Disco de Bad Religion: “Recipe For Hate”

Although this album is not considered to be one of Bad Religion's better albums, I rank it first on my list for the simple reason that I listen to it the most. The songs are not typically sung in Bad Religion's fast paced style as showcased on earlier recordings. For that I urge you to pick up Suffer. Recipe for Hate however has more melodic songs, and is different in that it is a complete album. The tracks relate to each previous track's theme. To better define what I mean, this album is like reading a book and appreciating the story.

Lyrically it is their best effort. The album deals with topics of politics (of course), religion, and really focuses on self examination. What hits me the hardest is when Gregg sings about his frustration over how people enter into cliques, and how he can't seem to fit into any structure because he is such an individual..."I scoff at labels,I defy censuses and despise group mentality." He admits he is an outsider, accknowledges that he will suffer from not belonging, but claims he will never belong even if he's destined to suffer.

On a personal level I can relate to Gregg. Being a teenager, I see people sporting the popular name brand appearal, or praying for the weekend so they can get drunk and hit the parties, hoping to score some action with a drunk girl who will be out of their life after that one night. I have been combating this typically shallow way of life for "normal" teens, and constantly stuggle with it, but this album has made it alright and even great to be different. I mean, that is what this punk thing is all about anyway. I know I'm not alone when I say that it feels like I am on the outside looking in (check out "Looking In - track 10"). As Gregg says in the album, "Observing those around us, desiring to belong, beneath the guise of salvation, we suffer all along the way."

In conclusion, this album is not for everyone. If you have share similar views with me (feeling like an outsider), then pick up this album. If you are just getting into BR, get Suffer, No Control and especially All Ages, which covers all the classic BR songs from the Epitaph days. But please don't buy the album if you are only into heavy punk with idiotic, meaningless lyrics. (Just cuz they toured with Blink dont make Blink good!) Bad Religion's stuff is meant to stimulate the mind. Recipe for Hate is your recipe for exactly that.

This is one of the weaker Bad Religion albums, and it is strange that it was their breakout album. The lyrics are incredible, but listening to it, I wished that the instrumentation was tighter. There are times on the album when Gurewitz can't seem to find the riff he is looking for, and it becomes distracting. The highlights on the album include the title track, Portrait of Authority, and American Jesus, which is good, but highly overrated. If you want a far surperior BR album check out either No Control or Suffer, and then All Ages, a compilation of their best songs produced while they were with indie mega-label Epitaph.

As if Bad Religion didn't depart from their earlier sound enough on GENERATOR, they did it again with RECIPE FOR HATE. This album is very dark and dissonant at times. It is definately not for everyone and because this was their first major label release it is often shunned by hardcore punks. But this album is I think one of the classic rock albums of the 90's, it's almost flawless, and contains probably the most popular Bad Religion song "American Jesus".

1. Recipe For Hate (10/10) The misfit song of this album, sounds more like early Bad Religion, almost like it would fit in better on SUFFER.

Those who think punk rock's about offensive lyrics and loud music, you're wrong. Those who know that punk rock has almost always been a political thing, all I can say is good for you. This c.d has it all, mellow music and awesome lyrics. American Jesus, Skyscraper, Recipe For Hate, and American Jesus are great examples of modern society. All I can tell you is "Get this C.D.!

"recipe for hate","American Jesus", "modern day catastrophits" are all bad ass songs that have good guitar riffs. See with me, punk rock is all about how the music jumps into your veins and makes you want to get up and break stuff. I listen to lyrics too, but the guitar is such a great instrument. Greg Graffen drives me nuts with his hand gestures and he just looks retarted, but Bad Religion is one of the best bands ever. This CD is awesome, like i said it makes me want to mosh, great punk.