Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water [PA] (CD - 2000)

Additional personnel: Redman, Method Man, Xzibit, Mark Walberg, DMX, Liam Ward, Scott Weiland, Stephan Jenkins, Rob Dyrdek (vocals); Ben Stiller (spoken vocals); Scott Berland (keyboards); Rich Keller (bass).

Producers: Scott Weiland, Terry Date, Swizz Beatz, Josh Abraham, Limp Bizkit.

Recorded at Larabee Studios East and Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California; Larabee Studios West, West Hollywood, California; Studio Litho, Seattle, Washington; South Beach Studio, Miami, Florida.

Let's start with the title, not only the winner for the Billy Corgan award for ludicrous monikers, but a title, like Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, that's a winking acknowledgement that the group knows what its stereotype is. Smashing Pumpkins knew everybody thought they were tragic romantics; Limp Bizkit know everybody believes they're juvenile vulgarians, so they're ready to prove 'em right. And how do they do that? With a title that's defiantly vulgar but, more revealingly, embarrassingly awkward. The scatological meaning of Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water is obvious to anyone who's graduated junior high, but it stumbles over its punch line, winding up as more bewildering than funny or offensive. But it doesn't stop there, or with the sickly cover art, since hot dogs and chocolate starfishes become lyrical themes on the album. Clearly, Limp leader Fred Durst takes some pride in his ass and dick joke, since he repeatedly uses it to illustrate the one theme of the album, namely how nobody understands him, especially in Limp Bizkit's year of success after 1999's Significant Other. He may occasionally attempt to frame his rage as us versus them, as on "My Generation," but he winds up bringing everything around to himself. Envision a Use Your Illusion where Axl Rose felt compelled to rewrite "Get in the Ring" for every song, just to make sure that you, dear fan, realize that he's persecuted and thank the lord above that you're there to understand him. And that's it. There's nothing else to the record. If the band supported him with sheets of noise, terrifying guitars, monstrous rhythms, or even a hook every now and then, Durst's narcissism may have been palatable, but the group pretty much churns out the same colorless heavy plod for each song. Combined, Durst's self-pitying and the monotonous music give away that the band bashed Chocolate Starfish out very quickly -- it's the sound of a band determined to deliver a sequel in a finite amount of time. Since Bizkit have never relied on song or studiocraft, it shouldn't come as a surprise that neither is in evidence here, but the problem is they're fishing in a shallow pool. Previously, they had pent-up rage on their side, but here, the music sounds rote -- when it gets louder, it signifies nothing, it just gets louder -- and Durst can see no farther than his past year. That past year may have been a whirlwind of success and fame, but that doesn't stop him from dwelling on the people that have said bad things about him, nearly ignoring those who (somewhat justifiably) argued that he helped stoke the fires as Woodstock '99 in favor of the "critics that don't get it," which includes a whole song sniping at labelmate Trent Reznor. Now, undoubtedly, there are some fans that will empathize with Durst, but the question is, will it really resonate with them? After all, everyone feels rage after being dumped by their significant other, but does everyone live in a world where they feel like they're attacked on all sides? Come to think of it, they do, but Durst's vision on Chocolate Starfish is so insular, it's hard for anyone else, even his bandmates, to come inside. [Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water was also released in a "clean" version containing no profanities. This basically guts the record, especially "Hot Dog" where "f*cking up" is used upward of 50 times, but parents should be reassured that there's this option on the market. But they should consider this -- not one profanity is used sexually, it's all an expression of rage or slang. After a while, the cursing isn't even noticeable, since it's so omnipresent it winds up signifying nothing. It's just part of the midrange hum, like the drums and droning guitars.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Some of Limp Bizkit's critics were quick to dismiss the band as a passing fad, and few lead singers seem to be as hated as Fred Durst, but the undeniable facts remain: since rap-metal came into its own, Limp Bizkit have been among the genre's top players. Their much-anticipated follow-up to SIGNIFICANT OTHER treads similar ground, with a few hidden aces to spare. Lyrically, Durst continues to focus on both the frustrations that accompany success (especially in "My Way"), and his mainstay of demanding validation ("Full Nelson.")

CHOCOLATE STARFISH has some truly heavyweight production credits, including Terry Date (Pantera, Soundgarden), Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley), and even the Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland, who co-writes and contributes guest vocals on "Hold On." The House Of Pain groove in "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" will certainly inspire the "rockers and hip-hoppers" that it calls to arms. Ironically the tracks that seem the most out of place on CHOCOLATE STARFISH are those with guest rapping by Xzibit, DMX, Redman and Method Man. The beats are hot (thanks in part to Swizz Beatz), but conflict somewhat with those tracks featuring aggressive and dynamic live instrumentation. minimize