Providing an alternative to the alternative of the day, Sublime’s breakthrough album mellowed out the scene and became one of the most popular ska-reggae inspired records of the 90s.
Released in July of 1996, the album was instrumental in helping make California the cultural epicentre of North America in the late 90s and early 2000s with massive hits like “What I Got”, “Santeria”, and “Doin’ Time”.
The laid back attitude in the lyrics, delivered by singer Bradley Nowell’s perfect pitch, highlighted surfer and skater aesthetics and influenced many artists regardless of genre to make similarly breezy and lighthearted music.
Established artists also thrived in this era with their own takes on beachside music. Nebraska’s 311 had songs like “I’ll Be Here Awhile” and “Amber”. Alternative funk group Red Hot Chili Peppers made a huge comeback with the very West Coast sounding “Scar Tissue” and “Californication”. Jack Johnson became a huge star in the 2000s with his relaxed acoustic campfire jams. Michael Franti was also a noticeable presence in this scene.
The mid-2000s in Toronto and the GTA saw a boom in similar music as well.
Mississauga’s illScarlett were directly influenced by Sublime. Panic & the Rebel Emergency were heavily steeped in reggae with songs like “Here I Am”, “Walk on By”, and “Wander Far Away”. Bands like Bedouin Soundclash and Saint Alvia were in the same sphere but added elements from roots, dancehall, and dub music into their styles. Sublime helped revive these kinds of sounds in the 90s, when louder and more aggressive bands were mainstream.
Unfortunately Sublime themselves did not continue on during this era, and in fact had disbanded by the time this album hit store shelves due to Brad Nowell’s death earlier in the year. Band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson started the Long Beach Dub Allstars in 1997, which followed in a similar vein as Sublime. In 2009 they attempted to revive Sublime with new vocalist Rome Ramirez but could not continue due to legal action from Nowell’s estate.
Drummer Bud Gaugh left the newly christened “Sublime with Rome” in 2011, leaving just bassist Eric Wilson as the sole original member. The band were together until 2024, when Wilson also left and the project ultimately disbanded by the end of the year.
Wilson and Gaugh then reformed under the original name of Sublime with Nowell’s son Jakob behind the mic, releasing new album Until the Sun Explodes in 2026 and touring behind it in the same year.
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices
