Customer Reviews

The Fundamental Elements of Southtown

5 star:		(189)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

The Fundamental Elements of Southtown is very diverse in its stylistic nature. It ranges from reggae, to aggro, to hip-hop hardcore. This is likely a direct result of the diversity of band influences, bad brains, santana, etc. Key to note is the cover of U2's "bullet the blue sky," which now has the intensity of a mac truck! Other songs to note are the aggr-groove of "southtown", the reggae tone of "set your eyes to zion," the smooth yet intense "tribal," and punch in the face "outkast."

Invariably, parallels will be made to other bands in the "hard music" market. No fear, P.O.D. definetly has their own sound, independent of any other act. They have been putting out tunes since 1992, even before RATM and KoRn came to the scene.

Stylistically and musically a great album. Howard Benson did a marvelous job producing the cd as well. Look for P.O.D. on the main stage at ozzfest and on tour with KoRn in Europe later in the year.

I'd like to clear up something right now. This band keeps getting compared to bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and such. That's all fine and well. I realize that people are going to make comparisons. However, there's just one little thing that bugs me. People say "They're just copying Limp Bizkit" or "They are a takeoff of Korn." Well, P.O.D. has been making music for a year or two LONGER than Limp or Korn. Sort of hard to copy a band when that band came out AFTER you. :-)

I want to make sure something is understood, just so that people know. P.O.D has been around for quite a long time, playing venues and clubs when Korn was something you bought in the grocery store and Rage Against The Machine was something you did when you couldn't figure out how your new VCR worked, or your car wouldn't start. It cracks me up when people say "These posers sound just like Korn or RATM." Matt Pinfield, of MTV fame, recently said "I'd like to say something about P.O.D. that should have been said a long time ago...and it is this. I'd like to say how much the new Rage Against The Machine and Korn albums sound like P.O.D." Whether you like P.O.D. or not is something you decide for yourself. But check their history before you label P.O.D. as posers.

I love this band. I'v been with them for a while and i'm soo glad that they are now getting this much attention to share their faith and beliefs with others. Whats really cool is that this as the best rap-core you can get Secular or Christian, these guys sound a lot better than KoRn and Limp Bizkit. Theyve been around for longer too (8 years). Personally I like "Southtown" "Lie Dowm" "Set Your Eyes On Zion" "Freestyle" and "Outkast" I like "Psalm 150" a lot cuz itz one of my fave Bible Chapters, and itz done (I think) in Hebrew!

Dood, the best bands (To me, as of now) are Five Iron Frenzy, P.O.D., The Smiley Kids, Project 86, and MxPx

I discovered POD when I was 14, through Satellite. I discovered POD can rage as hard as Sepultura or Pantera, jam out kierll riffs like KORN (or better), fire out the same raw emotion as Nine Inch Nails or Deftones and thrash with the same attitude as Bad Brains or Rage Against the Machine.
POD are also the most diverse and most un-samey band I've ever heard. They fuse together Thrash, Latin, Punk, Reggae, Electronica, Metal and Funk (oh yeh Baby.) Wuv (the drummer) is my favourite drummer he is as technically brilliant as John Bonham (kids he plays for Led Zeppplin)and with rhythmic complexity like Igor Cavalera (sepultura.) Traa's bass lines are as funky and diverse as fieldy (KORN) and Marcos' guitars although not always brilliant always have some Santana flavoured licks to his latin nu metal jams. Sonny's vocals have that Zack De La Rocha (ratm) attitude and the emotion of Jonathan Davies (KORN.)
The only problem is the fillers which there are 4 or 5 of which are quite pointless.

P.O.D.s first major release The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown was an instant hit and is still one of my faverites.
Let me give you a song-by-song review.

Greetings. This was an okay intro but I mostly skip this song.

Hollywood. This is pretty cool, but not a standout song. it talks about material things don't make you happy.

Southtown. One of the best songs P.O.D. has ever made. It talks about life on the streets.

Checkin' Levels. My only complaint about this song is it's to short. Great rapping by Sonny.

Rock The Party ( Off The Hook ) This song is what shot P.O.D. to fame on MTV. It talks about having good clean fun and spreading God's love.

Lie Down. It is another great song with great rapping and cool hard core sounds.

Set Your Eyes To Zion. This isn't my faverite song but is still worth checking out.

Lo Siento. It is an okay song but theres no singing. Just skip to the next one.

Bullet The Blue Sky. This song is kind of wierd. I don't know what P.O.D. is talking about in this song. But they do mention Jacob wrestling with God. I'd give it a 6-10.

Psalm 150. This is cool because you hear Psalm 150 in Hebrew.

Image. I like the hard sound to this. One of my faverites on this cd. Some people think it's okay, but I realy like it.

Shouts. All they do is thank thier fans. Nothing big.

Tribal. A hard core rapping with a great chorus. A standout track.

Freestyle. Another great rap song. Great chorus.

Follow Me. P.O.D. says what Jesus say in the Gospel. Cool song.

Outcast. When P.O.D. says outcast, they are saying Christian.
Listen to the surprise at the end. You'll have to fast forward some but it is a cool sound.

I like this cd because P.O.D. shows that they don't forget where they came from. If you like hard core but want happy positive lyrics, get this cd.

It's very refreshing to hear a band that has gone beyond the shallow motivations of the "nookie", fame, or cash, not to mention contributing hard-edged music that doesn't whine about how crappy life is.

POD is an excellent band as well. I guess that's just what happens after you've been playing for eight years. The Fundamental Elements is by no means POD's first album. I know of at least three others. So it kinda bothers me when people make the ignorant assumption that POD ripped off KoRn, Limp, or any of those other rapcore bands. But you won't hear POD complaining about that injustice, they play for an audience of One.

POD has what you want to listen to.

This cd simply rocks. All of the songs are powerful, and it has a great sound. What I don't understand is why people say that P.O.D. "got their style" from Limp Bizkit or Korn. Well, the truth is that P.O.D. has been around since 1992--longer than Limp Bizkit and Korn. And besides, P.O.D. has their own style and are a unique band with a great sound and a great message. So take my word for it and GO BUY THIS CD!

For those of you who enjoy music a little harder, this CD is for you. All you Christian music fans, buy this CD. Support P.O.D. and their witness to the world. They make a statement through their awesome music. JAH PEOPLE RIDE ON!

This is the raddest album that I have bought in I can't remember how long. Wuvy is dope on the drums, Marcos plays the guit like no tomorrow, Traa is just MONEY on the bass, and Sonny... Well, what can I say... Sonny is just flat out good. This album is just great. Tracks such as "Outkast", "Tribal" and especially "Southtown" are so well crafted, it is scary. The songs are tight, and the band has grown since Snuff the Punk came out all those years ago. In short, get this album now.