''Build a Nation'' is the eighth full-length studio album by

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

pioneers

Bad Brains Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Originally a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power, they are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this ...

. Released on June 26, 2007 on

Megaforce Records Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. It has offices in New York City (w ...

with distribution by

Oscilloscope Laboratories Oscilloscope Laboratories is an independent film company and distributor founded by Adam Yauch and former TH!NKFilm executive David Fenkel. It also has a recording studio and film production facilities. Fenkel returned to the company on May 4, 20 ...

, it was produced by

Adam Yauch Adam Nathaniel Yauch ( ; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), better known under the stage name MCA, was an American rapper, bass player, filmmaker and a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. Besides his musical work, he also directed ...

Beastie Boys Beastie Boys were an American rap rock group from New York City, formed in 1978. The group was composed of Mike D, Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (voca ...

, a longtime friend of the band. This album marked the 30th anniversary of the band. Along with being available on CD, the album was also released on a yellow, green, and red multi-colored vinyl record. The photography for the album was shot by

Annie Leibovitz Anna-Lou Leibovitz ( ; born October 2, 1949) is an American portrait photographer best known for her engaging portraits, particularly of celebrities, which often feature subjects in intimate settings and poses. Leibovitz's Polaroid photo of Jo ...

. In the album's opening week, it debuted at #100 on the ''Billboard'' 200.

Background

Nearly three years in production, ''Build a Nation'' is the first album of original material from Bad Brains since 1995's '' God of Love'', as ''

Black Dots ''Black Dots'' is a demo album by the American rock band Bad Brains, released in 1996 by Caroline Records. It consists of one of the band's earliest recording sessions, which took place in 1979 at Inner Ear Studios with recording engineer Don Zient ...

'' (1996) is a collection of early recordings and '' I & I Survived'' (2002) is a remix album. In April 2004,

' official website revealed that

would be producing Bad Brains' follow-up to ''God of Love''. It was also announced that the band recorded it in Yauch's studio and was in mixing. In February 2005, bassist

Darryl Jenifer Darryl Jenifer (born October 22, 1960) is an American musician, widely known as the bassist for the hardcore punk band Bad Brains and for the rap-rock group The White Mandingos. He appeared in ''TV's Illest Minority Moments presented by ego tri ...

told

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

that Bad Brains were in the studio recording their first proper studio album in ten years, to be released later in the year. Beastie Boy

also gave interviews indicating that he was producing the sessions, for which basic tracks featuring the original lineup had been recorded. Frontman

H.R. Paul D. Hudson (born February 11, 1956), known professionally as H.R. (Human Rights), is an American musician who leads the hardcore punk band Bad Brains, and is an instrumental figure in the development of the genre. His vocal delivery has b ...

was said to be on board for the new album, slated to emphasize a return to their early hardcore sound. In November 2006, guitarist Dr. Know described on the sound of the new album. He states: In January 2007, it was announced that ''Build a Nation'' would be the title of the album. In March of that year, it was also announced that the band signed to

. On April 26, 2007, it was announced that ''Build a Nation'' would be officially released on June 26. On May 10, 2007, the full album was leaked across the Internet. On May 15, 2007, it was revealed that

System of a Down System of a Down (also known as SoaD or simply System) is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards); Daron Malakian (guitar, voc ...

bassist

Shavo Odadjian Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian ( hy, Շավարշ "Շավո" Օդաջյան; born April 22, 1974) is an Armenian-American musician, best known as the bassist of heavy metal band System of a Down. He also plays bass in a trap group called North Kingsl ...

would be directing the first video from ''Build a Nation''."Bad Brains Video News And Tour"
Paul Tao, AbsolutePunk.net, May 15, 2007 The video for the song "Give Thanks and Praises" can be seen online on the band's MySpace page as of August 2007. Director Shavo Odadjian makes an appearance at the end of the concert video with frontman H.R. The two are seen walking stageside, passing and smoking a marijuana joint.

Track listing

#"Give Thanks and Praises" – 2:25 #"Jah People Make the World Go Round" – 2:09 #"Pure Love" – 0:56 #"Natty Dreadlocks 'pon the Mountain Top" – 3:32 #"Build a Nation" – 1:44 #"Expand Your Soul" – 2:49 #"Jah Love" – 3:07 #"Let There Be Angels (Just Like You)" – 2:27 #"Universal Peace" – 3:04 #"Roll On" – 4:04 #"Until Kingdom Comes" – 3:19 #"In the Beginning" – 1:32 #"Send You No Flowers" – 2:32 #"Peace Be Unto Thee" – 3:54 #"Married Again" (bonus track on 7" box set)

Personnel

– vocals * Dr. Know – guitar *

– bass *

Earl Hudson Earl Hudson (born December 17, 1957) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for Bad Brains. Born in Alabama in 1957, Hudson is the younger brother of the band's lead singer H.R. Although he has rarely recorded or performed outside o ...

– drums *

Jamie Saft Jamie Saft is an American keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist and composer. He was born in New York City, and studied at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private mu ...

—Keyboards

References

{{Authority control 2007 albums Bad Brains albums Megaforce Records albums