Where's the P.O.D. love?

[murlough23]

So, I was just listening to the new P.O.D. album, Testify, and you know what, it's not too shabby. If you can ignore the numerous places where they name either themselves or their geust stars, of course. But I've got to give 'em credit for getting guest vocals from artists as diverse as Matisyahu, Katy Perry (formerly Katy Hudson), Psycho Realm, and Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. (Yeah, I had to look those last two up.)

it seems like my love, or at least like, for P.O.D., works as a pendulum. I hated 'em in the Southtown days, because it ticked me off that groups as lyrically blunt and abrasive as P.O.D. could get mainstream recognition while more "intelligent" Christian bands like Switchfoot didn't. (Ironic that Switchfoot was one of the ones I chose to mention in making that complaint.) Then Satellite came out and I loved them. Darn catchy record, and still among my favorites from 2001. Then Payable on Death came out in 2003, and I was back to mercilessly making fun of them, this time for watered-down music and lyrics that bounced back and forth between being totally cliche and just plain not making sense.

Now, I think I like 'em again. But we'll see as I go back and give Testify a more thorough, careful listen. It's certainly a good balance of hook value and heaviness - something that Payable on Death came up short on in both departments. So, consider me a semi-fan for the time being.

[dgp11776]

It's certainly on my short list to pick up.  TheWanderer will rip on us for our P.O.D. opinions (if you've ever read any thread on P.O.D. on any forum, you would know that, in his opinion, Brown was their best, Satellite was a sell-out, and Payable On Death was wonderful).  I'm completely in-line with your opinions on P.O.D.  If that makes us less than "true fans," so be it.

[murlough23]

Wanderer's apparent opinion on the matter doesn't surprise me as all, until you get to the "Payable on Death was wonderful" part? And he thinks this... why?

The older albums, I see as being a different genre, because they're much more underground and less melodic. That's just a style I can't get into, so I don't really have the proper perspective from which to praise or criticize those albums.

NP: "Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)", Sufjan Stevens

[dgp11776]

Well, I'm really enjoying this album.  I get a similar vibe that I felt after hearing Satellite for the first time.  The album is just a lot of fun.  I had nearly forgotten how solid P.O.D. could be when they got their sound right.  And, I'm once again reminded that Sonny is really a great rapper.  

[bdg13disciple]

i just got this on Monday and i am a bit torn on it...
i do like it for the most part, it's far better than the self-titled thing they put out a couple years ago...


peace... love... bdg...

[murlough23]

And, I'm once again reminded that Sonny is really a great rapper.

That was what was missing from Payable on Death. It was a self-titled record, supposed to represent their rebirth as a band, and instead they removed an important element of their style, and didn't put much of anything interesting in its place.

I realize that rap/rock, as a trend, is pretty much dead. But it's a style that I still like, and if it's what a band does well, and a type of music that they like, they should keep doing it instead of feeling pressure to conform to what the public wants. Payable on Death smacked of false maturation - "Hey, look, we're actually singing because we're not a trendy rap/rock band any more!" Now, sometimes P.O.D. can be incredibly melodic and powerful when they sing, so I'm not knocking that, but I think their strength lies in the ability to do both. That's why Satellite was such a strong album.

Of course, there are those who think they should just scream and be loud and not "sell out" to get played on the radio. Everyone has their preferences, and there will always be some oldschool holdouts, I guess. I just think they wrote more memorable songs on Satellite. We'll see if that holds true over time for Testify.

[danny316]

I suppose I still like POD. "Eternal" was a good song, and I liked most of Satellite. I thought the lyrics to the song on the pub were pretty stupid. Between that and hating the self-titled, I'm not exactly looking forward to their next album.

I'll read Murlough's review when it's up, and maybe buy it if I see it dirt cheap, but otherwise I think I'll sit this one out. I haven't listened to much of them in a while, and I really don't see a reason to get back into them.

[murlough23]

You know what's weird about this POD album? The songs stand out from one another, and they are very melodic and catchy, but most of them blow by without really impacting me. That makes it hard to figure out a grade for the album.

Danny, I thought the lyrics to "Say Hello" were some of the better ones on the disc, so judging from that, you might want to steer clear.

[Guest]

Satellite was more memorable and catchier because it was more poppier and not as heavy as they had been before.

[Tom]

i wanted to like this album. in fact, ever since they got Jason Truby, (a fellow Arkansan and a guitarist i respect) i really hoped to like POD more. i thought since Truby was in Living Sacrifice he'd perhaps take POD to another, and heavier level.

and while his playing IS great, it is about all they have going for them now. with all that talent, why is this album so...well blah?

Murlough is right, the songs do seem to run by without making much of an impact, although they are sonically diverse. and the lyrics...meh. i'm disappointed.

