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| The Fundamental Elements
of Southtown
Artist: P.O.D. (Payable On Death) Label: Atlantic Records Length: 16 tracks/57:36 minutes |
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The debut mainstream album by P.O.D. is here. In a summer dominated by Limp Bizket and Kid Rock's rock/hip-hop styling, the window of opportunity for P.O.D. is wide open.
To whom much is given, much is expected. P.O.D. has always had the right tools: tight musicianship, diverse influences, and good vocals. But they insist on diddling with their songs' structures, adding and deleting distracting musical bits on a whim. Most of this can probably be attributed to the band's reggae, hip-hop, and funk influences. Out of a total of sixteen tracks, only eleven are songs, and one of those is a cover of "Bullet the Blue Sky."
Unfortunately, the cover is the best cut off the album, the foreign song structure allowing the band to focus their energy and produce a passionate groove. The song "Southtown" has been absolutely ruined by an increased tempo, extra lyrics, and strange vocal effects. "Southtown" could have been a sure-fire college radio hit, as the demo version suggested, but sadly, the band chose to overproduce it into obscurity. There are a few bright spots though, just as there are with all P.O.D. albums. "Rock the Party (Off the Hook)" lives up to its name featuring massive groove, strong beats, and a sing-along chorus combining for a solid song.
Production is strong. The excellent guitar work of Marcos comes in clear, and the bass of Traa is a bit more evident on this album than the last one.
The drums have also improved considerably. Sonny still has his signature vocals, though they sound stronger than the Brown album. Lyrically, P.O.D. has maintained the band's message, the song "Tribal Warrior" laying it on the line:
By Joe Rockstroh (8/12/99)
This is POD's finest record. Traa, bass, and Wuv, drums, are fabulous and funky. Marcos' guitars are full and striking. Sonny's strong suit is in concert, he's a great showman, but Sonny's vocals have never been better on record than here on The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. The excitement erupts on almost every track. The song writing, and the hard hitting music, and the affected/effective vocals will keep you listening. Each track rocks! The message rocks and the music rocks! I like this record more with every listen, and the public agrees. According to the band's web site, they are one of the fastest selling debuts in Atlantic Record's history. They are at about the 150 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and the "Heatseeker's" chart puts them at seven (as of 9/11/99).
The first half of the CD thrills. Songs like "Rock the Party (Off the Hook)" rocks as hard as the title implies. "Lie Down" has screaming vocals that destroy and "Set Your Eyes to Zion" has a reggae-like beat and lyric encouraging Jah Jah people to look to Zion from where their salvation comes. The second half of the CD begins with a rap-core cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky." A Hebrew reading of Palm 150, with moody Eastern-like guitar music under it, then back to driving hard-core with "Image" and "Tribal," a great song of testimony pronouncing Jehovah Jireh as the provider of strength and the power that makes us tribal warriors. The last listed track is "Outkast," a sing-along anthem of alienation, but with the hope that comes from knowing Christ. The chorus chant goes, "I'm and outcast, but don't count me out."
Listen loudly, and listen with head phones, if you can, so you can catch all the subtleties built into this CD. If this mainstream debut is written off by secular radio or record stores, then they didn't give it a good listen or they can't take the uncompromised Gospel in these authoritative, compelling songs. The CD is worthy of buzz. And I'm hoping for more than a buzz, maybe a blast. ...but as for me and my house, kaboom!
Tony LaFianza 9/14/99
