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Podcast Episode
Season
Thirteen
number
676
Type
Album Review
Post Date
9/12/2023

Bad Religion

676 Stranger Than Fiction by Bad Religion

Stranger Than Fiction

Label
Atlantic
Release year
1994
Producer
Andy Wallace
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Moving to a major label for their eighth album, Stranger Than Fiction, Bad Religion kept the lyrical fire but upped the production quality

Author & Special Guests

"Sell-out" was a phrase tossed around in the 1990s whenever an indie or small-label band jumped to a major record label. Among the most surprising were Bad Religion because their guitarist Brett Gurewitz owned the label they had released their first seven albums on Epitaph Records. While sell-outs were accused of trading integrity for money, Bad Religion's eighth album "Stranger Than Fiction" makes the case that not only was the jump a good move, but helped kick-start the pop-punk takeover of 1994 along with Green Day and The Offspring, who released million-selling albums the same year in "Dookie" and "Smash," respectively. Thanks to a re-recording of "21st Century (Digital Boy)," a song the band was unhappy with the previous studio version, they had a proper radio and MTV single to expose the suburban masses around the United States to a headier lyrical approach backed by sugar-sweet harmonies.

Does This album bring back some great vibes?

Remember when you first discovered this album? We’re grateful to dig into these hidden gems and bring them the attention they deserve. Your support helps us uncover more albums deserve another moment in the spotlight.

Songs in this episode

  • Intro - Incomplete
  • 25:23 - 21st Century (Digital Boy)
  • 30:46 - Stranger Than Fiction
  • 38:39 - Infected
  • Outro - The Handshake

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Stranger Than Fiction