REVIEW: Limp Bizkit, Significant Other (Flip/Interscope)
- Jason Cahill
When Limp Bizkit broke onto the music scene two years ago, they did so with a cover of George Michael's "Faith." An odd choice considering that Limp Bizkit were a band entrenched in the world of hard rock, complete with a "fuck you" attitude and a sound that would annoy even the coolest of neighbors. But one listen and you realize that Limp Bizkit's version of "Faith" was a different song entirely, and in the end they managed to do the impossible -- turn an otherwise crappy pop song into a hard rock anthem. No small task indeed, and even tougher to top -- or so we thought.
Fast forward to the release of Limp Bizkit's sophomore effort, Significant Other, an album equal to the task of following up their impressive debut. The album is a perfect blend of hip-hop and hard rock, and the band manages to pull it all off without sacrificing credibility or originality.
The album's first single, "Nookie," is perhaps the finest in a year otherwise devoid of anything memorable, and contains a chorus forever ingrained in the minds of every adolescent teen. "Break Stuff" is a song full of angst and anger, a call to arms which literally was the impetus for the trouble at this year's Woodstock festival. "Just Like This" is atypical of much on Significant Other, a blend of DJ Lethal's hip-hop beats with a hard rock edge. But perhaps the album's most mature and endearing track is also a promising sign of things to come for Limp Bizkit. The track "Re-Arranged" is Limp Bizkit at their most vulnerable. The song is pure atmosphere, building with each verse and chorus, leading to its inevitable emotional climax. Reminiscent of early Jane's Addiction, the song stands out among stand outs, and gives a glimpse into the direction the band could take with its next release.
That "Significant Other" works as well as it does can be attributed to the combination of lead singer Fred Durst, producer Terry Date and the band's unsung hero, DJ Lethal. Lethal, whose beats, scratches and samples are at the core of every cut on the album, is perhaps the band's most vital member, if not the most unheralded. By the album's third track, it becomes readily apparent that he provides "Significant Other" with its flavor. Credit also goes to the album's producer Terry Date, who managed to take a band full of attitude and angst and help them create an album surprising in its maturity. But of course, the heart of Limp Bizkit is lead singer Fred Durst, whose lyrics, vocals and personality are laced throughout "Significant Other." It is Durst who shines brightest on the album, and Durst who will be the main force behind the growth and maturity of a band already well on its way.
