I Against I Explained

I Against I
Type:studio
Artist:Bad Brains
Cover:BadBrainsIAgainstI.jpg
Released:November 21, 1986[1]
Genre:
Length:31:53
Label:SST (065)
Producer:Ron Saint Germain
Prev Title:Rock for Light
Prev Year:1983
Next Title:Live
Next Year:1988

I Against I is the third studio album by the American rock band Bad Brains. It was released on November 21, 1986[1] through SST Records with the catalog number SST 065. The best-selling album in the band's catalog, I Against I finds the band branching out from their early hardcore punk style to touch on funk, soul, reggae and heavy metal. It is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The title track was a Paul Rachman-directed video (Rachman would go on to direct the documentary film American Hardcore).

The title I Against I presumably refers to the common Rastafarian phrase I and I, which is used in place of the first-person plural (i.e. we) to signify the union of the speaker, audience, and Jah (God) in love and peace.

At the producer's suggestion, the vocals to "Sacred Love" were recorded over the phone from the prison where H.R. was serving time on a marijuana distribution charge.

Legacy

I Against I has influenced diverse rock artists. Ska punk band Sublime and its follow-up project, Sublime with Rome, frequently cover "House of Suffering" and bassist Eric Wilson said that I Against I inspired them to blend different genres.[2] [3] The Dillinger Escape Plan singer Greg Puciato named it one of the four albums that changed his life, as well as "a critical step" in shaping his vocal style.[4] [5] Max Cavalera of Sepultura states that the beginning of 1996 song "Straighthate" was probably inspired by "I Against I" since his band admired the Bad Brains.[6] According to Harley Flanagan of the Cro-Mags, the verse riff in 1986's "The Age of Quarrel" was based on the last part of "I Against I".[7] Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine mentioned the album as one of his biggest influences.[8] Danko Jones called the title track "one of the greatest songs ever written as far as I'm concerned."[9] Beppo of German punk band Spermbirds affirmed, "I Against I had a huge impact on us, they taught us that you can also be hard by playing slow."[10]

"I Against I" was covered by Jeff Buckley in 1992,[11] BoySetsFire and Brother's Keeper in 1999,[12] [13] and Lamb of God in 2018;[14] "House of Suffering" has been covered by Sublime in 1995,[15] Machine Head in 1999[16] and The Bled in 2005;[17] "Let Me Help" was covered by Potshot in 2000;[18] and "Sacred Love" was covered by Storm Large in 2014.[19] In 2019, Bad Brains rerecorded the title track with rapper Denzel Curry as a guest vocalist for a Spotify single.[20]

"Re-Ignition" has been sampled on "Daddy's Home" by Chubb Rock,[21] "Ice Man Cometh" by 2 Black 2 Strong MMG, "Ultrasonic Sound" by Hive (which later appeared on The Matrix soundtrack), and on a remix of the 2004 song "Roll Call" by Lil Jon and Ice Cube.[22] A live version of "Re-Ignition" was featured in .[23] "Re-Ignition" appeared on a 2019 episode of Black Lightning.[24] The Canadian teen drama , which names each episode after a 1980s song, named an episode after the song "I Against I".

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Hudson, Darryl Jenifer, and Gary Miller except where noted.

  1. "Intro" (Jenifer, Miller) – 1:02
  2. "I Against I" – 2:50
  3. "House of Suffering" (P. Hudson, Miller) – 2:29
  4. "Re-Ignition" – 4:16
  5. "Secret 77" – 4:04
  6. "Let Me Help" – 2:17
  7. "She's Calling You" (P. Hudson, Jenifer) – 3:42
  8. "Sacred Love" – 3:40
  9. "Hired Gun" – 3:45
  10. "Return to Heaven" – 3:19

