Into the Unknown (Bad Religion)
Why am I posting a full album of a doomed record? There is a lesson here. Listen to everything Bad Religion did after this and it's fairly cohesive. There isn't a lot of experimentation. This album taught the band that the audience dictates what a band plays. Even in punk rock where you can seemingly get away with anything. Hardcore music has rigorous standards, believe it or not.
No one has to listen to this. I have my own favorite songs. I think it's a fun album. The synthesizers, man, are you kidding me. There are piano parts. Organs. Awesome. These guys were clearly just screwing around. It's like a weird mix of new wave, progressive rock, and weird, drug music. Consider this: Singer Greg Graffin’s most influential musician is Todd Rundgren. Rundgren even produced one of their records at one point. Maybe that will help Into the Unknown make sense. Thanks to Greg Hetson, who put the band back together, the band brought back American punk rock with the release of Suffer. Everything the band did was influential. And everything started to sound the same. That's the danger of conformity. Even in punk rock it happens. Even in what should be the bastion of nonconformity! It's ironic.
It's probably a strange thing to be rejected by your audience so completely. But, the band eventually made good. Brett founded Epitaph Records, which made him a multimillionaire. Greg G. got his PhD and continued the band. Greg Hetson was in numerous bands. Jay did his thing. I think he worked in movies as a stunt man. I don't recall everything. These guys are punk rock royalty now. Their songs are known all over the world. Their legacy will live on long after they are gone. What's the lesson? Don't release a weird album. Haha. No, it's that you can't please everyone, but if you play by the rules, you can make something really impressive and long-lasting. That's what a bomb of a record can teach us. And probably more than that if you care to look further.
Personally, I like the album. I quote Time and Disregard often. For the band, this short foray into the unknown was a lesson they never forgot but somehow recovered from. I think we all have something like that in our lives.
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While writing this I pondered what the implications of something like this are on a relationship level. When we know someone to be a certain way and then they act in a radically different manner, we feel betrayed, naturally. Just as the band felt betrayed by the audience, the audience, too, felt betrayed by the band. They weren't consistent. Well, what about men and women?
I recall reading The Joy of Sex when in high school. Someone left it in the basement bathroom where I worked. I looked it over a bit and something stuck with me. When a husband and wife are expecting, and things are quite far along, but they still want to have sex, what can they do? Having intercourse could harm the baby. Well, the book suggested having the man position his penis between his wife's thighs and ... yeah. That's about it. I completely understand the man's perspective. He wants to feel his wife, all of her, while they are having simulated intercourse. He wants the weight of her body. HE WANTS HER. But, if the man tries that, how will his wife feel? She won't see it that way. She's full of hormones right now. She will feel used. Even if she already had her pleasure twice, let’s say. She doesn't know what's in his mind if he doesn't tell her. She doesn't know her husband desires her and this is the only way he can have her. He doesn't want something that feels cheap. He wants her body on his. He wants to feel her breath and look into her eyes. To know she's with him. To her, it feels like a betrayal. Before, they had meaningful sex, but now this feels like a betrayal. What he should do is wait so they can enjoy one another after she's had the baby and healed. In a rushed moment, he could make her feel something he can't take back and will regret for a long time. The last thing he wants is to make her feel victimized, but he does without knowing it. That's a strange memory and interpretation of a rather helpful book, and I understand. But it explains the nature of expectation and betrayal. Two cannot walk together unless they be in agreement. Herein lies a disagreement as to what this act means. And now I've lost the point. But I have another.
Then I got to thinking about things I wrote here in much the same way. Things I regret. Careless. In the heat of the moment. Without explanation. Without thought. I hurt the feelings of the one I love. What should have been momentary, private thoughts and prayers between me and God were public, and now I can't take it back. It's out there. I sincerely hope she sees the good things I wrote about her outweigh anything negative I said. Yes, I feel I betrayed her, though I never meant to. I pray she forgives me. That is a mistake that will never be repeated. Cindy, if you read this, I'm so sorry. I hope I have another chance to be in your life someday to make it up to you. I promise I'm not this mess of a man. I'm growing and changing and sometimes it is scary and I stumble and lose progress. I promise to treasure you as you deserve. I promise to protect you, even from my weak moments. You won't regret giving this man another chance. Oh, please ... I know, I ask for something only God can grant. Still, I ask you … just one more good chance?
Working on a few more posts. One on the prodigal son which is a little different take than people normally get. The posts will be a slight departure from this format. There is a bit of a struggle with some things God is showing me. Pray He gives me courage to follow through. Something big is coming. Another post in a bit.
Thank you for reading. And God bless.
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