POD – Brown

Description

Brown is the sophomore studio album by the American alternative metal band P.O.D., independently released on Rescue Records in October 1996. The album was recorded by Loren Holmquist, assisted by Eric Smith, at Signature Sound in San Diego, California; with the band producing. Mixed at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California. All songs written and arranged by the band. All samples, cuts and scratches by “Mikeski” DeGracia for Mad Funk Muzik.

If you like stuff by Rage Against The Machine or Downset and, like me, you were disappointed with Every Day Life then this is the band for you. ‘Brown’ is POD’s second album and is on a label owned and run by the band. The CD begins in laid back hip-hop style but it soon gets heavy. It is wrong to try and pigeon hole this talented band as they mix styles very skilfully, the opening song, «Know Me» is pure rap hardcore whereas «Full Colour» is based around a funky bass riff. And if you’re looking for plenty of good riffs, this CD has an abundance of them. Sonny’s voice is sometimes reminiscent of Orange 9mm singer Chaka Malik and gives the songs plenty of emotion. Lyrics are about gang culture and violence, as you’d expect from most rap albums. However, there is a lot of soul searching and passion in quite a few songs such as «Full Colour» where Sonny asks, “Why did my mommy have to die,” followed by a pledge to carry on searching for God’s heart. POD oppose misconceptions of God and make their intentions clear in «Selah»; “I be all in your state my case even if you took me out there’s another to take my place.” This is a quality rap/metal album by a band who know how to make it work. My only regret is that «Reggae Jam» and «Breathe Babylon» didn’t go on a little longer. Word has it that they will release a double album next so watch this space. [Jon Wilson, Cross Rhythms, February 1998]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/brown-remastered/156832105)

CD tracklist:

01. Intro – 0:48
02. Know Me – 4:33
03. Selah – 4:16
04. Visions – 3:28
05. Brown – 3:54
06. One Day – 3:57
07. Punks Rock – 1:44
08. Breathe Babylon (feat. Dirt) – 5:02
09. Funk Jam – 3:15
10. Preach – 2:29
11. Reggae Jam – 0:57
12. Full Color – 6:15
13. Seeking The Wise (feat. Dirt) – 4:31
14. Live And Die – 3:29
15. Outro – 0:41

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Rescue Records. Brown was re-issued three times after the original release of the album in 1996. In 1998, the first re-release had an alternate P.O.D. logo and the band’s full name, Payable on Death, on the front cover. A second re-issue, which included a new front cover as well as remixed and remastered audio, was released in 2000. The last re-issue of Brown was a Special Edition released in 2003 on an enhanced CD featuring the “Selah” music video, footage of P.O.D. performing “Breathe Babylon” live, as well as remastered audio.