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(hed)pe
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Back 2 Base X
Suburban Noize Records
Release: 6/6/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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(hed)pe (pe = planet earth, for those uninitiated), California
"G-punk" originators are back with their fifth album - and
Suburban Noize debut - Back 2 Base
X.
Here's a little story about my first encounter with this album.
When the local Tower Records in Nashville had its going out
of business sale, I was going through the aisles lookin' for all
the good deals. Being a fan of the band I saw this album and
had no idea it had been released, so I scooped it up along
with their Best Of album from the Jive Records
years. I took my other stack of discs and went to the check
out line.
I came home and popped in the Best Of album
first to get my fill of the songs I dig from the first three
albums, as my copies are all in storage back home. Then I
put on the new album and frowned. I listened to it twice
more, but it never sunk in like I hoped it would. I then took
it to the local swap store and passed it along. Four months
later I get CDs in the mail that had been requested for me to
review. I opener the package, and low and behold, there
it is again! I figure since this is the second time the record
has made it's way around to me it must be my destiny to
review it for better or worse.
It seems vocalist and founder Jared Gomes (aka M.C.U.D.,
or Jahred, depending on what album you may have) wanted
to make a record more "introspective and contemplative."
That may be good for him, but for me, the listener, it does
nothing.
Starting-off is "Listen" which takes off with the funk of
somethin' that didn't make 2003's Blackout. It
flows smooth and strong with Jared's trademark rhymes - "I
know you wanna take an eye for an eye but pretty soon the
whole world will be blind."
Two more tracks come and go when "White Collars" kicks in
- sounding much like Rage Against The Machine, but loses
steam when the chorus kicks in. Another track passes, and
then comes the highlight the album, "Sophia."
Reggae-soaked grooves set the stage for Jared to spew his
trademark, drunken-esque lyrics before the chorus kicks in.
This song is laid back and aggressive, all at the same
time.
"Beware Do We Go" is a fresh pop-punk song with vibe of
somethin' Rancid would do. It's a fun song lyrically which
sets the stage for the far more dark and angry "Daze Of
War." Now this is the (hed)pe that I know and love. Fred
Durst never had shit compared to the way Jared throws
rhymes like daggers. This song is as gritty as anything off
the band's first two records, blending heaviness with
true hip-hop perfectly.
Unlike 2000's Broke, the band's best work -
and one of the most verbally assaulting albums ever made
(which had I been doing reviews at the time would have
easily garnered a perfect score) - Back 2 Base
X falls flat and is downright forgettable. The four or
five songs I do like aren't enough to hold the weight of the
nine others that are less than average, or just plain
suck.
I've said this before and I'll continue to do so as long as it
may apply; in the end, a band's ultimate goal is to satisfy
themselves as artists and make an album they're proud of. I
hope this is the one, because as much as I like (hed)pe and
their catalog, I do not like this one. May this be the last time
it passes through my hands. |
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