I hate finding roaches in the pot as much as Nowell. But what I hate more is realizing, every time I happen to listen to this album, that he ended it. He ended his life way before it should have ended, and the same could be said for his band. Sure, they continue on playing shows and picking up random people to try and fill in for him; however, if they think they're getting anywhere near their peak (yes, this album right here) than they would be mistaken. As much as Wilson and Gaugh think they are irreplaceable to the band, they aren't. Nowell ended the band's success the last time he chose to shoot up.
And what makes this the case? Someone who has a relatable personality. A person who knows firsthand of the injustice and tough reality of life, but still chooses to focus on and indulge in the pleasures anyway. In a sense, what gave Nowell his ever-enduring fame and 'best bro' stage presence also gave him his death sentence. Take for example the lyrics in the popular cut "What I Got", where he proclaims "I don't cry when my dog runs away. I don't get angry at the bills I have to pay. I don't get angry when my mom smokes pot, hits the bottle, and goes right to the rock". Life is hard. And yet there are still things in which you can find enjoyment, and you can still love the people in your life. It's the clear central message for the album from beginning to end.
The variety of styles played on the album really shows the compatibility the trio had with one another and their commitment to releasing something of quality. It's from the ska stylings of "Garden Grove", to the punk blast of "Same In The End" and the hip-hop fascination of "April 29, 1992 (Miami)", to the straight up reggae of "Pawn Shop" that the band shows they can play (and write about) anything. They pull off all the genre experimentation very well, and the only misstep taken is a second version of "What I Got", which was just included as a single for radio play. The influences on the band are countless, but there's nothing which feels stolen from other artists. It maintains a core of originality.
Few of the topics presented lyrically are actually happy, but a humorous approach often makes light of the subject matter. Some of the songs focus on poverty and the ruggedness of inner city life ("April 29, 1992 [Miami]", "Pawn Shop", "Wrong Way") while others ("What I Got", "Burritos", "Get Ready", "Doin' Time") find refuge in the joys of everyday activities. And it becomes apparent that, no matter how big their fan base became or how much money they pocketed, Sublime was still obsessed and drawn into the essence of the daily grind. It created legitimacy for their music, a strong relationship with their listeners, and an untimely demise to this legendary trio.
