Sublime

Sublime: Robbin' the HoodRobbin' the Hood (1994)
Universal Music Group

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: rootsradicalrootsradical
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 25th 2003This album is weird. Weird in a good, Sublime sort of way, but weird nonetheless. During the late 1980's and early1990's, Sublime took the Long Beach , and after singer Brad Nowell's death the national, music community by storm with a mix of punk, ska, reggae and hip-hop. This mostly self produce.

This album is weird. Weird in a good, Sublime sort of way, but weird nonetheless. During the late 1980's and early1990's, Sublime took the Long Beach , and after singer Brad Nowell's death the national, music community by storm with a mix of punk, ska, reggae and hip-hop. This mostly self produced release finds Sublime at the height of its powers, but the tracks often feel like they were just thrown on the cd without any thought as to how the album would flow.

That being said, there are many great tracks on this album. There are two versions, one full-band and one acoustic, of Brad Nowell's chronicle of his addition to heroine, "Poolshark". The dub-inspired "Work That We Do" and the fast paced ska-punk anthems "STP" and "All You Need" show Sublime at their best, with the band constantly changing tempos and Nowell showcasing his great voice. Songs like "Boss DJ", "Mary", and "Freeway Time in LA County Jail" , and a cover of Peter Tosh's "Steppin' Razor" also stand out.

Now to the albums' weirdness. There are three tracks called Raleigh Soliliquoys. I don't what the hell is going on here, I think the guy is joking , but I'm not sure. Anyway, they're just basically some old guy ranting and raving about nothin in particular really. They're actually pretty funny, but they completely break the flow of the album. Also included are songs like "Don't Care Too Much for Reggae Dub"(which is pretty funny too) and "Steady B Loop Dub", which while being solid tracks, just don't seem to fit. As a result of these interruptions to the album's flow, it can be hard to liste to, and several listens are required to really get into it.

But anyway, enough complaning. Sublime was a great band and this is a good cd with plenty of great songs. As a bonus, theres an early instrumental version of "Santeria" under the name "Lincoln Highway Dub" that rocks, and a cover of Barrington Levy's "Saw Red" with Brad and Gwen Stefani trading off vocals. To those unfarmiliar with Sublime, don't start with this album, save it for later. Buy 40 Oz. or the self-tiled one and see what a great band Sublime was, and then you'll be able to appreciate this one. For die-hard Sublime fans like me, this is for you, get it. It's a tragedy that the world will hear no more from this great band and from Brad Nowell.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

blood-guts-punkrock (August 15, 2011)

I think i took the root most Sublime fans would take. Their self titled, then 40oz and finally Robbin the Hood. So i think i liked thr album a bit more naturally than i would have if it was my first as i know what to expect from their weird side

PanasonicYouth519 (April 3, 2007)

I do have to agree with the post that without Brad's OD, Sublime wouldn't be as popular as it is today. Does that make them a terrible band though? Hell no. Whoever said they weren't creative should seriously consider getting their head checked. The lyrics, the style, and the music is all creative.

Anonymous (January 26, 2006)

I'm gonna kill every single one of you who are talkin shit about Sublime. A day late and a Dollar short. Seriously dude that was fuckin gay. How long did it take you to write that shit, you fuckin retard. Sublime will never be over no matter how much you think. Your opinions don't count. RIP::::Brad Nowell::::RIP

SenorRefresco (September 12, 2005)

Bradley had such a nice voice. My favorite Sublime album.

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

Sublime no talent or creativity ? WHat the fuck are you people on ?

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

why the hell would someone get on a website for the express purpose of spewing at the mouth!hey bud take your right hand off your dick long enough to write a coherent/objective review of an album.The Ramones are a fucking brand name like Avril Lavigne with their name over every piece of shit merch out there!"Hey ho lets go!"(wow that kind of writing blows everything away). The Clash needed a better lead singer who at least attempted to be a decent musician. This is the first and last message ill put up here but I know through evidence of that faggot's numerous messages he/she/it will continue to write bullshit from a sheltered view. SUBLIME IS THE BEST BAND RIGHT NEXT TO NIRVANA!!!!!!

Anonymous (August 1, 2003)

"But they don't have creativity. I'm never going to shut the fuck up. I mean, the Pistols, Ramones, and Clash are my personal favorite punk bands"

Yes. I forgot how creative the Ramones were.

