Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction

Bad Religion, one of the last bands you'd expect to join the ranks of major-label rockers, makes the leap from its own Epitaph Records to Atlantic for its eighth album, Stranger Than Fiction. The quintet doesn't compromise its integrity or its aesthetics, delivering its familiar Ramones-style pop songs at crash-and-burn tempos and continuing to rail against business as usual in corporate America. (The band's social critiques have always been a cut above the average hardcore punk's, as befits a group led by a vocalist pursuing his PhD at Cornell.) Especially effective is the opening track, "Incomplete," which features guest guitar by Wayne Kramer of the MC5. --Jim DeRogatis Amazon.com

Actually I give this 5 stars

I always look at the negative reviews first, so if you are reading this, then I assume that you do the same.
I judge a music album by 3 criteria....does it blow my hair back the first few times I listen to it?, do I skip tracks, or listen to the album through?, and can it stand the test of time?
The first time I heard this album was 13 years ago. I was 14 at the time. It totally blew my hair back, and I couldnt stop listening to it. No tracks were skipped (ok, maybe just `television`)
13 years later, and probably about 80 other ``punk`` albums owned and thouroughly listened to, I have not gotten tired of this album. This is in my top 5 best punk albums I have ever listened to.
Bad religion has MANY other great albums and songs, dont get me wrong, but by the criteria I set above, this album satisfies those requirements.
I just love this album. August 15, 2008

Second only to Suffer as Bad Religion's best work.

I agree with the reviewer below, this was the weakest album I heard from Bad Religion (I only have 4 BR albums) but that doesn't necessarily mean that its bad I mean compared to the joke that punk music has turned into nowadays its like a masterpiece. Stranger Than Fiction is packed with great punk tracks that are filled with brilliant hooks and catchy lyrics like on previous Bad Religion albums it's also the first Bad Religion album I bought since I heard alot of great things and I wasn't disappointed the only problem is that the album needs a few more listens to appreciate. The best songs have to be Better off dead, The handshake (which is about greedy music executives) and the awesome punk track Infected with its yeah-yeah chorus line and Inner logic with its smart lyrics, 21st century digital boy is the big single release from this album and its worth checking out along with Marked and the great and catchy pop song Slumber and Incomplete was a great opening song. The only bad songs were Hooray for me and Tiny Voices which sound a bit generic, Stranger Than Fiction shows more mature musicianship from these guys and Greg is a good songwriter but I still preferred their earlier stuff since it sounded more raw and less mainstream, Suffer was a much better album in my opinion and its one of my favorites but still you should definetely check out this great album especially if you're looking for some proper punk rock music. June 17, 2008

this is the biggest chunk of seel out pie!

These guys totaly sold out when they singed to atlantic for this peace of junk. this album just screams sell out. Look we're played in the mall now. If you want good bad religion then get anything from how could hell be any worse up recipe for hate. I can make a better album then these sell outs can!!! June 3, 2007

After a few listens it becomes better

Out of the 5 BR CDs I own (Process of Belief, Generator, No Control, Gray Race and Stranger than fiction) Id have to say this is the weakest of the 5. Not that thats a bad thing mind you, far from it infact. Its just this cd takes (well it did for me about 4 listens before I started to love it). The sound they portray on this cd is a very straightforward simplistic approach compared to say for example the process of belief. Its still an awesome cd but it lacks the intensity that I was hoping for. Some really good songs are included on this album such as Leave mine to me, Stranger than Fiction, Tiny Voices, The Handshake, Individual, Better off dead and Hooray for me. However there are a couple of weak tracks like Television feat Tim Armstrong of Rancid fame and the revision of the classic song: 21st Century Digital Boy. However look through all the subtle gripes Ive made and you'll find yourself ROCKING out to this after a few attempts. Just dont buy it and think that it is as intense as their other work. Hope this review helped even if it was only a little. August 9, 2006

PUNK ROCK IS NOT DEAD... AND THIS PROVES IT!

1994 was a great year for punk rock. Green Day came out with Dookie, their first major label album... and Bad Religion gave the world Stranger Than Fiction.
Stranger Than Fiction was Bad Religion's first album on a major label, and was underappriecated by most old Bad Religion fans. But, no matter what they say, Stranger than Fiction is an awesome album.
THE BEST SONGS
Incomplete- classic Bad Religion. 'Mother, Father, look at your little monster. I'm a hero, I'm a zero.'
Stranger than Fiction- the song the album came from. Great, catchy, Bad Religion.
The Handshake- an intresting quick song. 'a handshake's nothing but a subtle f**k you.'
Slumber- you know you have an awesome band when they can take a slow song and make it one of the best in a great album. SLumber is a great song. Your Bad Religion collection isn't complete until you have this.

These are the best songs, but the album in genereal is wonderful. Any BAd Religion, heck, any punk rock fan needs this album.

May 6, 2006

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