Personnel

Bad Brains
Production

Release history

RegionDate
United StatesNovember 21, 1986
United KingdomFebruary 1987

Accolades

YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRankclass=unsortable
1989 OOR Netherlands"The Best Albums of the 80s" 29 [25]
1995 Alternative Press United States"Top 99 Of '85 to '95" 9 [26]
1995 BigO Singapore"The 100 Best Albums from 1975 to 1995" 99 [27]
1999 Tylko Rock Poland"100 Albums that Shook Polish Rock" 39 [28]
2000 Terrorizer United Kingdom"100 Most Important Albums of the Eighties" — [29]
2002 Revolver United States"The 69 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time" 32 [30]
2003 Blender United States"500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die" — [31]
2004 Les Inrockuptibles France"50 Years of Rock'n'Roll" — [32]
2005 Robert Dimery United States1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die — [33]
2006 Gary Mulholland United Kingdom"261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco" — [34]
2008 VOLUME France"200 Records that Changed the World" — [35]
2008 United States"1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die" — [36]
2016 Loudwire United States"Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s" 49 [37]
2016 Classic Rock United Kingdom"The 10 Essential Funk Rock Albums" — [38]
"—" denotes an unordered list.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bad Brains on Instagram: "i Against i, the third studio album from Bad Brains was released in November of 1986. 33 years later in November 2019, here we are listening to this album recalling the whole process of creating and recording it so many years ago. We updated i Against i with new visuals on our youtube channel. Many people, musicians and non-musicians alike, have pointed to this album as a major influence of theirs over the years and continue to do so.. Have listen, and if this album was a significant influence on you, please let us know how! #iagainsti #pma #badbrains #punkrock" .
  2. Web site: February 1, 2020. 'Blessings': Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome Talks New Album, Gear and the Band's Legacy. Richard . Bienstock. June 6, 2019 . Guitar World. live. June 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190607192637/https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/blessings-rome-ramirez-of-sublime-with-rome-talks-new-album-gear-and-the-bands-legacy.
  3. Web site: January 31, 2020. Why I Love… Bad Brains' I Against I – Eric Wilson. Longlivevinyl.net. Jennifer Otter. Bickerdike. May 14, 2018. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike. live. January 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131040520/https://www.longlivevinyl.net/why-i-love-bad-brains-i-against-i-eric-wilson/.
  4. Web site: January 31, 2020. A Match Thrown On A Gasoline Field: Greg Puciato On Trauma, Dillinger And The Black Queen. September 28, 2018. Kiran. Acharya. Kerrang!. United Kingdom. live. September 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928233900/https://www.kerrang.com/features/a-match-thrown-on-a-gasoline-field-greg-puciato-on-trauma-dillinger-and-the-black-queen/.
  5. Web site: February 5, 2020. audio.
    1. MusicRuinedMyLife with Greg Puciato from The Dillinger Escape Plan
    . BBC Online. February 19, 2017. Daniel P. Carter. Daniel P. . Carter. 5:22-5:44. live. February 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170223025240/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04tf60y.
  6. Web site: February 1, 2020. Metalonloud.com. We are very percussive people. Randy . Gerritse. December 24, 2016.
  7. Web site: Harley. Flanagan. January 31, 2020. Biting Off Thumbs In The Age Of Quarrel With The Cro-Mags . Kerrang!. live. August 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818113638/https://www.kerrang.com/features/harley-cro-mags-krishna-quarrel-nyhc-3421/.
  8. Web site: January 31, 2020. Under the Influence: Tim Commerford. Dave. Kerr . July 28, 2016. The Skinny. live. July 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160731124710/https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/playlists/under-the-influence-ratm-tim-commerford.
  9. Web site: January 31, 2020. Danko Jones. Greg. Prato. July 3, 2013. Songfacts.
  10. Web site: January 31, 2020. Scream Back: An Interview With Spermbirds. Marko . Korac. June 21, 2014. OCCII. live. January 31, 2020. https://archive.today/20200131040029/https://occii.org/scream-back-interview-spermbirds/.
  11. Web site: February 5, 2020. Jeff Buckley's first ever interview, 1992. June 30, 2014 . Martin . Aston. Autumn 1992. New York. live. February 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200201024225/http://martinaston.co.uk/?p=618.
  12. Web site: February 4, 2020. Various Artists Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains . AllMusic. Jason. Hundey. live. June 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120604090541/https://www.allmusic.com/album/never-give-in-a-tribute-to-bad-brains-mw0000669111.
  13. Web site: February 4, 2020. Brother's Keeper Forever Never Ending . AllMusic.
  14. Web site: January 31, 2020. Burn The Priest (Lamb Of God) release track 'I Against I', supporting Slayer in Europe. May 11, 2018. The Rockpit. live. January 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131042847/https://www.therockpit.net/2018/burn-the-priest-lamb-of-god-release-track-i-against-i-supporting-slayer-in-europe/.