Anonymous (August 1, 2003)

a day late and a dollar short.

sublime is over brah

Anonymous (August 1, 2003)

Wow. And you scored Sublime's absolute worst piece of shit higher than the Billy Bragg album (10 to Billy's 8, for those of you playing the home game).

You're a clever one, aren't ya?
--Cos

Anonymous (August 1, 2003)

fuck Sublime.

--Cos

Anonymous (July 31, 2003)

Wow, aren't you a bright one?

-BSD

Anonymous (July 30, 2003)

Sorry if I realize that the core of Sublime fans suck. And, yeah these guys have talent. But they don't have creativity. I'm never going to shut the fuck up. I mean, the Pistols, Ramones, and Clash are my personal favorite punk bands (and many other peoples), but I also like almost everything else to a certain extent. I really don't mind modern punk as long as the fans don't go crazy and start hailing these obviously inferior bands as "the greatest" (which they aren't, to me and many others who know about music). Also, you say that the Clash had talent and that the Sex Pistols didn't. Well, it's a known fact that Steve Jones used actual chords and his songs had solos, whereas the Clash of that era only sounded like a thrashier, rawer Ramones

shut the fuck up

Anonymous (July 30, 2003)

Wrong.

Anonymous (July 29, 2003)

If Brad was still alive , Sublime would not have been as popular.

eyeball_kid (July 29, 2003)

Awesome album. Sublime were proper bo' I tell thee.
^Bo Selecta!

Indeed the music on here is pretty good, although some of it is only good for putting on in the background. Those 'Raleigh' tracks are totally pointless. I'm all for a whole album of some old man's crazy jabbering, but they didn't need to screw up an otherwise decent cd here.

Anonymous (July 29, 2003)

Good review...go sublime...but god dam Leroy one word-Prozak...everyone is entitled to there opinion...course its also legal to carry guns around in certain states too...meh

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

BSD, will you please shut the fuck up? You know absolutely nothing except that the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash are the greatest bands ever, and outside of them, everything is shit. WRONG. Kiddy ska? Psh... Want kiddy ska? *Cough* FIVE IRON FRENZY *Cough Cough* Every Sublime record is great. Every single one. I'd like to hear "kiddy ska" bands write such an emotional song about something that's taking a grip on a member's life like Poolshark. Plus, every member of this band is musically amazing. Which CAN'T be said for the Ramones, or the Sex Pistols. Notice that I left out the Clash? Yeah, they have talent.

Stand by Your Van is the greatest live album ever. And yeah, the Rx Bandits ripped off Sublime but only on Halfway Between Here and There. Progress sounds like no one else. And the new record... well, yeah. You know.

LEROY

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

Kiddy ska sucks balls.

-BSD

krowdsurf (July 28, 2003)

This album contains some of Sublime's best songs, they are just hidden by a lot of bizzarre experimentation. I love this cd, but I would never listen to it straight through. Oh, and speaking of bizarre, I know Miguel (Sublime's producer) produced Unwritten Law's Elva, but why the hell did they throw more Raleigh tracks on the that album? Was that some kind of tribute?

Lastly, I agree with whoever said their major label album was their worst, and that Stand By Your Van is an amazing live album.

Manman (July 28, 2003)

Good record. Not great. Not bad. Good. Would I say to you, "Hey, listen to this, Mubjago"? No, I would not. This is the kind of music kids listen to in Middle School or Junior High while they get beat up in the locker room by their abusive coach. Sublime? No. These guys are Condense. At least these guys are more punk than 99% of the stuff out here now. Hey, these guys actually got my cat to dance (albeit it was down the stairs after I kicked it). So, it is good with a glass of Kool-aid, but I would prefer a glass of Flavor-Aid.

flocktothebeat (July 28, 2003)

I hate this band, I hate its hardcore fans. Its pretty bad when a band is to drunk and smacked out to even play simple 3 chord crap punk decently. My score is for overdosing on smack. I just wish there fans would follow suit.

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

i liked this album, but i seriously think "stand by your van" is the best thing sublime ever did...one of my favorite live discs ever...

Hulka (July 27, 2003)

Most of this record was recorded in a crackhouse.

Anonymous (July 27, 2003)

I dont think RxB have ever tried to hide their sublime influence. so saying they ripped off sublime would be like saying sublime ripped off bob marley.

