Song
13. 21st Century Digital Boy
14. Misery and Famine
15. Unacceptable
16. Quality or Quantity
17. Walk Away

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bad Religion   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Bad Religion   Producer
The Legendary Starbolt   Engineer
Larry Cordle   Composer
Carl Jackson   Composer
Greg Hetson   Composer
Greg Graffin   Composer
Jay Bentley   Composer
Brett Gurewitz   Composer
Bruce Bouton   Composer
Jay Bently   Composer