[dgp11776]

GAH!  I suppose I'm in the minority here.  I am actually liking this album quite a bit.  Sonny's rapping is about the best it's been.  The guest spots by Matisyahu are excellent...I love the bit or reggae he adds to the mix.  I think the album is the right mix (for me) of being melodic, heavy, and pop-based all at the same time.  The guitar work by Jason is tremendous.  The bits of screaming here and there add the right touch, as well.  I'm really digging "Roots In Stereo," "Lights Out" (sounds like "Boom," oh shucks!) "Sounds Like War," "Mistakes & Glories," "Teachers," "Strength Of My Life" (the harmony between Sonny and Matisyahu is positively gorgeous), "Say Hello," and "Mark My Words."  Hmm, looks like that's 8 of 13 songs...none too shabby.

[ajyouthguy]

It hasn't blown me away, but it's growing on me with each listen...

[murlough23]

I'd be curious to know what folks think of "On the Grind". It's interesting to have more of a striaght-up hip-hop song on the record, and the guest rappers seem to be good at what they do... but the intro verse in particular seems to be glorifying the "hustling" lifestyle. Did homey just say something about breaking the hymen? :X

The vocorder effects or whatever during the chorus don't quite fit P.O.D.'s style, either.

[Aaron]

I'd be curious to know what folks think of "On the Grind". It's interesting to have more of a striaght-up hip-hop song on the record, and the guest rappers seem to be good at what they do... but the intro verse in particular seems to be glorifying the "hustling" lifestyle. Did homey just say something about breaking the hymen? :X

The vocorder effects or whatever during the chorus don't quite fit P.O.D.'s style, either.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pod/onthegrind.html



They are talking about people's virgin ears and not being exposed to the ghetto lifestyle that alot of these guys came from.  That's my take.  The lyrics are in that link

[murlough23]

They are talking about people's virgin ears and not being exposed to the ghetto lifestyle that alot of these guys came from.  That's my take.  The lyrics are in that link

That's a good interpretation, actually, but I still didn't need the anatomical reference.

NP: "Say Hello", P.O.D.

[some kid]

That's a good interpretation, actually, but I still didn't need the anatomical reference.

NP: "Say Hello", P.O.D.

ew, I can't believe they put that in there.   :X  

[bloop]

That's a good interpretation, actually, but I still didn't need the anatomical reference.

NP: "Say Hello", P.O.D.

Actually, I think that was one of the few pieces of that song that I thought didn't suck.

[murlough23]

Actually, I think that was one of the few pieces of that song that I thought didn't suck.

Duly noted. If I ever write a song with you in mind, I'll make sure it includs the word "scrotum" somewhere.

[ajyouthguy]

[murlough23]

[bloop]

There isn't much that makes me uncomfortable, but in this case I just thought it was an interesting way to make the "virgin ears" thing literal.  Maybe it was reading my goofy friend's "hymen sermon" that desensitized me.  

And I defy you to include "scrotum" in your song in any kind of an interesting way.  Just including it isn't interesting, by itself.

[murlough23]

There isn't much that makes me uncomfortable, but in this case I just thought it was an interesting way to make the "virgin ears" thing literal.  Maybe it was reading my goofy friend's "hymen sermon" that desensitized me.  

And I defy you to include "scrotum" in your song in any kind of an interesting way.  Just including it isn't interesting, by itself.

I was kidding, obviously.

I realize there isn't much that shocks you, but because of that, I think you think it's cool when bands do things that don't shock you but shock other people.

[bloop]

Hmm . . . not so much cool as it is funny.  I'll admit that I'm interested in what shocks others and why things like this do.  It all seems clinical to me.

[murlough23]

Hmm . . . not so much cool as it is funny.  I'll admit that I'm interested in what shocks others and why things like this do.  It all seems clinical to me.

Guess you should've been a gynecologist.

Just kidding.

I'm also intrigued by what things shock and offend people who are more easily shocked and offended than I... but I'm not always amused or entertained by the use of such things in art, unless it's a case where it just needs to be said to make a point. This didn't strike me as one of those cases, I guess.

On a different subject, here are my favorite P.O.D. songs:

1. Youth of the Nation
2. Satellite
3. Thinking About Forever
4. Eternal
5. Boom
6. Sleeping Awake
7. Alive
8. Asthma
9. Will You
10. Rock the Party (Off the Hook)
11. Wildfire
12. School of Hard Knocks
13. Say Hello
14. Set Your Eyes to Zion
15. Southtown

Some of the new ones may further penetrate the list as I listen to Testify more. It's taking a while for most of 'em to stick, though.

NP: "Wizad Needs Food, Badly", Five Iron Frenzy

[bloop]

[murlough23]

[bloop]

[murlough23]

Resurrecting an old thread because I finally reviewed the album.

http://www.epinions.com/content_234227732100

NP: "House on the Lake", Rosanne Cash

[ewok20t3]

I loved POD in the Southtown and Satellite days but I'm not liking much since Marcos left.

[ajyouthguy]

i'm somewhat surprised you liked it as much/rated it as high as you did.  i wanted to like it, really badly, but it had ZERO sticking value with me.

[murlough23]