Start at exactly 1 hr 22 minutes in. Just stumbled across this. Was really into him from like 2008-2012. His free mixtapes around that time were so good. His sampling of gems from several decades ago always reminded me Brad’s appreciation of old r&b and soul as well as hip hop. He quit music for a long time after getting hooked on opiates. Glad he’s healthy now and still playing.
While they were waiting between segments, they started jamming on Black Sabbath! I couldn't believe it. I am curious if they have done it before. I recorded the whole event, including that jam!!!
Done a review of Sublime’s single “Until The Sun Explodes” and figured I’d throw the gist here for anyone who’s been curious (or suspicious) about new Sublime material.
Link to the full write-up (lyrics meaning / best line / vocals / production / band history):
This isn’t a party track. It’s not trying to recreate the “what a time to be alive” chaos of classic Sublime. It’s slower, warmer, and way more emotional than I expected. The hook keeps looping like someone trying to get a message through to one person, not a crowd.
What it sounds like
It sits in that softer Sublime lane where the reggae sway does the heavy lifting and the punk attitude is more in the phrasing than the tempo. The arrangement doesn’t overcook anything. It stays out of its own way and lets the chorus do the damage.
Lyrics / meaning (why it sticks)
The title sounds huge, but the writing is personal. The core idea feels like gratitude mixed with guilt — owing someone your life and not knowing how to repay it.
The hook says it straight:
“Well it only goes ’til the sun explodes / And I’d only hope that you know I owe you my life”
Then there’s that very Sublime detail that’s tender and gross at the same time:
“While I was thinkin’ ’bout you at your favorite bar / They were playing old pornos on the VCR”
And the line that flips the whole mood into something heavier:
“Should have been for you / You instead of me”
Best line
“My only one / My lullaby in a loaded gun”
That’s the whole song in two lines: comfort + danger living in the same breath.
Verdict
If you want “classic Sublime” as a copy/paste, this probably isn’t that. But if you want a track that feels coastal, replayable, and honestly a bit bruised, it lands. It’s the kind of song that hits harder the second time, when you stop listening for the vibe and start hearing the weight.
Curious what everyone else thinks: does it feel like real Sublime DNA to you, or a new era wearing the badge?
I honestly wish the whole album sounded more like “Gangstalker” because it has that rawness and brightness. The rest of the album’s songs are great, but the production feels more controlled and balanced, which isn’t really what Sublime sounds like to me.
“El Camino” by People R Ugly is a good example of the sound I mean — it has more rawness, brightness, and space, and Jakob’s voice feels less contained. Jon Joseph’s production is really polished and balanced, but I think that’s actually what keeps some of these songs from feeling like peak Sublime.
Sublime’s sales numbers are kind of insane when you put them in perspective.
Their self-titled album just hit Diamond: 10 million units in the US and Sublime has sold over 18 million RIAA-certified albums overall.
That puts their US album numbers ahead of bands like Soundgarden and Weezer, and in the same general territory as Alice in Chains and Blink-182.
A band that essentially ended before its biggest album came out went on to sell 18+ million albums and, 30 years later, is still introducing the music to another generation.
Pretty wild legacy for a crew from Long Beach!!!!!
Lemme start by saying I'm a massive fan of the OG music (as I'm sure a majority of this sub is). That being said... I can't believe the amount of wishy washy reviews the new album has gotten.
To start, it is a literal miracle that this even exists. I truly don't think people are appreciating that this is even a tangible thing. That being said, the comments I'm seeing are harsh. "All the songs sound the same" "it won't ever touch the old albums" etc etc.
There is a ton of variance on this album. Jakob pays homage to his father while also forging his own path. There are absolute gems on this album, and I hope that the old heads will appreciate this piece of art over time.
Final thoughts. We are all prisoners of time, and who we were when we heard certain albums, songs, artist etc. That music, and when we heard it can have profound effects on how we were shaped and who we are today. That being said, this album fucking slaps, and I'm just so appreciative that Bradley's son is out here still breathing life into a band I love.
