Customer Reviews

Second Hand Smoke

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

If you have heard that this CD is not as good as the other Sublime albums and are hesatating on buying it, stop reading this now and click on the add to shopping cart button. This album is awesome from start to finish and the new songs are amazing. From Superstar Punani to Romeo to Slow Ride the previously unreleased songs rock. Also the remixes of Doin' Time are both classics and very different from each other and the original song. Plus new versions of Garden Grove and April 29 are great and different and rival the versions on the self-titled CD. Bottom Line: If you've ever liked Sublime this album is a must-have.

I have been a Sublime fan for years and I have to say this is my favorite album. It's like an old friend, when you come across it you just get so happy! This is one of those cds you can take out at any time and listen to. Of all the songs, "Badfish" just makes me happy, and I find myself missing it often. I have owned this cd probably ten times and it keeps "disappearing". I am getting ready to order it again because I can't live without it! I am also getting "Sublime" since my husband wants that one again. We have really crappy friends... Not that I blame them. The only thing that I dislike about Sublime is that they won't be making any new albums. This album is worth the $12 or so, it's also worth buying over and over again.

Sublime is just one of those bands where their songs are SOOOOO great that if you bought their CD's, you'd still be listening to them years down the line on a regular basis. That's a good reason why this album came out, unreleased songs to satisfy the appetites of hardcore Sublime fans who's hearts were broken after Bradley's death. Anyways, I wanna let people know out there, that there's PLENTY more unreleased Sublime songs where this came from. At least a good 30 songs, many WAY better than the tracks on this CD. I hope one day another Sublime CD would be released with those songs, but in the mean time you could look for them online. Oh yeah, this album does kick ass, out of the four, it's third behind 40 oz and self titled but a step ahead of Robbin the Hood. R.I.P Bradley, no one will ever come close to you...

'second hand smoke' is a post mortem album that was compiled by micheal happoldt at the request (or maybe at the demand) of mca records to meet the band's 3 album commitment that their contract required. (the self-titled album and 'stand by your van' are the other two) most of the tracks are older, early demos that display a young band trying to make ameteur recordings sound like they are professionally studio polished. some of them even date back to the late 80's. some of these are throw-aways, but the track 'slow ride' is essential for any sublime fan, because it was one of the best songs that they wrote that was never included on any of their major releases prior to bradley's death. it is actually one of their best songs overall, in my opinion, and was an early indicator of bradley's lyric writing talent. 'had a dat' is another great track that doesn't get the respect it deserves as a great roots reggae track. 'trenchtown rock' might be the jewel of the album, and even though it is only about 80 seconds long, it is a beautiful rendition of the song and helps to distinguish bradley as a great singer and at the same time shows the love he had for reggae in general. a few other tracks stand out and are enjoyable to listen to, especially 'legal dub', which is a dub rendition of peter tosh's legendary cannibis-promoting track, and is a great cheeba-puffing song. some of the songs are available on other discs that the band released, like 'saw red' (from 'robbin the hood) and 'badfish' (from '40 oz. to freedom'), and others are remixes of sorts, like the two 'doin' time' reworks. mad lion appears on one of them and provides a dancehall flavor that i am not crazy about, but you may think it is really dope. the 'get out' remix is a solid track and has a heavy hip-hop feel along with cuts provided by marshall goodman, which is a part of the music that bradley really wanted to bring out into the open with songs that they would have recorded in the future. all in all, it is not the best disc sublime released, but it defintely has some excellent music contained on it, and is worth picking up if you are a fan of their music.

This is my favorite album of my sublime collection. It will take you 2 or 3 times to really start feeling the vibe on this compact disc. It may not have the more popular sublime songs(santeria, what i got, smoke 2 joints, etc.), but u can play the album from start to finish w/o skipping a beat. It flows like the mighty mississippi river. I recommend playing it on a sunny afternoon in your auto w/ the windows rolled down or smoking the funky grass or at the beach or at a dope party. It is very laid back, aka chill music. Here is a quick overview of each song:

1. doin time - "summertime and the livin's easy". DOPE
2. get out - funny, crazy. DECENT

songs 3-6 really go together nicely
3. romeo - gets your toes tapping. GOOD
4. new realization - just great tunes on this 1. GOOD
5. don't push - SWEET drums,music and vocals. Slow but Nice. DOPE
6. slow ride - if your in love u will love this song. BEAUTIFUL drums & vocals. CALIENTE!

