Sublime Albums Ranked
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell’s dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in Sublime’s breakup. In 1997, songs such as “What I Got”, “Santeria”, “Wrong Way”, “Doin’ Time”, and “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” were released to U.S. radio. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez, a young guitarist and admitted Sublime fan from California. However, not long after performing at Cypress Hill’s Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name as they needed permission from Nowell’s estate, which owns the rights to the Sublime name. This prompted the lineup of Wilson, Gaugh, and Ramirez to change their name to Sublime with Rome, which has since released three albums, although Gaugh left the group shortly after the release of their 2011 debut Yours Truly. Here are all of the Sublime albums ranked.
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6. Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends (1998)
“I thought this exceptional collection of Sublime acoustic songs was well worth my time and money. I liked all of the songs and I thought the live tracks were exceptional quality, except for when the people in the background were talking louder than Bradley Nowell and his guitar. I don’t believe they were intentionally talking over Bradley and the band, but it was sometimes hard to hear the song.”
5. Second-hand Smoke (1997)
“This album plays a lot like “Robbin the Hood” Pt. 2 in that it has the experimental/lo-fi feel to it. This has more actual traditional songs than that record does though and it almost feels like this could’ve been released as a companion album to “Sublime”. The remixes and alternate versions of songs like “Doin Time”, “April 26th, 1992”, and “Bad Fish” all sound great. The alternate version of “Garden Grove” is pretty good but doesn’t touch the original.”
4. Stand By Your Van (1998)
“Stand by Your Van was one of Sublime’s greatest CDs because it was a variance from the studio created stuff that sounds so clean and perfect. Live music is a little more raw and has more emotion to it. He had a pretty good set that night, although I would’ve liked to hear some of the newer songs live, like Garden Grove, Pawn Shop, or Jailhouse.”
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3. Robbin’ The Hood (1994)
“Robbin’ the Hood is excellent. While it’s notably referenced as a cheaply produced collection, it is completely unnoticeable. I would argue that it sounds more like a major studio production, and as if it was just released this year, which adds to its overall greatness.”
2. 40 Oz. To Freedom (1992)
“40 Oz. to Freedom is a truly unique album from a band that thrived during music’s heyday; the 1990’s. Sublime played a fast blend of punk rock, ska and reggae. The infamous Bradley Nowell powered the Sublime machine with shredding solos and stoner sensibilities. Nowell’s lyrics tend to sound awfully misogynist but at other times Nowell gives off a worldly and anarchistic vibe.”
1. Sublime (1996)
“This album is a really good album, which doesn’t seem like much in writing but I mean that this is one of the greatest albums in history. Maybe not top 5 albums ever, but still it has its place in music history forever. This album is a really good album, which doesn’t seem like much in writing but I mean that this is one of the greatest albums in history. Maybe not top 5 albums ever, but still it has its place in music history forever.”