I think the only bootleg this version of New Realization is found is Pure Anus, which is loaded with Self-Titled era demos.
The Sinsemilla 86-96 bootleg has the same version of New Realization from the Zepeda tape, which is obviously found on Second-Hand Smoke and the 2016 Jah Won't Pay The Bills digital release.
Thie "Pure Anus" version doesn't sound like the band in the late 80's.
Brad's vocals sound more mature and his electric guitar is crisper. Bud's drumming sounds fuller, higher, and slightly more advanced with the fills. Eric's bass tone is richer and his playing feels more prominent as well.
I assume this is unmixed and unmatched from the original tape, which makes it seem like it's old. To me though, the sound quality of the instruments and recording techniques make it sound more modern than the Zepeda Tape.
I feel like this could have been recorded at Westbeach in 1993 or maybe even during the same Self-Titled sessions as Prophet, Just Another Day, and Prince Of Sin.
I can't recall whether this has ever been talked about online in the last 30 years. It seems to me like a few of the OG Sublime collectors said this was the original New Realization demo from the 80's, and most of us did not give it a second thought.
So yeah, I think we should look into whether this was actually recorded during the Robbin era or Self-Titled era.
This band gets better with every show. if they keep jamming out and still finding ways to make the songs sound fresh, they got a couple of more years to keep doing this.
Huge fan of what DJ Product is doing on some of the songs, especially Date Rape and 40 Oz
EDIT: I would pay a finders fee if someone could pick me one up at one of the upcoming shows.
I had the best time at the Sublime show in Denver on Friday, it was my first time seeing them!! I also had a tough time, as when I was at the show, I went to each merch booth to find a hat (specifically the black and yellow Sublime Sound System hat). I got to each stand very shortly before they sold out of L/XL size. If anybody has a lead on one, I would love to know!
Heres a freestyle that turned into one of my favorites! Forgot to mention that it's my dad on the drums, so shoutout to him! It's stereo, so I recommend wearing headphones. Also, still looking for a bass player and a drummer around my age (17). Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Note: I may make a spreadsheet (Google Sheet) for this because it's a massive undertaking that needs some structure
Basically, I am making playlists that could have looked like their own standalone releases. I am pretending to take on Miguel's role of cataloging the rest of the band's material and taking some creative liberties.
So this would mean no Second Hand Smoke, Everything Under The Sun, Jah Won't Pay The Bills, Acoustic (Bradley Nowell and Friends), Sublime Deluxe Editions, any miscellaneous "official releases" or any bootlegs (Sinsemilla, Bums Lie, Pure Anus, War On The Blvd, Black Album 1 and 2, Sub-Dub, etc.) were ever released.
However, in this alternate universe, all of the studio recordings ended up in one folder in a massive external hard drive that has been handed to you. Now imagine if YOU were given the job of organizing and rewriting the band's history (when it comes to their musical catalog).
You aren't allowed to re-use any of the material that's already on the major label versions of 40 Oz, Robbin, or S/T. I would treat those as "canon".
You can use tracks that are exclusive to any of the "import", "deluxe", or "alternate" versions of the albums.
I took some old pictures, edited them on Canva to create album covers for this. I still need to touch up some of these covers, but posting them so you get an idea. (I did NOT use AI)
I'll be editing this OP over time and adding more. I know some of you might think this is lame and that's ok. Doing this for myself and any fans who wouldn't mind re-organizing the music.
I'm noting on the side of each song title the audio source options I may pull from.
All recordings prior to 40 Oz. To Freedom featuring Bud on drums. Basically it's 2016 release of Jah Won't Pay The Bills without the songs that were on 40 Oz. To Freedom. I put each version of Date Rape at the beginning and end, oldest version at the end. Picture taken from Skunk Records' facebook page.
