P.O.D. — The Fundamental Elements of Southtown cover

P.O.D.

Item: The Fundamental Elements of Southtown
Author: John Sant

The Fundamental Elements of Southtown

(1999)

Reviewed by John Sant

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Label Atlantic RecordsBandoppler1999

nu metal rap metal rapcore reggae

This 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 considerably, from the production quality to the song writing. The songs are perfect, no hook is laid on too long, but they're never thrown away either, and they're ALL good. This album is AWESOME!!! One should be notified that their sound has changed...it's still POD, the same that you know, don't worry. Imagine though, what would happen if POD got thrown into a blender: a more talented and mature POD, plus the Deftones, White Zombie (industrial samplings and drum loops), Rage Against the Machine (POD takes them out, easily), and any other hard and heavy band you can think of, while still holding onto their own unique style. Don't go thinking that they're TOTALLY different, because they're not at all. But they have matured musically and have written the best material I've heard, from them, and the music industry in general. It's more refined, much better placement in the songs, I can't say enough.

The production is top notch, and I'm not kidding, the best. The drums are beautiful, as opposed to the "Brown" album quality. They're full and carry plenty of weight (Remember "Brown?" Ecchhh...) Guitars are full-on brutal, but clear and distinct. Marcos uses plenty of effects throughout the album, enhancing the song with a range of distortion to eerie effect. Traa slaps away on that bass like you have never heard. The best example of his playing is "Hollywood" (one of the coolest songs I've heard). He drops the low end for a beat, then goes off on the neck. It's rad. The album was produced by Howard Benson, who is responsible for Sepultura, as well as Motorhead. Chris Lord-Alge, who has worked on Rob Zombie's album as well as Suicide Machines, co-produced the album. There is definitely care and experience put into this.

Standout songs? They'd have to be the aforementioned "Hollywood" and "Outkast," which definitely will kick Limp Bizkit's butt off the radio. "Rock the Party" is an example of their musical changes, with the chorus having a White Zombie type feel to it, maybe Klank. It's good, don't worry if you don't like those bands.

In all of this, POD hasn't sacrificed their message, not in the least. Track seven, Set your eyes to Zion, is a beautiful, laid back, reggae song. It's not meant to be a heavy song at all, the lyrics are the showcase, and they're wonderful, praising God. The rest of the album is right on lyrically. They have not dampened their lyrics or boldness just because they're on Atlantic Records at all. It's awesome to think that this is going into mainstream distribution. If their music doesn't turn heads (like THAT will happen), then their message will.

If you love hardcore at all, get this album. Even if you don't like hardcore, get it. This album is a pinnacle in hard music, I love this album, it does not disappoint. (At 16 tracks and 58 minutes, it sure doesn't.) Oh yeah, they do an awesome cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky." And they have the essential funk jam on the album, as a hidden track at the end of the CD.