The New America

Infobox Album |
Name = The New America
Type = Album
Artist = Bad Religion

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Released = May 9 2000
Recorded = October-December 1999 at Victor's Barn, Kauai, Hawaii
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 40:11 (American Release)
46:27 (Japanese Release)
Label = Atlantic
Producer = Todd Rundgren
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8l6cmpmh9f2o link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/227952/the_new_america link]
* Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|dud [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=bad+religion link]
Last album = "No Substance"
(1998)
This album = "The New America"
(2000)
Next album = "The Process of Belief"
(2002)| Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = International edition cover
Type = Album


Lower caption =

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

"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".

Musical style and lyrics

The album marks a departure for the band, as most of the songs are personal, rather than political in nature. Topics range from singer Greg Graffin's recent divorce to his past growing up as a punk kid in the early '80s. As a result of the more personal lyrics, the album is considered to be one of Bad Religion's strongest lyrical efforts.

Production and marketing

"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. [Live at the Palladium DVD]

Reception

"The New America" was released on May 9, 2000 and is the last Bad Religion album distributed via Atlantic Records to date. It peaked at number 88 on the Billboard 200 album chart.cite web|title=The New America's entry at Billboard.com| publisher=Billboard.com|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=4026&aid=421963|accessdate=2007-12-27]

Track listing

All songs written by Greg Graffin except "Believe It" written by Greg Graffin/Brett Gurewitz.

#"You've Got a Chance" - 3:41
#"It's a Long Way to the Promised Land" - 2:29
#"A World Without Melody" - 2:32
#"New America" - 3:25
#"1000 Memories" - 3:00
#"A Streetkid Named Desire" - 3:17
#"Whisper in Time" - 2:32
#"Believe It" - 3:41
#"I Love My Computer" - 3:06
#"The Hopeless Housewife" - 2:59
#"There Will Be a Way" - 2:53
#"Let It Burn" - 2:44
#"Don't Sell Me Short" - 3:58

Japanese Bonus Tracks

#

"The Fast Life" - 2:01
#* also a bonus track on the European edition
#"Queen of the 21st Century" - 4:17

Personnel

* Greg Graffin - lead vocals
* Greg Hetson - guitar
* Brian Baker - guitar, backing vocals
* Jay Bentley - bass guitar, backing vocals
* Bobby Schayer - drums, percussion

* Todd Rundgren - producer
* David Boucher - mixing
* Bob Clearmountain - mixing
* Christina Dittmar - design
* Olaf Heine - photography

Notes/Trivia

* The album is the first Bad Religion album since "Stranger Than Fiction" (1994) to feature Brett Gurewitz on guitar, playing on "Believe It".
* "" is a 1935 travelogue by the British writer, H. G. Wells
* The album also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the band.

References