Wonders of the World

Japanese edition of the ska-punk act's sophomore album with one added bonus track, 'Gotta Move On'. 2001.

On their follow-up to 1999's Right Back, the Long Beach Dub Allstars continue stirring their musical melting pot. Wonders of the World combines heavy dub, shimmery pop, bouncy ska, and aggro alt-rock into a disc that roller-coasters between spaced out ("Wonders Dub II" and "Grass Cloud") and punked out ("No Way"). The ex-Sublime members also pulled in some talent from the hip-hop world, getting will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas on "Sunny Hours" and Chali2na from Jurassic 5 on "Life Goes On." Even with all the special appearances and genre-crossing, though, the Allstars don't crack the surface, covering the same ground that bands like Sugar Ray and 311are already treading. While the band does flow seamlessly between rock and reggae, Wonders of the World feels coated in a tepid, radio-friendly gloss that, despite a few bright spots, dulls by the end of the disc. --Jennifer Maerz