Rant: Why Do People Love Sublime?

By Mack Rawden: 2008-06-18 18:40:05

Every single time I go to a party, I always overhear some variation of the same conversation.

We should put on some Sublime. I just feel like chillin’ out.
Woah! You like Sublime too?
Love it! Did you know the lead singer died right after he had a kid?
Yeah, it’s so sad. They only got to like put out three albums or something.
I know! That dude’s voice just mellows me out. We should see if someone will put on “Santeria.”
I’m down.

Will someone please explain to me any of the following: A) Why everyone who likes Sublime assumes they’re the only person in a thirty mile radius who has ever heard of the band? B) Why Sublime is treated like auditory Valium? C) Why they inspire such reverence when they’re just a poor man’s Sugar Ray?

Let me get something straight: I don’t dislike Sublime. They’re okay. Every few months, I’ll put on their self-titled album and sing along. “What I Got” is genuinely a beautiful little song, and the LP has a nice cohesive flow, almost a fluidity where each track just rolls into the next. But come’on people. It’s not The White Album. It’s not even The Blue Album. It’s a slightly-above average collection of marginally catchy riffs with goofy, sometimes downright stupid and incomprehensible lyrics. The fact Bradley Nowell shot heroin one too many times in a failed attempt to deal with life before the CD came out doesn’t make it any better. Guess what? Heath Ledger’s dead and 10 Things I Hate About You is still a nice little teen comedy–not fucking Citizen Kane.

It probably strikes you as a little strange I’m penning a diatribe about a band I have no real problems with, but think of this piece as more of a mission to get to the bottom of a decade old mystery. I’m practically searching for Atlantis here. I need answers, and I think I’m entitled to them. Just call me Miss Marple. So, bring the Butler, the old man’s mistress, and the brother-in-law and assemble ‘em around the refurbished mahogany dinner table. British accents are preferred but not required.

Let’s examine the I’m-the-only-Sublime-fan hypothesis first. I suspect the average enthusiast who feels this way has a lot in common, at least in mindset, with certain Nick Drake fans. Nick Drake is relatively famous. Most people who fancy themselves as hardcore music fans are well aware of his three albums. But, strangely, many of them still feel like they’ve discovered a diamond in the rough, and they zealously inflate their own elitism by informing other less distinguished music fans of his greatness. Could this perceived superiority be driving the Sublime conversations? Maybe.

What about the auditory Valium? Why does Sublime inspire white faux-thugs to mellow out and chill? Well, I suspect many of them feel like Bradley Nowell has street cred. He’s a ruffian; he died livin’. So, when his soothing voice comes on, they all instinctively choose that moment to relax and reflect. After all, even the most hardened pot dealer needs an occasional break from his threatening rhetoric to sprawl out on the couch and ponder what it all means. His crooning about riots, titties, and knife fights is largely irrelevant. Maybe.

What about the poor man’s Sugar Ray accusation? Well, in all honesty, this may have been a little bit of an overstatement on my part, but I really think the comparison holds up better than a balsa wood bridge. Both bands, at some point during their careers, had darker undertones, but only when most of that was stripped away, exposing a more pop-friendly, almost happy core did they really find their niche. Maybe.

I don’t know. I think I’m right. Maybe? I don’t get it. I’ve already admitted as much, but I think this theory would at least advance past the planning stages of a thesis pitch. If you have any information as to why Sublime is so revered, plus speak now, or hold your breath, at the expense of my always assuming I’m right about everything.

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MacGruber Says:
June 20th, 2008 at 13:52
I've pondered the same thing for years. Most overrated band EVER.

cubitfox Says:
June 24th, 2008 at 15:44
I think you miss the entire point of sublime. Plus the whole comment about Sublime fans liking them because they are mellow is ridiculous, most of their songs deal with heavy topics like abuse, loneliness, poverty and street life. Its actually pretty heavy music, just listen to the lyrics of Santeria or Wrong Way. Plus, they're overall great musicians when it comes to skill and their willing to experiment with ska and punk. And we Sublime fans understand that there's A LOT of us out there, its hard to drive down the street without hearing being pumped out of a car stereo.

Kristen R. Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 04:30
Ouch. Poor man's Sugar Ray?! Mark McGrath and company are poor man's music to begin with! Sublime's music is fun, groovy and good for summertime cruisin'. It doesn't come across as insincere posing. You can tell the band generally enjoyed themselves. It comes across in their lyrics and the production. I didn't know that people regard them with some special reverence. That seems a bit much.

ok Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 02:05
i just searched the internet looking for ppl who don't like sublime
lol
to figure out what reasons they had
and your main reason is "ppl who like sublime think they're the only ppl who like sublime"
which may or may not be true, but it doesn't matter, because it's not a reflection on the music

meh. i know that sublime is epic (aka popular, and will be for a long time). so yeah. i still like em quite a bit

rima Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 15:47
I understand the point of your "rant" i know you just want to understand why people like sublime, but i dont really care, let me tell you why "I" like them, i didnt at first, but my boyfriend at the time liked them, so i looked more into it, i didnt like alot of the songs, but the ones that are less commertial offer a sort of sanctuary of how brad and his band members found facinating and little life problems and how to look at a pawnshop as a beautiful and gritty place. If i ever went to jamica and found happiness its thanks to sublime. R.I.P. Brad Nowell

DJ B Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 18:14
First, its obvious people have different tastes in music. Look at hot "acts" right now, such as the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus! As a musician who has devoted years of learning to instruments and who writes my own music I lay awake at night wondering how they are popular. I feel like I am taking crazy pills every time I turn on the radio. Thom Yorke says its nothing more than a "fridge buzzing" to him and I totally agree.

But, I got into sublime 2-3 months before Bradley Knowell overdosed (dumbass, lol)... and Ive liked them ever since.
Look, they may have been too bombed to play live and didnt even live to see their success (Brad didnt) but you seriously cannot deny what they had done. Where else could you have hip hop, reggae and punk all in one song and have it sound good!?
Sublime wrote great relevant music, which still clings to us today. When we play at parties, people like to hear badfish, smoke two joints, wrong way, etc. and I dont blame them.
I would really love to hear what youre taste in music is. Ill respect your opinion while I cry laughing, I am sure.
You need to lighten up and listen to them more thoroughly. Its not as easy to absorb as the blue album. Rivers music is very elementary.

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Rant: Why Do People Love Sublime?

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