Anonymous (July 27, 2003)

Awesome album. Sublime were proper bo' I tell thee.

jheisel (July 27, 2003)

this album and 40 oz. to freedom are so good. it is really inexplicable how their major label records sucked so much. by the way, this came out on skunk, not mca.

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

Rx Bandits ripped them off, There, I said it. I love this band though.

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

I like the cover of "Stepping Razor" the best. It's always interesting to see a band release something experimental rather than some overproduced sterile album.

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

sublime is an awesome band... surprised no one really jumped on the sublime train after nowell died... there were no clones of them... or was there? i don't think there was
in any case, they ruled

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

Sublime is really good but I did get a overdose of them. Maybe in a year I'll start to listen to them again. 40oz is their best cd IMO. He does have a great voice, but those damn drugs...

-ejaculine

dude.. not even cool.
work that we do is soooo good. boss dj is a song that just makes me shudder.. he's got such good melodies.

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

oh what a pristine scene you've described...nobody gives a fuck what you listen on a nice summer's day

NewKid (July 25, 2003)

Sublime is the perfect band for a nice summer day. Then again so are a lot of other bands depending on my mood.

-NewKid

rootsradical (July 25, 2003)

yeah to the earlier post i did forget to change the rating. it should have been like an 8 or so.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

this is a fantastic albym. the weirdness is what makes it so great. it was just them fucking around experimenting, and that's fantastic. if you're already into this band and don't ahve this cd (not album), you should really check it out. I saw red is grat and makes me wish no doubt didn't such so much.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

Amazing that this album wasn't reviewed yet. I love it though. It's pretty cohesive, to the point where the individual songs don't really stand out, but you just sit down and listen to an album. You can also find it on sale at Tower a lot

TheOneTrueBill (July 25, 2003)

maybe he forgot to change the rating before submitting. I know i forgot to do that on my Subhumans live review. Instead of a 9, it got a 10. Oh well

timis (July 25, 2003)

this album is junk....

hungryjoe (July 25, 2003)

On the topic of Sublime....listen to "Lady Madonna" by the Beatles, you might hear something very familiar.

howard_beware (July 25, 2003)

i listen to this cd when i do the dishes. great cd and a great band.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

I think it is a great album. It is pretty experimental due to the fact that brad was using heroin heavily at the time. If you're gonna get a sublime album, i'd recommend second-hand smoke. or 40 oz.

relay1112 (July 25, 2003)

Just a question: if it has multiple flaws, why did it get a perfect score?

TheOneTrueBill (July 25, 2003)

this was the first sublime album i ever got. Not real great, but it was still worth my 7 bucks. Don't listen to it to much, but when i do pull it out it's enjoyable.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

joeg: Date Rape is on 40 Oz to Freedom.

Yeah, maybe they wouldn't be as acclaimed if Brad didn't die, but they were still a great band, IMHO.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

fuck. this. band.

joeg (July 25, 2003)

10 stars? (shakes finger in disapproval) the punk police is gonna get you for that. i like sublime a lot. what album had that song date rape on it?

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

Sublime is really good but I did get a overdose of them. Maybe in a year I'll start to listen to them again. 40oz is their best cd IMO. He does have a great voice, but those damn drugs...

-ejaculine

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

I can respect Sublime, but I really don't think they would be a acclaimed if Brad hadn't passed.

My fav is on 40oz, the cover of "We're Only Gonna Die".

Though "Smoke 2 Joints" is pretty rad too.

-sickboi

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

Man, I love this album. That was a pretty good review. It's definitely true that this album should be the last of the three main Sublime releases you should buy, and it does take some time to get into. Here's a little bit of the legend around the "Solliloquies" (I'm not sure how true any of this is):

The guy talking in those tracks is a dude named "Raleigh Theodore Sakers" and was supposedly a weird old guy in a mental institution/halfway house where Sublime friend/roadie(?) Matt Farkis worked. They went in and just recorded him for a couple hours. Skunk records also released a CD with just Raleigh on it, but I think it's out of print.

Also worth noting is the import copy on Liberation Records which has a demo of "Date Rape" and the awesome version of just Brad doing Bob Marley's "Trench Town Rock" (which is also on Second Hand Smoke).

-Painaxl

MrOhio (July 25, 2003)

Sublime is sort of praised and put on a pedestal, but I never really got into them...they were like "ska for the jocks". And I do know a jock that likes them. Maybe it's just me, but there's so many other better bands...