Robbin' The Hood

by Stephen Thomas ErlewinePieced together rather quickly, Robbin' the Hood wasn't really intended to be the follow-up to Sublime's debut, 40 Oz. to Freedom, but what is shocking is how much better the record is from its predecessor. Boasting a wider range of influences -- including elements of reggae and old-school hip-hop -- the record is a loose, infectious blend of styles that rides along on its own sense of energy. Brad Nowell's songwriting might still be at a rudimentary level, but the group sounds more muscular and musical than before, demonstrating that the breakthrough of its sole major-label record, Sublime, wasn't an accident.