Payable 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 1990's.
P.O.D. sets the standard for their genre by producing a variety of songs--the tracks don't sound identical to the one before. 'Checking Levels' and 'Freestyle' are almost entirely hip-hop, leaning much more towards hard rock than R&B. 'Rock the Party (Off the Hook)' combines both the hip-hop and hardcore/rapcore sides of P.O.D., making it one of the most-played hardcore songs ever on MTV. 'Hollywood,' 'Southtown,' 'Lie Down,' and 'Image' are very clean-cut hardcore rock songs. These tracks give the album the feel of a live show, but with the precision of a studio recording.
Perhaps the most striking song on this album is P.O.D.'s cover of U2's 'Bullet the Blue Sky.' Unlike many covers, P.O.D. adds some of their own temperament to the song. At the same time, they acknowledge The Edge by copying his simple but emotional guitar solo and background vocals almost identically. I respect P.O.D. for their ability to balance the work of a great musician with their own unique stylings.
While most hardcore bands have one instrument stand out--usually the guitar or drums--P.O.D. is composed of four equally talented musicians. This allows them to create a much fuller sound. This sound, coupled with P.O.D.'s great range of songs, make The Fundamental Elements of Southtown well worth listening to--from the Christian crowd to MTV.
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…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…Similar sounding releases
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2002Still Payin' Dues (Video)
1997Live At Tomfest
1993Payable On Death (1993)
1996Brown
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2003Payable on Death
