Sublime - Robbin' The Hood (2016 Remaster)

Sublime’s 1992 debut 40oz. To Freedom was already a bit of a weird one, a bloated 79-minute ride that employs samples of late ’80s hip-hop and classic Jamaican riddims for both the group’s original tunes and their many re-workings of reggae and obscure punk. Their follow-up, Robbin’ the Hood not only does away with allegiances to genre, but also traditional album structure and form.

In just under an hour, their sophomore album throws tape loops, field recordings, cheap digital dancehall riddims, 808 drum machine beats, bass-heavy studio jams, acoustic bedroom demo recordings, cowboy flick samples and the occasional scorching, dubbed-out punk song at the wall. If this sounds like a mess, it is. It’s coherently incoherent, though, with tracks blending seamlessly into one another, creating a sort of confident groove that resembles a great mixtape. 

Heavyweight double vinyl produced by Geffen Records in 2016. Gatefold sleeve.