In my opinion, there is no more well known band from the 1990s than Sublime. There are many who might quibble with this assessment, but I put it to you thus: is there any group from the 90s that more people instantly recognize and sing along to than Sublime? Perhaps that isn’t the best way to define how well known a band is, but I believe it is a fairly decent assessment. Particularly so when there are countless high schoolers today who wear the shirts and own the albums, yet never once heard them play while they were still a group.
Sublime, CA. It might as well be a real city.
They are simply a cross-generational phenomenon, much like the Doors or Pink Floyd, yet don’t quite obtain the somewhat immortal status of a cornerstone like the Beatles or Stones. They are a highly recognizable cross-generational subset with lyrics that reach a particular type of teens and younger adults. They are a party band and have reached communal sing-along status.
Despite all of these assertions of cross-cultural and generational reach, they are a distinct geographic entity. Their musical amalgamation was most heavily influenced probably by dub-reggae, but utilized elements of punk and ska as well, granting a distinct So-Cal vibe to their music. There are, of course, direct geographic references to this locale in songs like “April 26th, 1992.”
But it is deeper within the music than just surface mention of a particular event. With songs of booze, broads, and distinct chauvinism, a particularly downtrodden existence is glimpsed. One that is peculiar to that area of California. This is especially true on a song like “Badfish” or “40 Oz. To Freedom.”
Musical Map of America: Part 3
In my opinion, there is no more well known band from the 1990s than Sublime. There are many who might quibble with this assessment, but I put it to you thus: is there any group from the 90s that more people instantly recognize and sing along to than Sublime? Perhaps that isn’t the best way to define how well known a band is, but I believe it is a fairly decent assessment. Particularly so when there are countless high schoolers today who wear the shirts and own the albums, yet never once heard them play while they were still a group.
Sublime, CA. It might as well be a real city.
They are simply a cross-generational phenomenon, much like the Doors or Pink Floyd, yet don’t quite obtain the somewhat immortal status of a cornerstone like the Beatles or Stones. They are a highly recognizable cross-generational subset with lyrics that reach a particular type of teens and younger adults. They are a party band and have reached communal sing-along status.
Despite all of these assertions of cross-cultural and generational reach, they are a distinct geographic entity. Their musical amalgamation was most heavily influenced probably by dub-reggae, but utilized elements of punk and ska as well, granting a distinct So-Cal vibe to their music. There are, of course, direct geographic references to this locale in songs like “April 26th, 1992.”
05-april-29-1992.mp3
April 26th, 1992
But it is deeper within the music than just surface mention of a particular event. With songs of booze, broads, and distinct chauvinism, a particularly downtrodden existence is glimpsed. One that is peculiar to that area of California. This is especially true on a song like “Badfish” or “40 Oz. To Freedom.”
02-badfish.mp3
Badfish
40-oz-to-freedom.mp3
40 oz to Freedom