It seems almost surreal, on a day that will be forever marked as a day of national tragedy paralleling, if not surpassing, that of Pearl Harbor, the Challenger explosion, or the assassination of President Kennedy; on a dark day when America stood still, one of the brightest spots in music released an album. The musical bright spot is P.O.D., and the music they make is from a Christian world view.
Satellite, P.O.D.'s second major label release and the follow-up to the wildly successful Fundamental Elements of Southtown, is another powerful release from one of the most talked about up and coming bands in music. Taking the strongest points of their Atlantic debut, adding some new elements, and
sharpening what works best for P.O.D. are the standout features of the new album.
The album opens up with a rockin' track called "Set It Off," with driving guitars plus hittin' drums and bass under Sonny's rapped lyrics. This track leads into the first single off the album, "Alive," which is similar in style to the tracks that worked best on the major label debut. A straight ahead rock vibe with Sonny rapping some incredible lyrics expressing a blatant, in your face message of Christ. Lyrics that reflect what that message means to the band, satisfying the idea of compromising their beliefs in the face of fame:
Sunshine upon my face
A new song for me to sing
Tell the world how I feel inside
Even though it might cost me everything
Now that I know this, so beyond, I can't hold this
I can never turn my back away
Now that I've seen you
I can never look away
Another track that stands out is "Youth of the Nation," which addresses the idea of violence and what teens face in this modern time of brutality and irrational acts. The added element of a youth choir singing the chorus at the end of the track adds a spiritual voice to this cry for understanding. There is a guest appearance from reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse on the track "Ridiculous," which uses an upbeat guitar rhythm giving the song a strong reggae/rock vibe. The sound works well with Sonny's voice, and the band picks up the style very well.
Other guest appearances include Christian Lindskog, of Blindside, on a track entitled "Anything Right." The song opens up with a hard rhythmic guitar that leads into a slight violin break. A more quiet vocal delivery gives a dreamlike quality to the song, until the chorus hits with some hardcore style vocal delivery which is a stark contrast to the verses, but the effect is dramatic indeed.
H.R., of the legendary hardcore band Bad Brains, also makes an appearance on the very hardcore influenced track "Without Jah, Nothin'." The track is melodramatic with Sonny's lyrics deeply buried in the hard edged delivery. The song is good, but different.
Satellite is an interesting, quality, and dramatic album. P.O.D. holds its own with most of the hard rock bands out now. The band is very capable, and this album is just another testament to that.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #98Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis double-disc re-issue features 3 ho-hum remixes on Disc 1, and a fabulous live DVD as Disc 2. The footage and sound is so brilliant that it looks like they brought in a crowd for the recording, as opposed to bringing in cameras and recording gear for a concert. The 5.1 Surround mix is loud and punching. Quite simply, a fabulous treat for P.O.D. fans. Editors' ratings — Doug 3/5, Lonny 3.5/5Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestOkay, I'm a bit late with this review. Already more than two million copies have been sold of this album while it's only six months out or so. Satellite is the follow-up to the platinum release The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown. Their music is mainly rapcore but it's sometimes melted together with some hardcore influences and new metal. Some of the songs have proved to have hit potential. The…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Vik BansalWhen "the boys from the South(town)", P.O.D., released their second major label album on September 11, 2001 (yes, really), few could have predicted that over the next year it would make them the best-selling artists on Atlantic Records. I mean, exactly when did the world have its good taste transplant? A year on, and the people at Atlantic have seen fit to prevent anyone from having an excuse for…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by the ProjectSatellite is without a doubt P.O.D.'s best album ever! A masterpiece! WOW! I have never heard such great stuff in my time. Satellite is P.O.D.'s second release off Atlantic and is a really awesome disk. It is hip-hop, core, reggae, R&B and everything else! Reggae master Eek A Mouse appears on this disk in the track "Ridiculous" and tears up! This disk is so phat! I love it! My favorite track is…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerI read an article in a secular magazine recently about P.O.D., the title of that article was along the lines of 'P.O.D.'s Satellite, moving away from God, Heaven can wait.' The article went on to say that the boys of Southtown were stepping away from the strict Christian stance they had thrust upon the world with their previous album. Knowing that satan will try anything to take down a Christian…HM Magazine #92Reviewed by Jamie Lee RakeSkeptics about the phenomenon surrounding P.O.D., few they may be who read HM, might accuse the band's commercial fortunes to come from a lucky stop of the rap-metal bandwagon that allowed the San Diego warriors to be positioned as the positive (godliness optional) counter-punch to the hedonism and misogyny of Limp Bizkit and P.O.D. label-mate Kid Rock. But, The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown…Similar sounding releases
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2003SkilletCollide
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2004Breaking BenjaminWe Are Not AloneMore from P.O.D.
1996Brown
2002Still Payin' Dues (Video)
1999The Fundamental Elements of Southtown
1994Snuff the Punk
2003Payable on Death
1993Payable On Death (1993)
