BACK 2 BASE X
When your relationships with previous labels (JIVE, KOCH) make you feel
like a red-headed stepchild, you have one of two options: You can pack
up your shit, go home, and get a job in food service, or you can
channel your bitterness into some truly creative, aggresive music, with
a hint of humor, and show everyone how much of a resilient sonofabitch
you are. The members of (HED) P.E. chose the latter, thankfully, and
their fifth release
Back 2 Base X is indicative of where their heads are at in this stage of the game.
The band manages to blend Rock, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, and punk
together with socially concious lyrics to make music with a very broad
appeal. Frontman Jared Gomes rails about politics, social injustice,
and expensive gas (long live hybrid technology, dammit), switching from
rapping to singing to screaming without missing a beat, and are the
perfect voice for a rebellious generation that is going to grow up with
$4/gallon gasoline.
With the right promotion, (Hed) P.E. could finally see the success
they've been waiting so long for. They have a loyal following, but they
need to be marketed to, and from what I have seen, I don't think either
of the band's previous labels did that very well at all. Suburban Noize
has their shit together when it comes to bands like this, so it's
entirely likely this marriage could be beneficial to both parties.
