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| Long Beach Dub All-StarsWonders of the World2001 Dreamworks 
 Review by: fathead See others by this writer www.longbeachduballstars.com (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on September 18th 2001 For the sake of my fingers, I will refer to this band as 'the stars' for the remainder of this review. Ok people, we all know that this band has the two remaining members of Sublime holding down the rhythm section. Now we must look past that. Granted, they do play the same reggae-pop-funk that Sublime made famous in recent years, but they are expiramenting and expanding more than ever. This album mixes many different styles and many different instruments. However, the overall opinion after listening is mixed with many different feelings. The first real track (after the dub intro) is the Stars new single 'Sunny Hours'. If you thought 'What I Got' was too pop, you'ld better skip this track and turn your radio off. It's a happy little ditty that reminds me way too much of Sugar Ray. It's not bad(right now), but I have a feeling I'll hate this song more than I hate Carrot Top in about a month. Other songs that stand out amongst an array of ska-ggae songs are the punky 'No Way'. It's got a great chorus that we should all take to heart. At first, the futuristic hip-hop song, 'Talkin' the Truth', sounds like it could be used for an anti-drug commercial."Let me tell you what the drugs can do, they fuck your life up in a minute or two..." After the second or third listen though, I could pick out another message in the song; Pot is better! Not to advocate the use of any drug in my review, but that's a message I've been preaching to my friends for years now. 'Lonely End' is one of the better ska songs, along with 'Life Goes On'. The album closes with 'Sunny Hours (reprise)' , leaving the listen asking himself "My God, did they really have to do that?" If you combine the best songs off the Stars first album, 'Right Back', with the best songs off the new 'Wonders of the World', you would get a damn good mix of feel-good music. Unfortuantely, the good songs are spread over two full length records. 'Wonders of the World' is chockful of talented musicianship, including an excellent brass section and a kick-ass DJ, but the songs seem to be a mix of killer and filler. Better reggae albums are Bob Marley's 'Exodus', Peter Tosh's 'Legalize It', or even the punk-ska-ggae '40oz. To Freedom' by Sublime. However, I would dare to call this the perfect party album. It's good music you don't really have to pay attention to. Now, if you'll excuse me while I light my spliff... Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
this album is really good. it is much better than right back. i dont think the cameos from blackeypeas guy and j5 guy are necessary and i think their rap songs are kinda gay. the second half of the cd is really good When you light-up a joint put this record on and I garanty that you will have a very nice trip listening to that music. Rad album. They're keepin it going. "No Way" kinda sounds like a Long Beach All Day song (minus the ska). This album is tight. It's a little bit different from the last album (Right Back) in the sense that it's not as much straight up reggae and instead leans more towards the pop/ska/rap/reggae style that Sublime pioneered. In my humble opinion, it's a step in the right direction. The LBDA are still trying to work out their sound, and while some may complain that it's a little too close to what Sublime was doing, it's important to realize that these are the same guys, coming from the same scene, doing what they've been doing all along. It's not Sublime, it won't ever be Sublime, but it's carrying the torch Sublime lit and carrying it well. I just can't get into these guys. It sucks that Bradley passed on and shit but come on, play something different. The one time I saw them they must have played six or seven sublime songs. Give it a fuckin rest.....sickboi I don't agree that there is a lot of fillers in here. I like every song off it except for the punk songs... I really despise there punk song. Still I find this album better than the first one and I like the variety with the hip-hop, the ska, the dub and the reggae. Crazy ass cd! So I have an hour break during school this so I usualy goto Best Buy because it's pretty damn close to my campus. So anyways, I totally forgot about this CD, until I walked in and saw it sittin' there callin' my name, haha. great review, I too wish Bradley was still alive. great review, it convinced me not to buy this album, and that makes me happy, b/c i didnt feel like spending any more money. ALthogh i love sublime a lot this band is completly different. I wish bradly nowell was still alive. darn.... |