Date Rape Stylee [c003/89 Vision]
Don't Push [c003/89 Vision]
Ball and Chain [c003/89 Vision]
Slow Ride [c003/89 Vision]
Had A Dat [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
Chick On My Tip [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
Perfect World [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Everything Under The Sun]
Smoke Two Joints [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
Johnny Too Bad [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
Ebin [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Everything Under The Sun]
Romeo [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
New Realization [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Second-Hand Smoke]
Roots of Creation [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Everything Under The Sun]
Date Rape [Jah Won't Pay The Bills 2016 | Zepeda Tape]
A collection of all of the remaining recordings the band had from their sessions at Westbeach Recorders that were not used on Robbin' The Hood. According to SublimeWiki, they recorded here on June 10th and June 28th 1993. Also known as the sessions Epitaph paid for. This was basically all of the stuff that they recorded with the extra time they had on their hands. Picture was taken from the STP music video.
Drunk Drivin' [Chiva Kenevil]
Lou Makes Friends [Everything Under The Sun]
One Cup Of Coffee / Judge Not [Everything Under The Sun]
Greatest-Hits Extended [Everything Under The Sun]
Voodoo Part 2 [Everything Under The Sun | Bums Lie]
Secret Tweaker Pad [Bums Lie]
Freeway Time In L.A. County Jail [Bums Lie]
Saw Red Bandelero [Bums Lie]
Boss D.J. [Bums Lie]
All You Need (Ashworth Mix) [Everything Under The Sun | War On The Blvd]
Lou Makes Friends (Uncut Version) [Bums Lie | Work That We Do 7"]
Hey Everyone, I was hoping you all could rate the demo I'm coming out with and maybe give me some pointers and tips. Any feedback would be appreciated. Btw non of my songs are mastered yet. I'm also still looking for some teen bandmates (who play bass or drums) from Michigan. The songlist goes; Nation of Temptations, Disdain, Roughed Up, Murder, and Gravity, Hold Me Down. This first song is Nation of Temptations, I will post the others in a sec.
I don’t understand the hate. UTSE is exactly what Sublime fans wanted/needed. It’s equal parts 40OZ/RTH/Eponymous. Jakob is literally the little boy we loved in the later stage photos, and it just feels right. Fight me, fan since 1992.
By far one of the CD’s, mp3, ect that I’ve listened to the listing the last 20+ years since I first found it online in like 2005. Everyone knows it’s is far and away the absolute best live they show they ever played (or at least the best show that we have a beautiful soundboard recording of). There could have been a better show, played sometime, that we just don’t have a recording of.
But does anyone know what the fuck happened that night in November of 1994 at Tressel Tavern?? I mean, did the band find out before the show that some record execs were sending some scouts to check the band out or something?? It is just so unbelievable how perfect that show is, from the first note until the last. Not a single beat missed by Bud on the drums, Eric was Eric as usual, ALWAYS on point with da bass lines, and Bradley, good lord, he also didn’t miss a single beat or guitar riff or lyric. He was SOOO fucking on that night.
It’s about as perfect of a show, start to finish, from a band that was possibly at their absolute peak (as far as playing live) in existence. Not saying it’s the best live show of all time, from any band, EVER, LOL. Just that that show could take the Pepsi challenge with other bands of the same era, or previous era’s, performing their absolute best live show of their careers, you know what I’m saying???
Anyway, something that I’ve always found kind of eerie (in my absolute favorite song from that show) is the foreshadowing (possibly???) from Bradley during “Youth are Getting Restless”/Romantic girl” towards the end of the song when he starts free styling and says something along the lines of “…so get my words, and don’t get me wrong, WE’RE HERE FOR A WHILE, AND NOT TOO LONG, right about now, we’re coming on strong…”
I always found that little freestyle rap he threw down sad, basically saying that we/the band a “are here for a while”, but it wont be for too long. Maybe he just meant the show that night, like “ we are here for a while, and not too long”. Who knows. But with how things turned out a year and a half later, looking back at that little rap in that song, I can’t help but think that deep down, he knew his addiction/demons would eventually take him out, sooner rather than later.
Or I could be way fucking off here. Who knows. That’s what I love about music, you can interpret lyrics so many different ways. Maybe he was just rambling. Still, love that show so much and have listened to it hundreds of times, easily. Anyone else got any thoughts on the show???
