| The Gray Race | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Bad Religion |
| Cover: | Thegrayracealt.JPG |
| Released: | February 27, 1996 |
| Recorded: | October–November 1995 |
| Studio: | Electric Lady (New York City) |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 38:04 |
| Label: | Atlantic |
| Prev Title: | All Ages |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | Tested |
| Next Year: | 1997 |
The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction.
This was the band's first album not recorded with original guitarist Brett Gurewitz (since the 1985 EP Back to the Known) and is their first release with Brian Baker, who replaced him during the Stranger Than Fiction tour.
Some songs on the album are considered fan favorites, such as, "Them And Us", "A Walk", "Punk Rock Song", "Spirit Shine", "Ten in 2010", "Come Join Us", and "Cease".
Although not as successful as Stranger Than Fiction, The Gray Race achieved modest success when MTV ran a commercial for the album during its release. The album was re-released by Epitaph Records on September 15, 2008.
After the 10-month Stranger Than Fiction tour, frontman Graffin soon began writing songs for Stranger Than Fictions follow-up. The band recorded it at Electric Lady Studios, New York City with producer Ric Ocasek (of the Cars, Bad Brains and Weezer fame). The recording lasted throughout much of October and November 1995.
The Gray Race was released on February 27, 1996, and peaked at #56 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[1] It spawned the moderately successful single "A Walk" in the United States. In Europe, the album also reached the German charts at #6 as well as earn the group a gold record for sales in Scandinavia. Then-former and now current guitarist Brett Gurewitz disliked the album, however, and commented that it was "BR's worst-selling record to date" and described it as "uninspired." He has since taken that back.[2] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that Baker "not only brings new blood to the band, but also some superior guitar work. Gritty classics, tougher than recent offerings, dance on an edge not visited since the days of Generator."
Adapted from the album liner notes.[3]
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