This 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 vocals will keep you listening. Each track rocks! The message rocks and the music rocks! I like this record more with every listen, and the public agrees. According to the band's web site, they are one of the fastest selling debuts in Atlantic Records' history. They are at about the 150 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and the "Heatseeker's" chart puts them at seven (as of 9/11/99).
The first half of the CD thrills. Songs like "Rock the Party (Off the Hook)" rocks as hard as the title implies. "Lie Down" has screaming vocals that destroy and "Set Your Eyes to Zion" has a reggae-like beat and lyric encouraging Jah Jah people to look to Zion from where their salvation comes. The second half of the CD begins with a rap-core cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky." A Hebrew reading of Psalm 150, with moody Eastern-like guitar music under it, then back to driving hard-core with "Image" and "Tribal," a great song of testimony pronouncing Jehovah Jireh as the provider of strength and the power that makes us tribal warriors. The last listed track is "Outkast," a sing-along anthem of alienation, but with the hope that comes from knowing Christ. The chorus chant goes, "I'm an outcast, but don't count me out."
Listen loudly, and listen with head phones, if you can, so you can catch all the subtleties built into this CD. If this mainstream debut is written off by secular radio or record stores, then they didn't give it a good listen or they can't take the uncompromised Gospel in these authoritative, compelling songs. The CD is worthy of buzz. And I'm hoping for more than a buzz, maybe a blast. ...but as for me and my house, kaboom!
4 tocks
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…Similar sounding releases
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