the_drizzle's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great read for fans of Bad Religion or music history.
I got into the band in high school, enjoying the music but not knowing much about the group. Do What You Want gave me a much greater appreciation for the music I've listened to countless times and the people that created it.
I got into the band in high school, enjoying the music but not knowing much about the group. Do What You Want gave me a much greater appreciation for the music I've listened to countless times and the people that created it.
kirstenhands's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.0
A book for fans of the band a friend gave me. The first part was nostalgic. Took me back to my teenage years. One of my favorite bands from the 80s LA punk scene. How Could Hell Be Any Worse is a great album. The book was kind of 'listy' and dry at times. Reading the behind-the-scenes machinations of the band through the years was interesting. Typical punk rock road. Rotating band members and some going back-and-forth into hard drugs and black-out alcoholism well into their 40s ruining their families. Of course, highlighted as some the struggles the band has persevered through - after all they are still making music and touring -- but I should have shelved it and opted for something edifying. Not something I identify with anymore.
kawooreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
As a fan, I loved this book. It's a detailed history of one of the most influential bands in punk history and canon for those interested in understanding their unique style of intellectual and subtextual songwriting. I am still always amazed by the fact that the album Suffer came out in 1988, considering its sound and lyrics remain relevant to this day, in an industry that has changed so much. I enjoyed getting to know the many parts, aka people, that have fueled this musical genius that is Bad Religion. It's candid. There are fun stories and not so fun stories. There is reflection of all the success, as well as some of the failures. There are interesting moments of great decision-making and also of disappointment. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book.
lightning_six's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me go back to my music collection and revise some Bad Religion albums I didn't appreciate. It also renewed my love for this highly influential Punk band.
ames599's review against another edition
4.0
This is the perfect read for any Bad Religion fan. Chronicling the band's 40 year career this book starts at their creation and goes up to pretty much present day. It takes an approach that is a little different from other rock memoirs I've read by dealing with only the band, and the elements of the members lives that relate directly to the band's story. An example of this is explaining Greg's commitment to his education, and how that impacted their decision on when to tour. The book also doesn't shy away from the negative facts, clashes in personality, drug and alcohol addiction, and music that didn't live up to standards, and expectations. It is all covered - the good and bad of Bad Religion. It's fascinating to see how much they have been able to accomplish through the years, as well as their connections to other punk bands, and influence. It would have been nice to have comments from Greg Hetson in addition to everyone else, but not much can be done if someone isn't interested in being part of the project. I think the author does a good job including him, and how import he was to the band through the years. The only complaint I have is that I wish it would have included some images. With 40 years of history it would have been really nice to see images of band through the years, and performance or life on the road shots to go with the storytelling. (I did receive an ARC version from NetGalley, so there is a chance there are some included in the final version.) Ultimately, Do What You Want is a fun, and enlightening read for any Bad Religion fan.
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
the_slackening's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this overview of Bad Religion. I haven't been a huge fan of them but I've enjoyed their music and style extensively. I actually picked this up because I had heard it was a great audiobook, which I agree with.
Honestly a fairly typical rock-band story with breakups, new members, label issues, drugs, etc. etc. which isn't a bad thing at all. I will say that I think the author took liberties with how much influence and genius this band had, which had me chuckling and rolling my eyes at some point. Regardless, cool to know all about them.
Honestly a fairly typical rock-band story with breakups, new members, label issues, drugs, etc. etc. which isn't a bad thing at all. I will say that I think the author took liberties with how much influence and genius this band had, which had me chuckling and rolling my eyes at some point. Regardless, cool to know all about them.
rcollins1701's review against another edition
5.0
Ruland's narration is well-done. He paces the narrative and tells the 40-year history of the greatest band on earth in a way that focuses on the creation of the music without devolving into soap-opera or anecdotal litanies of famous friends. The dramas of the group are told from the members' points-of-view and those that couldn't (or wouldn't) speak on their behalf were handled tactfully, much to the chagrin of the gossip-mongers.
