Review: Rehab – Graffiti The World
It’s hard to listen to the radio or go into a bar and not hear Rehab’s “Bartender Song“; playing on the jukebox as the new anthem for the bar fly scene, but the remixed and remade track, originally title “Sittin’ At A Bar“;, becomes the lead off single for the band on their newest release, Graffiti the World. Away from the scene since 2000’s Southern Discomfort and a reformation and label change later, the southern-rock influenced band presents a variety of different genres on the latest disc touching on hip-hop, rock, mellow-dramatic anthems and even delving into electronica.
The disc leads off with the Kottonmouth Kings-like “Let Em Know“; which features a slick, flowing rhythm and brings the audience into the disc with their ears open and expectations set pretty high, unfortunately the next two tracks, “Bump“; and “Chest Pain“; fail to live up the promise set forth. “Bump“; is the band’s electronic-infused experiment complete with synths and voice manipulation, and while the clean electric guitar sound coos throughout the track, it fails to really inspire. The same can be said for “Chest Pain“; the anthem for falling off the wagon which is the first real rock track on the album but its narrative, albeit somewhat lazy lyrics keep it from greatness.
The title track is a much more mellow affair with hard beats but a softer sound bring social awareness to a head at the unfathomable hypocrisy in our society as the song goes, “The terrorists are in the White House and oversees / Racists, separatists, vicious militias / The Buddhists, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians / Could it be our biggest barrier is language.”; It’s a weird transition from the social commentary to the anthem of a parole violator talking it over with his bartender in the aforementioned “Bartender’s Song“; but the next stretch of tracks really show off what Rehab can do. “Last Tattoo,”; easily the song with the biggest hook and more mainstream sound is Rehab’s answer to a breakup song.
“1980“; is another hip-hop infused track with a great drum backbeat that pulses through the entire song. “Bottles and Cans“; and “Lawn Chair High“; feel more like filler with decent rocks sounds but, again, some lazy lyrics that don’t make them very intriguing, especially the curious “Bottles and Cans“; which has a smooth flow to the song, but literally makes no sense. The next three tracks, “This Town“; an anthem to never really leaving home, even when you are on the road, “Red Water“; a poignant song about suicidal tendencies and the thought that just because you think someone has everything, doesn’t necessarily mean they do and “Walk Away“; the albums comic relief in the form of an adulterer getting caught finish out the disc nicely. The actually last track is “We Live“; another so-so track lost in the greatness of the tracks preceding it.
Graffiti the World is a strong album in parts, although there are a few throwaway tracks that don’t mesh well with some of the outstanding work done elsewhere. While “Bartender Song“; is sure to live on as a staple for the band it remains to be seen if they can find similar success with a bigger marketing push and a new single.
