Bad Religion - The Gray Race

Thought-Provoking, Straight-Forward Punk

Bad Religion is one of the must have classic bands of the punk world. They have been around longer than most of the "one hit wonder" Southern Cali punk rock groups. They write just plain simple, but good punk rock songs. Most of their songs are socially conscious on the political side of the fence, rather than love ballads. They started in Southern California in the 1980's and have had several line-up changes, but the most vital member of the band has remained- singer Greg Graffin.

Graffin wrote all fifteen songs on The Gray Race as well as lending his constant powerful vocals. It has songs like "A Walk", with its energy and pop sense, yet still remaining on the punk side and "Punk Rock Song" that is furious. but of course has Graffin's intelligent lyrics about world problems. Graffin's voice is always solid and simple, never whiny or annoying like some other punk/alternative rock singers. The album is like all other Bad Religion albums -- entertaining with it's thought-provoking, straight-forward punk rock music. May 4, 2008

Cease

'Blacktop pavement cover me. Like a chemical reaction or a steamroller, spreading randomly. There's a distant buzz and low frequency, it tickles my ear and rumbles under my feet and it shakes the leaves off of every tree violently. What pretention! Everlasting peace. Everything must cease'
'Institution on the hill. Like a beacon in the mind of an ancestor to ignite our people's will. There's a shadow stained on the west facade. It has spread like decay to enshroud the odd and the descendants find it oh-so-odd. Ohhh-sooo-odd. What pretention! Everlasting peace. Everything must cease.'
'Grave memorial. Hue white stone. Like the comforting caress of a mother or a friend you've always known. And it holds such pain and significance. What was once is now reduced to remembrance and the generations pass without recompance. Ohhhhhh. What pretention! Everlasting peace. Everything must cease.'

One of the greatest songs by Bad Religion or any band for that matter. I've had this album for many years and I never knew this song was on here. I never really cared for much of the album besides Grey Race and Parallel and never could fully listen thru it. One day I downloaded all my albums to my computer to burn them and this song played while recording. I couldn't believe I had missed such a song for so long. There are very few songs like this that inspire me in such a way but the only other ones that have are 'Don't Sell Me Short', 'Man with a Mission', 'Only Entertainment', and 'Kyoto Now'. Would have given this album a 3/5 if not for this song alone. Absolutely amazing. April 21, 2008

Silent Masterpiece

In my opinion, this is the most overlooked punk album of the 1990s.. One of my best friends got this disc in fifth grade and used it to introduce me to the band.. There are very few albums I own where I don't have to skip over a single track.. This is one of the few.. The lyrics are so creative and in depth that half the time I'm flipping through the dictionary to make sense of it all.. Greg Graffin is not only an icon with lyrical brilliance on stage, but his genius has allowed him to be a professor at UCLA..

The amazing thing about 'The Gray Race' is that it's masterful touch seems to come without any such effort. There are highly successful albums out there that when I listen to it, it just seems as if the band tried so hard, almost too hard to outdo themselves (eg. Linkin Park).. Bad Religion is the type of band whose ideas seem to come so rapidly and with such ease that you can feel their talent and energy when you listen to them.. I recommend this album to any person who does or has ever been a fan of punk music, it's a must for your collection.. If my word means anything, it almost certainly will not disappoint (not to mention it's inexplicably cheap price on Amazon)..

1) The Gray Race: 9.5/10
2) Them And Us: 8/10
3) A Walk: 8.5/10 (Received radio play from what I know)
4) Parallel: 9.5/10
5) Punk Rock Song: 10/10
6) Empty Causes: 9/10
7) Nobody Listens: 8/10
8) Pity The Dead: 8.5/10
9) Spirit Shine: 7.5/10
10) The Streets Of America: 9.5/10
11) Ten In 2010: 9/10
12) Victory: 9.5/10
13) Drunk Sincerity: 9/10
14) Come Join Us: 10/10
15) Cease: 9.5/10

Overall Grade: A/A+

For other Bad Religion, look into: 'Against The Grain', 'No Control', 'Stranger Than Fiction', 'The Process Of Belief', 'The Empire Strikes First', 'New Maps Of Hell'

December 1, 2007

The last outstanding Bad Religion album! After this...mediocrity

This is honestly the last 'great' Bad Religion album. After this each release seems to be heading towards repetition and mediocrity...
Bad Religion is one of the few bands (in any genre) that continued to come up with outstanding or at least very strong albums since their 1988 'Suffer' release. 'The Gray Race' marks the end of their legacy IMO but it is such an end!

Many fans were afraid that after Mr.Brett's (songwriter/guitarist) departure the band will go commercial and loose their edge, but this fortunately didn't happen here. This album contains all of BR's trademark hooks (melodic vocals, memorable and catchy choruses, great guitar riffs and strong drumming). The band has come up with some of their best song material ever in tunes such as "Parallel", "Cease", "Ten in 2010", "Come Join Us" and "Them and Us"!

In terms of atmosphere 'The Gray Race' brings across something in between 'Stranger Than Fiction' and 'Generator', what more do you need? Vocally and lyrically Graffin is still going strong and inspired (not like nowadays) as in all previous efforts, the guitar riffs-solos are memorable and undeniably Bad Religion, the bass melodic as usual, while Bobby is excellent behind the drum set.

Buy this without hesitation...actually buy every BR album from Suffer up to this, you won't be disappointed. July 24, 2007

One of their finest moments.

After the very successful "Stranger than Fiction" album, Bad Religion came to release perhaps their best album so far and a true gem in the musical scene. Fifteen songs in the usual Bad Religion style with fast tempos, catchy melodies and singing , and the very caustic lyrics by singer Greg Graffin. It's truly amazing to hear Bad Religion play in such great shape using all their energy and freshness providing a very pleasant listening experience while also spreading their political stigma and raising the middle finger to all those who deserve it. Some of the highlights of the album are "The Streets of America", "Spirit Shine", "Ten in 2010", and my favorite from this album "Pity the Dead" where we're faced with a critical dilemma on why we pity the dead looking at all the living. Overall this is a very pleasant album to listen to, an album that can accompany you through almost any activity you choose to do. Friends of punk rock or any other open-minded fans of good music will definitely find this album pleasing and will enjoy each and every second of it. August 2, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...