Review Summary: KEEP ON ROLLIN' BABY
Yes, you want to laugh. Limp Bizkit are one of the more famous examples of a band in the form of a punchline. They have it all. The ridiculous lyrics, the inane fashion and one of the most notorious frontmen to ever grace this fine earth. To many, Limp Bizkit personify Nü Metal. That cringy, overly edgy metal/sort of rap combo that the weird kid in school would blast in the back of class. It's hard to believe that at one point, Limp Bizkit were one of, if not THE most popular bands on the planet. Their sophomore record 'Significant Other' has sold 16 million copies world wide and their most well known song ' Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)' will forever be engrained in the minds of the 90s generation. They're unabashedly corny, over the top and completely nuts. And the people ate them up. So much so that their third record, the amazingly named 'Chocolate Starfish and The Hot Dog Flavored Water' sold a staggering 1,055,000 copies in its first week. People went nuts for them, even if critics scorned them, they continued to sell albums and tickets to their notoriously aggressive live shows. Still people continue to unfairly brush them off as juvenile balderdash. Which is a shame because Limp Bizkit are ***ing great. Maybe this is the bias talking but I've always had a soft spot for these guys. Their in your face attitude, and the frankly spectacular musicianship of the band itself are massive guilty pleasures of mine. Even if they are nowhere near as popular as they used to be, Limp Bizkit still have a strong cult fan base. Many point to their second record as being their best, some say their latest album 'Gold Cobra' is (shoutouts to 'I Did it all for the Limp Bizkit memes' on fb) and some say their first. I agree with the latter option on that part but their third record 'Chocolate Starfish And The Hotdog Flavoured Water' comes pretty damn close.
By the time the album was recorded, The Bizkit had come to fully realise the stereotype of their band as dumb whiny metal and cranked up the irony dial to full scale. The band had been criticised for their violent, profanity laden lyrics, So Durst naturally wrote even more profane and aggressive songs. The opener 'Hot Dog' is a perfect example of this where Fred drops the F-bomb a total of 46 times. Yet, even behind the bravado and meat headed masculinity, Fred displays some more sensitive emotions. Behind the anger, he's lost and afraid. Standout track 'The One' combines a groovy backing track with excellent bass work by Sam Rivers, while Durst sings about a woman who he hopes can free him from the emotional pit he's in. Speaking of the playing, everyone is in top form. Lead guitarist, Wes Borland has always been praised for his guitar work, seen by many as one of the only redeeming features of the group. While I disagree with that idea, Borland has always been an excellent guitarist, combining blazing metal riffs with warped experimental playing. He's a creative force to be reckoned with and here, he's playing to his fullest. The explosive riffs on 'Take A Look Around' and the moody and echoey 'Hold On' are highlights on the record in regards to Borland's playing. John Otto's hip hop drumming is as clean and funky as ever and DJ Lethal provides some often gorgeous and murky ambience to the tracks perfectly.
Lyrically, it's Limp Bizkit, you shouldn't be expecting Shakespeare here (yes I know they quoted him on Significant Other). It's an angsty album about letting your demons out through screaming and punching stuff. It's music made for angry isolated kids and it always will be. Don't take it seriously, it's therapy music in all honesty.
This album isn't perfect though. God no. The record starts to drag near the end and There are some stinkers here. The hip-hop version of Rollin' which appears as the last (musical) track on The album, featureimg Method Man, DMX and Redman, is marred down by some frankly quite ***ty production by Swizz Beatz and the insane (10 minute!) outro featuring Ben Stiller of all people laughing on a loop for 4 minutes is completely unlistenable. Still it's an album with more style and humour than its contemporaries at the time. The singles are all pretty damn good and the deeper cuts such as 'Livin' It Up' and 'The One' are some of the Bizkit's best tracks. You may have brushed off Limp Bizkit at first, but give them another spin. This isn't a record you are meant to
Sit down and take seriously. It's a dumb head banging party record. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, don't deny it. You still know the lyrics to Rollin', don't you?
Standout tracks:
My Generation
Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)
My Way
The One
Take A Look Around
Boiler
Standout lyrics:
'It used to be a lie
And now it feels pathetic
And now I get it
What's done is done
You just leave it alone
And don't regret it' - Boiler
'YOU'LL GET KNOCKED THE *** OUT! 'CAUSE YOUR MOUTH'S WRITING CHEQUES YOUR ASS CAN'T CASH' - Full Nelson