  15. Web site: Sublime 3 Ring Circus: Live at the Palace, October 21, 1995. July 2013. February 5, 2020. Alex . Fredkin. Modern Drummer.
  16. Web site: February 4, 2020. Machinehead1.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY "THE BURNING RED"!. August 7, 2017. Robb . Flynn. Robb Flynn.
  17. Web site: My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy Punk 'Hawk'. August 23, 2005. Billboard.com. live. September 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140920133651/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61691/my-chemical-romance-fall-out-boy-punk-hawk.
  18. Web site: February 5, 2020. TRIBUTE TO BAD BRAINS. Fril.jp.
  19. Web site: February 5, 2020. Bay Area Reporter. Happiness is a chat with Storm Large. Gregg . Shapiro. October 15, 2014.
  20. Web site: Denzel Curry Reimagines "I Against I" Alongside Hardcore Pioneers Bad Brains. February 5, 2020. Genius. July 31, 2019. Chris. Mench. live. August 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190801132545/https://genius.com/a/denzel-curry-reimagines-i-against-i-alongside-hardcore-pioneers-bad-brains.
  21. Web site: February 5, 2020. The 77 Best Rock Samples in Rap History. Complex. Jesse . Serwer. October 16, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019080321/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/10/the-77-best-rock-samples-in-rap-history/chubb-rock-daddys-home. October 19, 2012.
  22. Web site: February 5, 2020. En verkende byll på crossover-begrepets rumpe. no. ITromsø. Jørgen. Nordeng. October 26, 2018. live. November 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124100058/https://www.itromso.no/feedback/anmeldelser/2018/10/26/En-verkende-byll-p%C3%A5-crossover-begrepets-rumpe-17757392.ece.
  23. Web site: February 5, 2020. Engadget. Full Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock track list revealed. August 17, 2010. Griffin McElroy. Griffin . McElroy. live. August 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150826183808/https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/full-guitar-hero-warriors-of-rock-track-list-revealed/.
  24. Web site: February 5, 2020. Black Lightning: The Puppet Master. October 27, 2019. Nayahscifi.com. Anthony . Nichols.
  25. Web site: OOR – The Best Albums of the 80s . February 2, 2010 . OOR.
  26. Alternative Press – Top 99 of '85 to '95 . February 2, 2010 . . March 31, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180331111903/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html#Alternative%20Press%20%2810th%20Anniversary%20Issue%29%20July%2095 . live .
  27. Web site: Blender – The 100 Best Albums from 1975 to 1995 . February 2, 2010 . BigO . https://web.archive.org/web/20100621095038/http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A689.htm . June 21, 2010 . dead .
  28. Web site: Tylko Rock – 100 Albums that Shook Polish Rock . February 2, 2010 . Tylko Rock.
  29. Web site: Terrorizer – 100 Most Important Albums of the Eighties . February 2, 2010 . . May 15, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130515000604/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/terroris.htm#The%20Eighties . live .
  30. Revolver – The 69 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time . February 2, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100621095038/http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A689.htm . June 21, 2010 . dead .
  31. Blender – 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die . February 2, 2010 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100621095038/http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A689.htm . June 21, 2010 . dead .
  32. Les Inrockuptibles – 50 Years of Rock'n'Roll . February 2, 2010 . Les Inrockuptibles.
  33. Book: Dimery, Robert. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 856.
  34. Web site: Gary Mulholland – 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco . February 2, 2010 . Gary Mulholland . November 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124100057/http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=0&msgid=0 . live .
  35. Web site: VOLUME – 200 Records that Changed the World . February 2, 2010 . VOLUME . November 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124100131/http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=0&msgid=0 . live .
  36. Web site: Tom Moon – 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105232125/http://www.1000recordings.com/pdf/1000-recordings.pdf . dead . January 5, 2009 . February 2, 2010 . .
  37. Web site: Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s. Loudwire. February 5, 2020. January 13, 2016. live. October 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001083733/http://loudwire.com/top-hard-rock-metal-albums-1980s.
  38. Web site: The 10 Essential Funk Rock Albums. Joel. McIver. Joel McIver . Classic Rock. July 24, 2016. February 5, 2020. live. June 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190606021940/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-essential-funk-rock-albums.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "I Against I".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.