Amazon.com: For all his tattoos and bulked-up frat-boy persona, singer Bradley Nowell had real soul, which made his fatal heroin overdose even more tragic. There's more to this Long Beach, California, trio's debut, released shortly after Nowell's death in 1996, than white suburban punks imitating Jamaican ska music. The band comes up with great songs, notably the catchy MTV hit "What I Got"; spooky dub-reggae undertones, produced by the Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary, to go with the snappy horns; and surprisingly progressive lyrics that attack sexism and other social ills, especially on "Wrong Way." Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone, obvious forebears, Sublime become slightly tiresome after 17 songs, but the band is great in short doses. --Steve Knopper
exactly what we wanted this was exactly what we wanted. the delivery time was extremely fast and the package arrived safe and intact. thank you very much.
Not as good as 40 oz. to Freedom, but still good. I kind of liked the more laid back sound of 40 oz. a little better than the radio-friendly sound of this one. The other one had more of a dub (which I love) sound too. This one's still great though. The best word I could describe this album with is "sunny". It always seems to put me in a good mood.
A musical vision fulfilled (4.5/5) Sublime's self-titled third album, released in 1996, became a cult classic following the death of frontman Bradley Nowell. It's sad to think that if not for Nowell's untimely passing, Sublime might have remained the more underground group they were for most of their career, but in any event, this is a wonderful album. The whole CD emits laidback vibes that make for the perfect chilled-out listening. Sublime combines the emotion of punk rock with the musical conventions of island music. Most songs use a classic ska bassline or have blippy guitars or horns. The sound evokes the scene of sunny California and the beach, and is why it's such great summertime music. But their talent as musicians and songwriters stands out even above their unique approach. The songwriting is excellent, with calculated yet free-flowing instrumental breaks, solos that fit each song very well, and tight production that allows each song to meet its potential. And Sublime would not be Sublime without Brad Nowell, everyone's favorite weed-smoking, childish, moody, socially conscious fornicator. At his happiest, Nowell embraces the easygoing West Coast lifestyle, and at his most depressed he is confused and emotional. Passionate yet rebellious, another interesting facet to his character is his concern for the plight of the urban poor; he advocates social responsibility, and his love of hip hop is also reflected in the frequent samples from KRS-One and the Beastie Boys. The songs are so catchy, and for the most part are the right length. Although it's a little long, "Sublime" is a well-executed collection of a band in their prime whose time was tragically cut short.
The album opens with "Garden Grove," a sunny and well-produced cut with great drums and bass. Nowell sings in a light manner of the ups and downs of an average day, and the instrumental breaks are tight and free-flowing. Then, the irresistable "What I Got," a timeless piece that musically and lyrically finds Sublime at their best, with Nowell cleverly weaving lighthearted philosophy and the guitars emitting a perfect laidback vibe. On "Wrong Way," Brad advocates social responsibility. I love the trombone solo on this track, Sublime was experimental with this but the product is phenomenal. "Same in the End" is frenetic and enjoyable, and "April 29, 1992" is a cool narrative of rebellion. No doubt you've heard the classic single "Santeria," a wonderfully well-written, catchy, and upbeat song that despite its pop sensibilities succeeds in capturing Sublime's brand of ska-punk, Nowell's soul, and the talented instrumentalists. It's without a doubt in my mind one of the most essential songs of the 90s. The short and sweet "Seed" and youth power sentiments of "Jailhouse" make for solid mid-album tracks, while the quirky "Pawn Shop" is a relaxing highlight of smoked-out reggae with a nice guitar performance. The very brief "Paddle Out" comes before the excellent "The Ballad of Johnny Butt," which is both catchy and lyrically meaningful, expressing "we shall overcome" sentiments. One of my favorite songs is "Burritos," a funny and musically appealing cut about amotivational syndrome. After the decent "Under My Voodoo" is the pro-weed cut "Get Ready" and the likable "Caress Me Down." The album closes with a reprise of "What I Got" and the nice "Doin' Time."
Sublime takes elements of multiple musical genres to make their own product, and fans of hip hop, rock, and reggae will equally enjoy this album. After almost twelve years, it is clear that despite its cult status, this will stand the test of time and still sound wonderful years down the road. I have a hard time deciding whether I prefer this or their debut, 40 Oz. to Freedom, but I think overall this is a little better. "Sublime" is an awesome laidback sounding LP with thought provoking lyricism and great vibes, and I highly recommend it to all.
What I got This is the most exceptional album since The Beatles' Revolver album.
April 26, 1992 about the Rodney King riots in La, totally captures the stark reality of the times.
Paddle out captures the essence of punk rock. Short energetic songs. I get this song stuck in my head when I am paddling out on my board, and it helps me push harder to get past the swell.
So-so Sublime's self-titled album was one of my favorite albums in the mid-late '90s. I listened to it constantly. Recently, I listened to it again, and while I enjoyed it, it was mostly for nostalgiac reasons. The album has a handful of catchy, mindless, feel-good songs. None of the songs are downright awful (aside from "Pawn Shop") but listening to it again, I realized that the songs are nowhere near as wonderful as I thought they were 10 years ago. (Though "Santeria" is still quite infectious) The lyrics are really obnoxious. Really shallow and sort of white-trashy...sex, drugs, sex, drugs, sex, drugs. But the melodies are catchy. I think that if I heard the album for the first time now, I wouldn't like it. But I'll continue to listen to it on occasion and enjoy it because it reminds me of the summer of '98.
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
