Suffer

Suffer
Studio album by Bad Religion
Released	September 8, 1988
Recorded	April 1988 at Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California
Genre	Punk rock
Length	26:14
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Bad Religion
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B) link
Bad Religion chronology
Back to the Known (EP) (1985) Suffer (1988) No Control (1989)

Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988.^[1] It was the label's first album that was both released and distributed by the label. Following the release of the EP Back to the Known (1985), Bad Religion went on a temporary hiatus, then reunited with its original members and went to work on its first full-length studio album in five years.

Although Suffer was not charted in Billboard, it is considered by many to be one of the best punk albums of the 1980s, as well as its follow-up No Control. After its release, Suffer quickly became Epitaph Records best seller and was the label's best-selling third album for a number of years, until the release of The Offspring's 1994 highly acclaimed album Smash. A plethora of third-wave punk bands cite this album as a major inspiration; NOFX's Fat Mike has called it "the record that changed everything."

Background

Bad Religion was formed in Southern California in 1980 by vocalist Greg Graffin and guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The pair hired Jay Bentley on bass and Jay Ziskrout on drums and began writing songs. In 1981, the band released their eponymous debut EP on the newly-formed label, Epitaph Records, which was and continues to be managed and owned by Gurewitz. 1982 saw the release of their first full-length album, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, gaining the band a sizable following. During the recording of that album, Ziskrout left the band and was replaced by Pete Finestone. After experiencing more lineup changes and releasing their second album, Into the Unknown (1983), to lukewarm response, Bad Religion called it quits in 1984.

In 1984, Greg Hetson of Circle Jerks fame, who had played the guitar solo for "Part III" on How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, teamed up with Graffin on the song "Running Fast" for the soundtrack of the film Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. Soon after, Graffin reassembled Bad Religion with Hetson replacing Gurewitz, who had gone into rehab for his drug problem. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower, rock and roll version of their original sound with the EP Back to the Known (1985), but disbanded temporarily soon after.

By 1987, Gurewitz had cleaned up his drug issues and struggled to find some kind of employment. After taking some vocational courses and a raft of odd jobs, he became a studio engineer and owner of a recording studio. Gurewitz noted, "I really enjoyed, still enjoy, being a recording engineer, but I had a terrible time trying to make any money. And my hours were horrible. I just knew I wanted to be in music. Then, in 1987, Bad Religion said, 'Hey man, why don't we get the group back together?".^[2] After Bad Religion finally reunited, they began writing new material and entered Westbeach Recorders in April 1988 to record their next album.

Reception and legacy

The album received the following reviews:

• Alternative Press (3/02, p. 96) - Included in AP's "Essential Punk Influences '02 Style" - "...Their definitive album....they'd never eclipse this fireball of creative energy."
• Kerrang! (p. 51) - "[With] sonorous, soaring vocal hooks. The melding of power and melody proved a statement of absolute power."

In a fan poll, "Do What You Want" was cited as one of the best Bad Religion songs of all time, along with "American Jesus" and "Along The Way." Rancid's Tim Armstrong has said that "What Can You Do?" is his favorite Bad Religion track.

In 2006, Suffer was ranked as the top punk album of 1988 on Sputnikmusic.^[3] The album was also named the 99th most influential rock album of all time by Kerrang! magazine. As of July 2009, it is #2543 on Rate Your Music's Top Albums of All Time list and #47 on their Best Albums of 1988 ranking.^[4]

Artwork

The album cover features a drawing of a teenager on fire wearing a t-shirt of Bad Religion's crossbuster logo, designed by Jerry Mahoney. The person on the cover has been taken by the band as a mascot, "Boy on Fire" is the name and can also be seen on Bad Religion accessories, including t-shirts. The cover art was also parodied for NOFX's Surfer EP, which depicted a surfer on fire.

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to Suffer is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.^[5]

Track listing

Release history

Personnel

• Greg Graffin – vocals
• Brett Gurewitz – guitar
• Greg Hetson – guitar
• Jay Bentley – bass guitar
• Pete Finestone – drums
• Donnell Cameron – engineer
• Legendary Starbolt – engineer
• Jerry Mahoney – artwork

References