Review Summary: Arguably the best album of the 1990s.
Sublime embodies the city of Los Angeles during the 90s. They created a revamped style of sixties psychedelic mind expansion music and adapted it to contemporary 90s sounds of punk, hip-hop and reggae. This remarkable demonstration of craft was accomplished primarily by the heart and soul of the group: the masterful Lead Singer and Guitarist Bradley Nowell, who died shortly after recording their last album
Sublime in 1996. While the death of the all-time great guitarist/vocalists in history certainly gives this and other albums a deeper feel and tremendous nostalgic effect in retrospect,
40 Oz. to Freedom was considered a contemporary classic upon its release in 1992 for its musical brilliance alone.
40 Oz. to Freedom represents the city of LA by combining Latino, Black and White styles and tastes. The album is as culturally and musically diverse as any of the 90s. This is shown by songs written entirely in Spanish like “Chica Me Tipo”, but also more subtly through the vocals and melody of Nowell, who alternates between sounding like a reggae artist, rapper and punk rock singer on different tracks. Regardless of the style of the vocals, Sublime has a knack for making the songs immediately catchy while giving them replay value decades later. They simply have mastered their instrumentals (guitar and bass primarily) and vocals, and have a message that is both important and fun.
As it’s title and cover art suggests,
40 Oz. to Freedom obviously deals with drugs and alcohol, but not as often as you might think. In fact only two tracks are entirely dedicated to the topics, “40 Oz. to Freedom” and “Smoke two Joints”. These songs should not be confused as frivolous tracks recounting drug abuses that have become typical in modern times. Instead, they deal with the love-hate relationship of alcohol, pondering with soulful lyrics like “Life is one big question when your starin' at the clock, and the answers always waiting at the liquor store... A 40 Oz. to freedom is the only chance I have, to feel good, even though I feel bad…” “Smoke two Joints” is about the falsely assumed social consequences of smoking weed, and its actual stress-relieving and enlightening benefits. These sort of messages are typical of young adult beliefs in the 90s, while misunderstood and criticized by most of society, the 90s generation had a subtle form of morality that is reflected in songs like “Date Rape”. A song that strongly criticizes and ridicules taking advantage of women through the story of a man who ‘date rapes’ a women at a bar and ends up being raped in prison.
The album more often deals with sex than any other topic, usually the retelling of the adventures of Bradley Nowell’s ‘little hoe’ of a girlfriend. Sometimes it deals with everyday topics like appreciating having his dog. Yet more often it deals with questioning the commonly held beliefs and lifestyles of the nineties on tracks like “5446 That’s My Number”. The album also features an impressive tribute song to hip hop legend KRS-One, thanking KRS-One for teaching information their teachers would have never discussed about the welfare state, animal cruelty and racism. This track reveals an obvious motivation and influence for the blending of so many culturally different styles: Sublime possessed a knowledge and appreciation of early Hip Hop, and presumably was well versed in the finer tastes of other forms of music as well.
The best place to start if hesitant about listening to the 22 track album is “Badfish”, an immensely enjoyable single oriented around a chill acoustic guitar, that effortlessly creates a beach atmosphere in environments as miserable as your workplace. Yet this album is a masterpiece and there is no reason it shouldn't be heard in full by
any fan of punk rock
or hip hop. This album would be a great entry point for a fan of hip hop trying to dive into punk rock, or vice versa.
40 Oz. to Freedom stands in between both styles, but what makes it unique is it is not concerned with mixing styles, it just is what it is. Sublime was a band that was comfortable in their own skin. They were able to create candid and genuine music that touches the hearts and souls of all races and cultures by effortlessly and unapologetic-ally drawing on the influences of many cultures and races. So if you want to call this a white man’s hijacking of cultures and styles, just know that if Nowell were still alive, he’d be the first to tell you “I know, and I know because of KRS-One”.