On a personal level, Bad Religion has been such an important part of my life for so long, I can't imagine the person I'd have become without them in my life. They had their first rehearsal a few months before I was born. I first heard them the same year I first asked myself what kind of person I wanted to become. I found myself reliving the years of my life as I read along with the overlapping chapters of the band's history. One of the best things about Bad Religion is how earnest and human they've always been despite their success. Reading through their ups and downs humanized them even more, and—like their music has always inspired me to do—made me reflect back on my own decisions, regrets, triumphs and failures I've lived along the way. As the book caught up with today, a melancholy hung over me. Some day, Bad Religion will release their last song and play their last show. I'm not by hyperbolic to say I dread that day as much as I dread the inevitable last time I ever pick up my kids. But, everything must cease, and the inevitability of that end just means we have to cherish the present and celebrate the history, like all those things that leave their marks upon us.
No Bad Religion song can make your life complete, but more than 400 of them over 40 years can certainly enrich it in a meaningful and profound way that I, at least, will be forever grateful.
On a personal level, Bad Religion has been such an important part of my life for so long, I can't imagine the person I'd have become without them in my life. They had their first rehearsal a few months before I was born. I first heard them the same year I first asked myself what kind of person I wanted to become. I found myself reliving the years of my life as I read along with the overlapping chapters of the band's history. One of the best things about Bad Religion is how earnest and human they've always been despite their success. Reading through their ups and downs humanized them even more, and—like their music has always inspired me to do—made me reflect back on my own decisions, regrets, triumphs and failures I've lived along the way. As the book caught up with today, a melancholy hung over me. Some day, Bad Religion will release their last song and play their last show. I'm not by hyperbolic to say I dread that day as much as I dread the inevitable last time I ever pick up my kids. But, everything must cease, and the inevitability of that end just means we have to cherish the present and celebrate the history, like all those things that leave their marks upon us.
No Bad Religion song can make your life complete, but more than 400 of them over 40 years can certainly enrich it in a meaningful and profound way that I, at least, will be forever grateful.
kevingentilcore's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t think of a band that’s been such a big part of my life, consistently, for as long as Bad Religion, so fucking obviously when a new autobiography comes out about the bands history, it’s an instant read for me.
That being said, it was a fairly straight forward accounting of the bands long and legendary career. If you’re familiar with punk likely you’ve heard the stories of the west coast hardcore punk revival a million times, and there’s far more in-depth books and documentaries about that. Bad Religion were of course there but they don’t really add much to that story except their take, which is fairly uneventful, or maybe just not as dramatic as Henry Rollins or Keith Morris would recount them.
There’s some fun anecdotes and insight and overall it did a good job of laying out exactly why Bad Religion is the legendary band they are. However, while reading it I kept wishing there was a book or documentary just about Epitaph Records, which I think is one of the most monumental and important music labels ever, and one spawned into existence by necessity because of Bad Religion. There’s nuggets of info in the book about different eras of Epitaph and I’m like “damn, that’s interesting, that could be a whole chapter on its own.” Alas, this is not that book, but likely if you’re a big enough Bad Religion fan that you’d read an autobiography about them, this is the book for you. Of course, I’d recommend listening to all of their music, ever, then read this book.
That being said, it was a fairly straight forward accounting of the bands long and legendary career. If you’re familiar with punk likely you’ve heard the stories of the west coast hardcore punk revival a million times, and there’s far more in-depth books and documentaries about that. Bad Religion were of course there but they don’t really add much to that story except their take, which is fairly uneventful, or maybe just not as dramatic as Henry Rollins or Keith Morris would recount them.
There’s some fun anecdotes and insight and overall it did a good job of laying out exactly why Bad Religion is the legendary band they are. However, while reading it I kept wishing there was a book or documentary just about Epitaph Records, which I think is one of the most monumental and important music labels ever, and one spawned into existence by necessity because of Bad Religion. There’s nuggets of info in the book about different eras of Epitaph and I’m like “damn, that’s interesting, that could be a whole chapter on its own.” Alas, this is not that book, but likely if you’re a big enough Bad Religion fan that you’d read an autobiography about them, this is the book for you. Of course, I’d recommend listening to all of their music, ever, then read this book.