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The self-titled 1996 album by the ska punk band Sublime is an iconic album that was released shortly after the death of singer Bradley Nowell.
The album has had many big hits, some of which have resurfaced on social media recently, as well as several lesser-known songs that are also strong.
The song “Wrong Way” became somewhat popular on TikTok last summer, and the song “Doin’ Time” became more popular with teens after pop singer Lana Del Rey covered it.
Two of Sublime’s biggest hits, “What I Got” and “Santeria” are also featured on Sublime. These songs helped bring the band and their album to fame.
Both of these songs are accompanied by popular music videos. The “What I Got” music video perfectly captures Long Beach, Calif., in the ’90s and of course features the band’s iconic Lou Dog.
But often the less well known songs are overlooked by teens.
The song “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” talks about the 1992 Los Angeles riots and Rodney King, a victim of police brutality. Sublime does a good job addressing these issues through a rock song.
Another highlight of the album is the song “Garden Grove.” It is about taking a trip to Garden Grove, Calif., and what life is like in the city.
This album is a classic and the band’s most popular release.