The New America

The New America is the eleventh studio album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album (to date) on Atlantic Records.

For the collection of articles by H. G. Wells, see The New America: The New World.

The New America
Studio album by
Bad Religion
ReleasedMay 9, 2000
RecordedOctober–December 1999
StudioVictor's Barn, Kauai, Hawaii
Genre
Length40:11
LabelAtlantic
ProducerTodd Rundgren
Bad Religion chronology
No Substance
(1998)		 The New America
(2000)		 The Process of Belief
(2002)
International edition cover

The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, then-former and now-current guitarist Brett Gurewitz co-wrote and played guitar on the song "Believe It". The album was re-released by Epitaph Records on September 15, 2008. Like its predecessor, none of the album's songs would develop into live staples; only the title track is performed live occasionally.

Musical style and lyrics

The album was initially titled The Last Word, before being changed to The New America as a large number of people thought the band was breaking up.[4] The album marks a departure for the band, as some of the songs are personal, rather than political in nature, and more optimism is employed. Topics range from singer Greg Graffin's recent divorce to his past growing up as a punk kid in the early '80s. Apart from Brett Gurewtiz's guest contribution, it is the only Bad Religion album solely written by Graffin.

Production

The New America was recorded from October to December 1999 at Victor's Barn, Kauai, Hawaii and produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren had been one of the musicians Greg Graffin looked up to while growing up. However, working with Rundgren proved to be a disappointment to the band and especially Graffin, because they did not get along well with each other.[5] Graffin however would later write in his book, Anarchy Evolution, that although Todd Rundgren was difficult to work with, they remain friends to this day. Graffin reflected on the recording of The New America with Rundgren in an even more positive light in his 2023 memoir Punk Rock Paradox, calling it a "great experience."

Release

The New America was released on May 9, 2000 and is the last Bad Religion album distributed via Atlantic Records to date. The release of The New America marked the band's fulfillment of their four-album contract with Atlantic Records, allowing the band to reconvene with former band-mate, Brett Gurewitz, for their next album, 2002's The Process of Belief, released on Epitaph Records. Shortly after the album's release, a music video was made for "The New America", which features two children playing with action figures of the band.[6] The band promoted it with a supporting slot for Blink-182, and appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Core Culture.[7][8][9] In March 2001, the band toured South America, supporting Biohazard for two of the shows.[10]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Alternative Rock9/10[11]
Robert Christgau(dud)[12]
Ox-FanzineUnfavorable[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Wall of Sound63/100[2]

The New America peaked at number 88 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[15] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that working with Rundgren "opens the band's already wide-screen sound into a whole new dimension of sonic insanity."[11]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You've Got a Chance"Graffin3:41
2."It's a Long Way to the Promise Land"Graffin2:29
3."A World Without Melody"Graffin2:32
4."New America"Graffin3:25
5."1000 Memories"Graffin3:00
6."A Streetkid Named Desire"Graffin3:17
7."Whisper in Time"Graffin2:32
8."Believe It"Graffin, Gurewitz3:41
9."I Love My Computer"Graffin3:06
10."The Hopeless Housewife"Graffin2:59
11."There Will Be a Way"Graffin2:53
12."Let It Burn"Graffin2:44
13."Don't Sell Me Short"Graffin3:58
Japan and Europe bonus track
No.TitleLength
14."The Fast Life"2:01
15."Queen of the 21st Century"4:17
B-Sides
No.TitleLength
16."Lose as Directed"2:30
17."Pretenders"4:12

Personnel

References

Citations

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The New America - Bad Religion | Songs, Reviews, Credit". AllMusic. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  2. Durchholz, Daniel. "Review: The New America". Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on April 15, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  3. Hot Band:. Long Island, New York: Newsday LLC. October 19, 2000. p. C03.
  4. Paul, Aubin (March 29, 2000). "Better Religion". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  5. Live at the Palladium DVD
  6. Paul, Aubin (May 24, 2000). "New Bad Religion Music Video". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  7. Paul, Aubin (June 22, 2000). "Bad Religion on Why". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  8. Paul, Aubin (June 23, 2000). "There's Nothing Good on TV Anymore". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  9. Paul, Aubin (June 30, 2000). "Bad Religion and Big Media". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  10. White, Adam (February 10, 2001). "Bad Religion South American Dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  11. Thompson 2000, p. 170
  12. "CG: bad religion". Robert Christgau. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  13. Hiller, Joachim (June–August 2000). "Reviews: Bad Religion / The New America CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  14. "Rolling Stone Music | Album Reviews". Rollingstone.com. February 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  15. "The New America's entry at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. February 2016. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2007.

Sources

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