Certainly this album has had about as much of a buzz around it as anything else released in the Christian scene this summer, and that usually makes for one of two results; 1) the biggest success of the summer -- or 2) the biggest letdown of the summer. I have a strange feeling everybody else is going to like this a lot, but for me, it's a bit of a letdown.
I have two major problems with this disc. Firstly, I like hard music, meaning heavy distorted guitars. I don't like rap, hip-hop, or reggae. This album does have a substantial amount of pleasant crunch, but the ratio of hard to not hard isn't up to where I'd hoped. There are several tracks here that have some promise at certain moments, but I have to endure a hip-hop verse section before the nice heavy chorus every time, and I don't want to do that! If Sonny wants to rap (or "floss his style", as they'd say on the streets) over a heavy groove, I'm all ears. But if the rap's all that's going on, I skip the track. My other main objection is many of the songs get very repetitive in one section or another.
A great example of both of these gripes is the song "Tribal". It starts out with a very cool heavy chorus chant, but I never like to see a "4x" after the chorus on a lyric sheet, you know? And after I hear it four times, I have to sit through an extended distortion-less section before I hear it four more times.
Now there really are some pretty good things going on here at times. The disc starts out with "Hollywood", for instance. Although the verses of this one aren't heavy, they are downright creepy sounding, and the heavy chorus works well with it (although it does fall prey to excessive repetition it's still a good song). "Southtown" is next, and the most solid song on the album. I really do like this one, which maintains a cool groove without beating it to death. Unfortunately, "Rock the Party" follows as a great party/live song with lots of energy, but recorded it strikes me as nothing short of cliche and lame, the type of song that I thought P.O.D. was above. "We came to rock the party all night long" set over three chords -- I was hoping for more from this band.
There are both high and low points to follow (you can decide for yourself where a reggae song and a cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky" fall, and probably guess my opinion), but it's basically more of the same. Cool verses but irritating chorus on "Lie Down" and "Image"; "Follow Me" and "Outkast" fare better. And so it goes. P.O.D. does get HUGE marks from me on one count -- by far the coolest and most creative band photo I've ever seen.
On the whole, I find this effort just falls short. There's a lot of good material here, but I just don't find it put together to my liking.
6.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #79Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThe wait for a solid studio album from these boys is finally over. While many have recognized them as a killer live band, they had yet to lay down some sounds that did it on a sonic level. While The Warriors EP was a wonderful step up, this full-length (16 tracks!) does the band that sweet justice us fans have been craving. I'm happy to report that my assumption about the new versions of "Full…ReAL Magazine 1999Reviewed by Timothy Paul YenterPayable on Death has done more than prove itself in the world of Christian music--it has proven it can hold its own in the secular world as well. Unlike most Christian bands (especially hardcore, punk and ska), P.O.D. has kept up with mainstream bands in musical ability. In fact, P.O.D. has actually set the standard for the rapcore genre, much like Rage Against the Machine did in the mid to late…Bandoppler 1999Reviewed by John SantThis is the best album of the year to date, hard music wise, hands down. The perfect balance of heaviness and flat out slam-you-in-your-face brutality, combined with the best musicianship and sickest hooks to come out of my speakers in a long time. I'll try to write words that'll give you a good picture of this CD, but it's hard... Payable on Death has not sold out on this album, they've grown up…Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by John SantWithout question, this album is one of the best that I have heard in a long while. The Fundamental Elements contains some of the sickest hooks and best musicianship in the hard music arena this year. Their style has changed a bit, but it's not a bad thing; quite good actually. Imagine what would result from POD being thrown into a blender with a far more mature and talented POD, as well as the…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Joe RockstrohThe debut mainstream album by P.O.D. is here. In a summer dominated by Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock's rock/hip-hop styling, the window of opportunity for P.O.D. is wide open. To whom much is given, much is expected. P.O.D. has always had the right tools: tight musicianship, diverse influences, and good vocals. But they insist on diddling with their songs' structures, adding and deleting distracting…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaThis is POD's finest record. Traa, bass, and Wuv, drums, are fabulous and funky. Marcos' guitars are full and striking. Sonny's strong suit is in concert, he's a great showman, but Sonny's vocals have never been better on record than here on The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. The excitement erupts on almost every track. The song writing, and the hard hitting music, and the affected/effective…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by D_ListerP.O.D. fans watch out. The long awaited, much hyped, and crazily anticipated Atlantic Records release is finally within our grasp. Yes it was worth the wait. P.O.D. takes their style to the next level with this release, and they have only gotten better at what they do. This album is the next step up from what B.R.O.W.N. started. They continue to combine their hip-hop styles with hard hitting…Similar sounding releases
2001Like DavidIt Started With Twelve
1999Pteradactyl19.99
1999.rod laveressence of the game
2000TravailBeautiful Loneliness
1999GrypIndecision
1997BlindsideBlindsideMore from P.O.D.
1994Snuff the Punk
2003Payable on Death
2002Still Payin' Dues (Video)
1997Live At Tomfest
1993Payable On Death (1993)
1999The Warriors EP
