Review Summary: Limp Bizkit came into 99 with a focused sound and focused target. Durst raps instead of screaming, and Boreland glides rather than crunch. It surpasses Korn's follow the Leader in nearly every category(both being of similar breeds). This is Limp at the
Its a bit shocking that Limp Bizkit open up an album with a take on the mantra once uttered by Kiss to signify greatness"You wanted the worst...you got the worst...Limp Bizkit". Of course things have changed since then, ever since Nirvana made it uncool to be cocky, modesty(more self loathing later) became a must for an artists disposition. No its profound because although L.B demotes themselves with these words they are in no way modest. After all there very much into hip hop posturing which is all (for what they think) about showboating. Yet perhaps this is Durst's way of flipping off the class right before presenting his science project. After all if you set your standards at *** it can't get much worse.
Enter in Otto's "fat ass beat" were Durst now instructs you to get up leading the mosh on "Just Like This. In Comes Borelands prog-nerd, aphex twinish guitar layering techniques that glide rather than crunch, whose avant garde tendancies definatley make Limp Bizkit rock(a common cliche among former fans is "ya limp sucks but Wes was a god") were the band easily transfers from heavy rock techniques into a hip hop vibe. From their Durst, the man that just informed you he sucked, now is instrucking you to do it "just like this" bragging about his bands skillz and his partying ablilitys. After the end it transfers right into Nookie, possibly one of the dumbest songs to be released as a single on rock radio. I mean "stick it up your YEAH" sounds more like a kid on the playground afraid of the four letter word. Yet everything about it sounds organic the beat the guitar line. I can't even stop myself from singing along to the chorus.
Durst has a lot of problems in this world, fighting them head on with tough guy growls or white boy raps, but unlike 3 dollar bills y'all he's the victim rather than a guy calling out the phonies. He's got beefs with his significant other (Nookie), moochers (I'm Broke), critics who can't seem to cut him a break (1999) and he even feels guilty about the empty sex he's been having (No Sex) which is a sign of maturity, possibly one of the few moments on the album.
Limp operates in primarily two fashions, their either moshing out their problems, tackiling them with posturing and toughness. On Break Stuff Fred is overloaded with Testosterone and ready to demolish everything in his path. Of course this comes off as more fantasy then reality "I've got the chainsaw". But when their not pumping their fists their depressed. On Don't Go Off Wandering theirs a sense of defeat were Durst pleads his case and Johnathin Davis (Korn) plays the Significant Other. All wraped up by a chorus by Stp frontman Scott Wieland who naturally makes this feel more angsty and helps to elevate this track out of self loathing. With Re-Arranged Durst seems to ponder his recent desicion to call it off with his girlfriend, yet he niether sounds angry nor depressed instead he comes off with rap metal philosophy "heavy is the head that wears the crown". All this under Dj scrathes "think about it", and aphex twin like background sounds. Capped off by Boreland who plays it subtle never tempted by the urge to just let it ripp, with a bridge thats very impressive, a crecendo and an end to the relationship. This is probally the only moment where he actually sounds certain.
Speaking of guest stars, Method Man makes an appearance on N2gether now, the one track firmly rooted in rap, and suprisingly Durst holds his own pretty well against one of most talented Wu-Tang Clans, and perfectley summarises Limps place in culture. Even Meth offers a perfect eulogy to the song "It ain't easy being greasy, in a world full of cleansliness".
So did they surpass expections they set at the begining for themselves? Of course. This is an album of 99'. A year that marked the transfer from the youths soundtrack going from rock to rap. For one time and probally the only time, Durst came off as likeable and even somewhat smart. Yet even though Limps status has been whitewashed (no one seems to want to talk about their youth were they cranked this) and rap-metal seems like an idea that was cool at the time but was just stupid, this album actually seems to find new crowds (granted the circle continues to get smaller). Probally only in 99 could Limp become one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
