Greg Graffin, the band's frontman, holds a Master's degree in geology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University. His dissertation for Cornell was a comprehensive study of how modern scientists, especially those who believe in strict Darwinism, view theism and religion, and how their own religious beliefs, if any, affect their study and work. He has since published it for fans of the band.
In 1983, Bad Religion released into the unknown, a keyboard-driven psychedelic rock album that was enormously unpopular among the band's core fan base. It is now out of print, and generally disowned by the band. However, in past years it has become a collectors item, and has gained some acceptance from fans. It now can be seen going for more than $100 on eBay, and is often pirated.
In 1984, Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) replaced Gurewitz. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower, rock and roll version of their original sound with the back to the known, but they disbanded soon after.
The band reformed in 1987 and released suffer in 1988, cementing their comeback in the punk community. Not only is this album considered one of their best by most fans, but it is often credited with "saving" the Southern Californian punk rock scene by fans and Bad Religion's contemporaries alike.
no control (1989) and against the grain (1990) further increased the band's popularity, followed by generator (1992). Before the recording sessions for the latter album commenced, drummer Pete Finestone left the band in to focus on his other band, The Fishermen. Bobby Schayer joined the band as his replacement. recipe for hate (1993) followed shortly thereafter.
With alternative rock breaking into the mainstream, Bad Religion left Epitaph for major label Atlantic and quickly re-released Recipe for Hate on the major label. 1994's stranger than fiction followed, but shortly after its release Brett Gurewitz left the band again. Officially, he cited the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as the Offspring (then a part of the Epitaph roster) became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s. But it was well-known that the departure was not on good terms, as he later accused the band of selling out for leaving Epitaph in favor of a major label. Gurewitz recorded a song with his new band The Daredevils entitled "Hate You," reportedly directed towards Jay Bentley. Gurewitz, moreover, was struggling more seriously with heroin and other addictions that had plagued him for years.
Gurewitz was replaced by Brian Baker, former member of bands such as Minor Threat and Dag Nasty. Previously, Graffin and Gurewitz had split songwriting duties, but Gurewitz's departure left Graffin as the band's lone songwriter.
What followed were a series of moderately successful albums, the gray race (1996), no substance (1998), and the new america (2000). As their popularity waned, Bad Religion left Atlantic in 2001 and returned to Epitaph. Bobby Schayer left the band following a serious shoulder injury and was replaced by Brooks Wackerman (Suicidal Tendencies) and Brett Gurewitz rejoined the band in time to record the process of belief (2002). the empire strikes first was in June 2004. Both albums are widely regarded as a return to form for the band.
In 2004, the band released digitally-remastered versions of five of their early albums (How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain, and Generator). The How Could Hell Be Any Worse? re-issue also contained all of their first EP, the Public Service EP (alternative versions of Bad Religion, Slaves and Drastic Actions from the self titled EP) and Back To The Known.
Bad Religion's fourtheenth full-length studio album, titled new maps of hell, was released on July 10, 2007. It debuted at #35 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week. It was originally intended to be released in 2006, but was pushed back largely due to the release of Graffin's second solo album, cold as the clay and his work at UCLA.
In 2010, Bad Religion released 30 Years Live for the band's 30th anniversary. The album was available for free to subscribers of the Bad Religion mailing list. Later the same year, Bad Religion released their fifteenth studio album, The Dissent of Man. The album took nearly two years to write and record, mainly due to the band's heavy touring schedule.
Brett Gurewitz, who still heads Epitaph Records, still records with the band and plays local shows, but doesn't tour with them. Greg Hetson can still be found at the occasional Circle Jerks show and helped open a bar in LA. Wackerman is working on a side project called The Kidneys. Graffin spends 10 weeks a year teaching two classes (Life Sciences 1 and Earth and Space Sciences 116) at UCLA. Jay Bentley keeps the Bad Religion MySpace page updated.
Scrutiny
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days go marching by
There and back I never wait for a confident reply
Yeah, truth is stark and leaves its mark as limited constraints
And the most difficult part is accepting what the future may bring
It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Wither the path, whether worth the fee
And it seems as though I can't be sure of anything anymore
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
Years go flying by
No one seems to hesitate or cast an earnest eye
Yeah, judgment comes in many forms but never scared or shy
And the litany is long as the confidence is strong in their delight
It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Prejudicial waters wash over me
A lifetime of scrutiny
And the words just don't equate with sense of sanity anymore
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
The faces and the names
Shattered hopes and stolen dreams and no one left to blame
Yeah, is it possible to win this pointless mortal game?
