Only in Amerika

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Only in Amerika
Only in Amerika cover.jpg
Studio album by
Hed p.e.
ReleasedOctober 19, 2004
Genre
Length50:22
LabelKoch
ProducerJahred Gomes, Sean E
Hed PE chronology
Blackout
(2003) 		Only in Amerika
(2004) 		Back 2 Base X
(2006)
Singles from Only In Amerika
  1. "Represent"
    Released: 2004

Only in Amerika is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Hed PE. Released on Koch Records on October 19, 2004, it is the band's first release on an independent label and the first album featuring guitarist Jaxon Benge and ex-Otep drummer Mark "Moke" Bistany. It peaked at #20 on the Top Independent Albums chart and at #186 on the Billboard 200.[3]

Music[]

The music of Only in Amerika incorporates elements of hip-hop, hardcore punk and heavy metal.[4] Johnny Loftus wrote that Only in Amerika is a "thrash-hop spew [which] takes cues from Anthrax, Korn, Dirty South, pre-acting career Ice-T, and the uncompromising Psychopathic Records collective."[1]

Lyrical themes[]

Jared Gomes later revealed that the brash, offensive lyrical content was an intentional backlash against the more commercial and radio-friendly sound of Blackout, the band's previous album, which Gomes said was the product of Jive Records trying to shape the band into a mainstream act and shift its sound away from its punk rock roots.[5]

According to Gomes, "With Only in Amerika, I was trying to push buttons and provoke people. I was exercising my right to freedom of speech".[5]

Gomes expresses nationalistic themes in the song "War",[1] and elsewhere on the album, calling for retaliation against Al Qaeda for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These sentiments are reiterated in the tracks "Wake Up" and lead single "Represent"; in the bridge of the latter song, Jahred shouts-out Abraham Lincoln, Bob Marley, John F. Kennedy, and Malcolm X, among others. Lyrical themes on Only in Amerika primarily comprise sexual intercourse, clubbing, block parties, cannabis and Jägermeister consumption, angst, and lead rapper Jahred's resentment of pop-punk and censorship (namely that of the FCC and the "corporate faggots" at Jive), voicing his indignation toward the state of the music industry at large.

Jahred also makes several pop culture references throughout the album's lyrics, particularly to the O. J. Simpson affair, the Trench Coat Mafia, Nick Berg, Nancy Reagan, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Olsen twins.

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic2/5 stars[1]
Blabbermouth.net4/10 stars[2]
Melodic.net2.5/5 stars[6]

In his review of the album, Johnny Loftus wrote that "[the album] wants to be a confrontational megaphone in the ear of conservatives, but Jahred's torrential rhetoric is too messy and blatantly offensive to incite anything but superficial anger, and the music -- though occasionally explosive -- takes a backseat to the ranting."[1]

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Foreplay"Jahred; Jaxon1:32
2."Represent"Jahred; Jaxon4:20
3."The Truth"Jahred; Jaxon3:03
4."Wake Up"Jahred4:35
5."War"Jahred3:49
6."The Box"Jahred; Jaxon3:28
7."CBC"Jahred3:33
8."Voices"Jahred3:13
9."Raise Hell"Jahred5:09
10."Amerikan Beauty"Jahred3:56
11."Chicken"Jahred4:22
12."Daydreams"Jahred2:43
13."Not Ded Yet"Jahred; Jaxon3:31
14."HED" (Hidden)Jahred3:07
Total length:50:22

Personnel[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Loftus, Johnny. "Only in Amerika - (hed) p.e." Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c http://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/only-in-amerika/
  3. ^ "Charts and awards for Only in Amerika". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  4. ^ Sculley, Alan (August 28, 2008). "(Hed) p.e. wants (no) interference". The Wichita Eagle. Naperville, Illinois. Retrieved 2008-08-23.[dead link]
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Dillinger, Moses (January 24, 2011). "(HED) P.e". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  6. ^ Roth, Kaj (2005). "(Hed)PE – Only in Amerika". Melodic.net. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
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