7. chick on my tip - u might skip this 1 the 1st/2nd time but once u get through the 1st minute, its gets good. "O, OO if u change your ways" DECENT

8. had a dat - sadly the only song i skip. SKIP IT
9. trenchtown rock - tribute to Bobby. uh, O.k.
10. badfish - soft yet always get me in the party mood, a great song PARTY ON WAYNE

11. drunk drivin' - intro very short
12. saw red f. gwen stefani - U KNOW U CAN'T RESIST HER. GWEN IS HOT!

13. garbage grove - "garden grove" classic sublime GOOD
14. april 29th 1992 f. KRS-One - turn the bass way up on this 1. If your looking for trouble i beg u to play this awesome song. KRS-one's voice should be on the show COPS. SWEET JESUS!

15. superstar punani - fast & funky.u don't want it to end. SUPER
16. legal dub - alright just get out billy bong thorton and just legalize it, & we will advertise it. DOPE IS GOOD!

17. what's really goin' wrong - very ska like. DECENT
18. doin' time f. MAD LION - reggaed out version SMOOTH & NICE
19. thanx dub - instrumental, similar to instrumentals done by the beastie boys on a # of their alubms, but w/ more ska riffs.
A GOOD WAY TO END IT

conclusions: Give this album a few listening sessions. It is one of sublime's slower albums. It really displays the many talents of the late Bradley Nowell and sublime. It is really shines in the summertime, when the livings easy, on the microphone w/ ross m g. BUY IT NOW!

Sublime's first 3 records 40oz. to Freedom, Robbin' the Hood, and Sublime were all great hits. They established the band quite well and gave them a quite large following. After front man Bradley Nowell's death following Sublime(album) the band had many incomplete and rough recordings of songs they were working on. Those songs are what we hear on Second Hand Smoke.

While I don't think Second Hand Smoke holds up with the first 3 albums, most of all Robbin' the Hood, it is still a solid album with many great tracks. The recording quality of many of the songs is a bit rough, but considering the circumstances it's quite understandable and hardly diminishes enjoyment of the album. The better tracks on this album are(in order they appear on the album):

-Doin' Time [Uptown Dub]
-Get Out! [Remix]
-Romeo
-New Realization
-Slow Ride
-Chick on my Tip
-Trench Town Rock
-Drunk Drivin'

The first half of the album is definitley much stronger than the second, but all in all a great album. Also contrary to what I've read a few places the versions of Saw Red and Badfish on this album are no different from the ones heard on 40oz. to Freedom and Robbin' the Hood; they most likely just threw them in as filler.

In conclusion I say this album is definitely a good album to purchase if you already own Sublime's first 3 albums and enjoy them, but if you don't buy one of them instead.

Being as this is essentially a B-Sides album you can pretty much tell from the beginning that it will not be as good as the others. But that doesn't make it bad and considering that it is the closest we'll ever get to a fourth studio album I'll certainly take it and be happy. Most of these songs are in fact top notch quality, and the remixes of the older songs are particularly interesting especially garbage grove and the two doin' time remixes, both extremely different from each other and the original song. If you like Sublime you will like this album so if you are hesitant on buying it, don't be, just don't expect another instant classic.

anyone whose says this album is not good is out of it sure if the only album you know by sublime is the selftitle album this one is going to sound different thats because they took songs from other albums this a greatest hits album in a way. So if you say this isn't their best you don't know what your talking about. All of sublimes albums are the best. You crazy fools

sublime is one of the greatest ska, reggae, punk bands out there, second hand smoke is a diferent album but still great, only for sublime fans, if its your first time listening to sublime i sugest you buy "sublime" instead. still this album has some great songs such as "romeo", "superstar punani", "dont push", "slow ride" and bob marley cover "trench town rock" i like every song in this album, a very nice album to get high with :) i got all sublime albums and still find this one my favorite as well as "40 oz to freedom" and "sublime", definately a great album, buy it!! r.i.p bradley, we all miss you, rest in peace

I've always loved Sublime, but my general interests tend to stray from punk to bands with a more reggae based influence and jam bands. This is why Second-Hand Smoke is such a delight. If you're in the mood for something mellow to just kick back and enjoy, then definately pick up this album. It's definately got its punk moments, but most of the album is very relaxing, some of the best Sublime stuff I've heard. Highlights for me are the saxophone on the uptown dub, the amazing Trenchtown Rock which makes me quiver in my shoes, and the thanx dub. The reggae beats are all over this album, and if that's your style, like me, then don't pass up on this album. I can listen to every song without getting bored.