Sublime Geffen Records Updated: 09/06/06
Ten years ago Long Beach, California’s trio Sublime singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell died of an overdose, just two months before the release of their self-titled major label debut. Previously only known for Date Rape, Sublime made music that spoke to people of many cultures with their mix of reggae, hip hop, Latin rhythms, acoustic guitar and rock’n’roll. For the second half of the 90’s you couldn’t get away from Sublime if you listened to KROQ 106.7. The band played the permanent summer soundtrack, and now the good times live on in this 10th Anniversary Edition, a two-disc set. The first disc is the Sublime album in the order Nowell wanted, starting with Trenchtown Rocks, a solo acoustic cover of Bob Marley, and later Nowell’s original vocals for Doin’ Time, previously called Summertime.
Most of the songs heard on the radio come from the self-titled album, including Wrong Way, Santeria, and Caress Me Down. April 29, 1992 (Miami) retells from first hand narration what went down on the streets of Los Angeles during the riots following the Rodney King trial, complete with newscaster clips. What I Got is a clear-headed call to love everyone in your life regardless of faults. The second disc features various mixes of Doin’ Time, Caress Me Down, and What I Got, mainstream and underground musicians alike (Wyclef Jean, The Pharcyde) putting their spin on the endless summer sounds.
The Beach Boys may have created the Southern California sound of surfing, cruising and life under the palm trees, but it is Sublime and their self-titled album that truly captured the styles, the smells, the heartaches and the happiness of present day life in this land between the beach and desert. Nowell, bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Floyd “Bud” Gaugh’s legacy lives on. (Bret Miller)
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