Only in Amerika
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 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.[4]

Music

The music of Only in Amerika incorporates elements of hip-hop, hardcore punk and heavy metal.[5] AllMusic's 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."[6]

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.[7]

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".[7]

Gomes expresses nationalist themes in the song "War",[6] 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, Gomes shouts-out John Hancock, Bob Marley, John F. Kennedy, and Malcolm X, among others. Lyrical themes on Only in Amerika primarily consist of sexual intercourse, clubbing, block parties, cannabis and alcohol consumption, angst, and lead rapper Jahred's resentment of pop-punk and censorship (namely that of the FCC and the "corporate faggots" at Jive Records), 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, Trench Coat Mafia, Nick Berg, Nancy Reagan, Shaq, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

"Amerikan Beauty" interpolates a line from N.E.R.D.'s 2001 single "Lapdance". On the track "The Box", Jahred references the Bob Marley and the Wailers songs "Get Up, Stand Up", "Burnin' and Lootin'", "No Woman, No Cry", and "Three Little Birds" .

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Blabbermouth.net[2]
Melodic.net[8]

In his review of the album, AllMusic's Johnny Loftus wrote that Only in Amerika "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."[6]

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. ↑ Cooper, Ali (December 21, 2021). "20 nü-metal bands that defined the late '90s and early 2000s". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Only in Amerika - HED P.E." February 19, 2005.
  3. ↑ "Review: '70's Hits From The Pit' by (hed)p.e." metalnoise.net. February 26, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Charts and awards for Only in Amerika". Allmusic. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  5. ↑ Sculley, Alan (August 28, 2008). "(Hed) p.e. wants (no) interference". The Wichita Eagle. Naperville, Illinois. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Loftus, Johnny. "Only in Amerika - (hed) p.e." Allmusic. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  7. 1 2 Dillinger, Moses (January 24, 2011). "(HED) P.e". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  8. ↑ Roth, Kaj (2005). "(Hed)PE – Only in Amerika". Melodic.net. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
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