'Cause when death comes, it's swift; and, my friend, we end up all the same
Oh, it seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Wither the path, whether worth the fee
A lifetime of scrutiny
And it seems as though I can't remember anything anymore
The lyrics of Bad Religion's song "Scrutiny" touch on themes of time, truth, judgment, and mortality. The song opens with a count-off of numbers, emphasizing the passage of time. The singer reflects on the difficulty of seeking truth in a world of limited constraints, where the future is unknown and uncertain. The chorus repeats the phrase "a lifetime of scrutiny," suggesting that the singer has experienced a pervasive sense of judgment or evaluation throughout their life. The lines "wither the path, whether worth the fee" suggest that the singer has struggled with decisions and the cost they entail.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the passing of years and the judgment that comes with them. The line "judgment comes in many forms but never scared or shy" suggests that people are quick to judge but rarely reflect on their own motivations or biases. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the weight of scrutiny on the singer's life. The final verse speaks to the inevitability of mortality and the futility of the struggle for success and meaning in the face of it. The final line, "And it seems as though I can't remember anything anymore," suggests a sense of disorientation and loss of identity in the face of constant scrutiny and the passage of time.
Overall, "Scrutiny" is a moving reflection on the struggles of living in a world where everything is constantly under evaluation and time marches on regardless of our desires or achievements.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
Time goes by quickly and life passes in the blink of an eye.
Days go marching by
Days pass by continuously and we have no control over them.
There and back I never wait for a confident reply
I am always in a hurry and never wait for a proper or well-thought-out response from others.
Yeah, truth is stark and leaves its mark as limited constraints
The truth is harsh and it puts restrictions on us.
And the most difficult part is accepting what the future may bring
Accepting uncertainty about the future is the hardest part of life.
It seems like a lifetime of scrutiny
Life feels like a never-ending process of being judged and scrutinized.
Wither the path, whether worth the fee
The path chosen in life may not always be worth the effort and sacrifice.
A lifetime of scrutiny
Life is a long journey of constant scrutiny and criticism.
And it seems as though I can't be sure of anything anymore
I have lost confidence and am unsure of everything in life.
No one seems to hesitate or cast an earnest eye
People are quick to pass judgment and don't take the time to understand or empathize with others.
Yeah, judgment comes in many forms but never scared or shy
People are always judging, criticizing, and evaluating others, but they are not afraid of the consequences of their actions.
And the litany is long as the confidence is strong in their delight
People express and take pleasure in their confidence, no matter how long their list of complaints or criticisms might be.
Prejudicial waters wash over me
Prejudice and biases are prevalent and impact my life adversely.
And the words just don't equate with sense of sanity anymore
The words and actions of others don't make sense to me and are pushing me to my limits.
The faces and the names
The people we know and the moments that become memories.
Shattered hopes and stolen dreams and no one left to blame
When hopes and dreams are crushed or stolen, there is no one left to hold responsible.
Yeah, is it possible to win this pointless mortal game?
Is life just a pointless game with no winning or losing?
'Cause when death comes, it's swift; and, my friend, we end up all the same
Death is inevitable and sudden, and in the end, we all end up in the same place.
And it seems as though I can't remember anything anymore
The pressure of life and the weight of scrutiny have made me forgetful and uncertain about everything.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT W. GUREWITZ, GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wow
on You
Everybody needs a slogan in their pocket or two
It never hurts to have a strategy you can go to
Sometimes I have no sense at all
As most flawed men are one to do
Just say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
You can even get cerebral if you want to
Make a radical assessment that sticks like glue
Sometimes it takes no thought at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
The reaction it brings, just one of those things
Your friends might not want you around
If the impulse is right you might get in a fight
Even though you can't hold your ground
But all rest assured, sometimes just a word
Is the most satisfying sound
Sometimes it makes no sense at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to your bad attitude
Just say fuck you
What you gonna do to your attitude
Just say fuck you
Wtf is this shit, what retard wrote the wrong spng down….