Description
The Fundamental Elements of Southtown is the third studio album as well as the major label debut by the American alternative metal band P.O.D., released on Atlantic Records in August 1999. The album was recorded February – April 1999 by Bobby Brooks at Mates Studios in North Hollywood, at The Gallery in Sherman Oaks, and at Sparky Dark Studio in Calabasas, California; with Howard Benson producing (who also played keyboards on the album). Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, Bobby Brooks and Howard Benson at The Gallery and at Image Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The album marks their Atlantic Records debut, and went on to become the band’s first platinum album, peaking at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 chart in April 2000. It was the 143rd best-selling album of 2000 in the United States. The album track “Rock the Party (Off the Hook)” peaked at No. 1 on MTV’s Total Request Live. The album includes a cover of U2’s “Bullet the Blue Sky“. The album was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in March 2000, and Platinum (one million copies sold) in November the same year.
The hard-core quartet P.O.D., from San Diego’s Southtown neigborhood, is stepping up from its Tooth & Nail introduction to create a major buzz with this Atlantic Records’ debut. Titled for its home, members of P.O.D. take their musical cues from the hard street of their childhood. Mixing loud rock and the aggression of punk, P.O.D. throws in rap vocals, the odd reggae groove, jazz or Latin rooted riff and hip-hop moves. The result shows the influence of hardcore amalgam precursors like Bad Brains, but with a bias toward modern hip-hop, P.O.D. finds its unique, culturally-rooted aural space.
Yet, alongside P.O.D.’s sonic assault, the group serves up an honest, street-worthy faith in the loving care of God. «Set Your Eyes to Zion» mixes reggae sounds with a Rasta-styled lyric speaking of being “Jah Jah people,” but the band’s dedications make clear that they are Christians, not Rastafarians – further illustrated with a strong Trinitarian expression.
«Follow Me», which has origins in an instrumental called «Sabbath» from the T&N EP, ‘Warriors’, quotes the teaching of Jesus: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” «Hollywood», «Southtown», «Outkast» and a blistering cover of U2’s «Bullet the Blue Sky» paint a stark picture of the world’s brokenness. «Lie Down», «Image», «Tribal» and «Freestyle» find the presence of the God who has entered the struggle to transform human life. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, January 2000]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-fundamental-elements-of-southtown/539448367)
CD tracklist:
01. Greetings – 1:29
02. Hollywood – 5:22
03. Southtown – 4:08
04. Checkin’ Levels – 1:06
05. Rock The Party (Off The Hook) – 3:24
06. Lie Down – 5:09
07. Set Your Eyes To Zion – 4:06
08. Lo Siento – 0:33
09. Bullet The Blue Sky – 5:18
10. Psalm 150 – 0:55
11. Image – 3:32
12. Shouts – 0:55
13. Tribal – 4:26
14. Freestyle – 3:57
15. Follow Me – 3:43
16. Outkast – 9:33
Note: “Outkast” lasts 4:16, hidden track “Tambura” begins at 6:22.
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