Review Summary: St experimenting Funk Metal.
After a back to Punk roots album, Suicidal Tendencies came back in 2000 with Free Your Soul...And Save My Mind, an experimental Funk Metal album.
The general atmosphere of the album evolves around Punk and Metal riffs with Robert Trujillo's omnipresent bass and the psychedelic of Funk music. Some songs are very repetitive, like Su Casa Es Mi Casa, but the lack of evolution in the song is backed up by lots of solos from every instrument, something very enjoyable throughout the whole album. What you'll get in this album is basically a Punk/Metal rhythmic guitar, A funky solo guitar, Funky drums and Funky bass backed up by Muir's screaming and singing voice.
There is something that makes me enjoy this album while most people don't like it, it's probably that they added a lot more Funk style to their music without falling in a cliché, making their music evolving and not adopting Funk. Mike Muir decided to do something intelligent with this album, starting with the lyrics. It feels like he is constantly telling you to do something right, and be careful about what you do. This is definitely shown by the three min song Cyco speech in which like the title says Mike gives a rhythmic speech about thinking and acting. This could be annoying to some people but it's better than hearing “Suicidal' in every song in my opinion.
On the other hand this album lacks in true outstanding songs, there isn't really a songs that stands above all in quality. The hit single Pop Songs could have been on the previous album and is more of a joke song than a serious song (even though I'm sure Mike Muir is serious with his lyrics).
To end this review, I will say that this isn't a regular ST album. If you're looking for Thrash metal, Punk or Hardcore Punk album like in the old St days, this album isn't for you. As an amateur musician myself I do enjoy the work done on instruments in this LP and experimental side they've created.
Recommended songs:
Self Destruct
Charlie Monroe
Pop Songs
No More No Less
Free Your Soul... And Save My Mind
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