“It’s just one of those days”

    Has a truer statement ever been said? Legendary frontman Fred Durst is not necessarily an acclaimed lyricist, but I personally find him enlightening. Limp Bizkit, Durst’s band, was introduced to me by my best friend, and although at first a joke, my adoration for them has grown into something completely sincere. 

    They began as a nu-metal band based in the Florida music scene. They became locally very well known because of their disgusting name and ridiculous lyrics. To put these men in perspective, an alternate band name they considered was “Blood Fart”. Soon after building up a significant reputation, they were signed to their first record label, under which they formed a revelation of an album. Three Dollar Bill, Y’all has an eclectic mix of songs such as “Clunk”, “Stalemate”, and “Nobody Loves Me”. My favorite, however, is their cover of George Michael’s 1987 classic “Faith”, a choice that no one at the time, nor even now, has understood. It’s often a rough listen. Durst’s vocals were highly criticized– often for good reason– and the writing is unusual, to say the least. They are certainly not polished musicians, but say what you will about their skills, it is an undeniably fun album. 

    Their next record, Significant Other, is another fantastic entry in the nu metal, hip-hop, rap metal genre. It’s main claim to fame is the iconic anthem “Break Stuff”, the song that truly roped me into the Bizkit lifestyle. It is designed to be listened to while angry. If you’re having a lovely day, frolicking around in a field somewhere, this is not the song you’d want to hear. There is something beautiful about it, and them as a whole, however. They know they aren’t making high art, and it’s incredibly refreshing. You can turn on this album, or any of their others, and just zone out. There’s no hidden meanings, no complex instrumentals, and often no thought to what they do. Is that not a wonderful thing?

    The third album in the Bizkit discography is just straight up disgusting. I hate the title (so much so I’m not going to put it in this piece) and the cover art should be considered a criminal offense. Despite this, it is my favorite album of theirs musically. Made before iconic guitarist Wes Borland left the band, it has a noticeably more angsty sound. Durst was receiving an incredible amount of criticism at the time for being an untalented sellout, and his lyricism reflects that. The song “Full Nelson” is full of frustration and fury being unleashed by Durst, culminating in him screaming “burn everything down” over and over again (I’m paraphrasing to keep this school appropriate). After this record, the band fell into a bit of disarray.

    Three albums were made while the band scrambled to maintain its original lineup, and they are both extremely underwhelming. Every band has their pitfalls, but often what follows is an eventual renaissance. And what a renaissance they had. After over a decade and the return of Borland, Limp Bizkit has come back with the triumphant work STILL SUCKS. A true return to what puts the Bizkit in bizness: grittiness, humor, yelling, and general nastiness. Some highlights on the album would be “Dirty Rotten Bizkit”, “Dad Vibes”, and “Snacky Poo”. Most bands, after a decade-long hiatus, often change how they go about their craft. The sound evolves, just as the people have changed in that time span. Limp Bizkit, however, is the same as it was back in 2011, and I seriously doubt Fred Durst has made any shift as a human being. But don’t be fooled, this is how it should be. I don’t think the album would be nearly as good if they suddenly became good musicians and good people. 

    As the name suggests, Limp Bizkit really does still suck, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. They’re a disgusting band that makes disgusting music that millions of people eat up, of which I am one. You can’t teach an old Durst new tricks, but it seems his way is “My Way”, too.