P.O.D.
The Fundamental Elements of Southtown
Atlantic Records
1999

Payable on Death has done more than prove itself in the world of Christian music--it has proven it can hold its own in the secular world as well. Unlike most Christian bands (especially hardcore, punk and ska), P.O.D. has kept up with mainstream bands in musical ability. In fact, P.O.D. has actually set the standard for the rapcore genre, much like Rage Against the Machine did in the mid to late 1990's.

P.O.D. sets the standard for their genre by producing a variety of songs--the tracks don't sound identical to the one before. 'Checking Levels' and 'Freestyle' are almost entirely hip-hop, leaning much more towards hard rock than R&B. 'Rock the Party (Off the Hook)' combines both the hip-hop and hardcore/rapcore sides of P.O.D., making it one of the most-played hardcore songs ever on MTV. 'Hollywood,' 'Southtown,' 'Lie Down,' and 'Image' are very clean-cut hardcore rock songs. These tracks give the album the feel of a live show, but with the precision of a studio recording.

Perhaps the most striking song on this album is P.O.D.'s cover of U2's 'Bullet the Blue Sky.' Unlike many covers, P.O.D. adds some of their own temperament to the song. At the same time, they acknowledge The Edge by copying his simple but emotional guitar solo and background vocals almost identically. I respect P.O.D. for their ability to balance the work of a great musician with their own unique stylings.

While most hardcore bands have one instrument stand out--usually the guitar or drums--P.O.D. is composed of four equally talented musicians. This allows them to create a much fuller sound. This sound, coupled with P.O.D.'s great range of songs, make The Fundamental Elements of Southtown well worth listening to--from the Christian crowd to MTV. (Tom Y.)