Recording
In 1998,P.O.D. signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. [10] The Fundamental Elements of Southtown was recorded at three studios in California. The album was mixed at Image Recordings in Los Angeles,California and The Gallery in Sherman Oaks. [1] According to bassist Traa Daniels during an interview in February 2000,the album was recorded in "about three months". [11]
In December 2012,vocalist Sonny Sandoval said the following about working with producer Howard Benson and being signed to a major record label:
He allowed us not only to be ourselves but at the same time we were so stoked to have somebody that actually cared about our music. He gave us this advice and we took it and obviously you're in a real studio and have real instruments. I remember Atlantic Records gave us a budget and we all went out and bought guitars and cabinets just because all our stuff was ghetto. This was big for us. [12]
Reception
The Fundamental Elements of Southtown received positive reviews from critics. Cross Rhythms gave the album a perfect score,describing it as "a fine exponent of rap-core at it's finest,and the best album by P.O.D. thus far." [3]
The album was certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on March 29,2000,and later certified platinum on November 6,2000.
Legacy
In May 2011,album producer Howard Benson described The Fundamental Elements of Southtown as "one of the very first rock records made in Pro Tools that became huge. And then my career was off and running." [23]
In September 2017,Loudwire ranked The Fundamental Elements of Southtown as the second best P.O.D. album,saying,"The band’s hunger is infectious on the album" and the "Southtown" single "still sounds impactful and exciting." [24] In January 2025,the publication ranked The Fundamental Elements of Southtown at #21 on their list of "The Top 50 Nu-Metal Albums of All Time (Ranked)",saying it "amplified the "coolness" factor and brought more reggae stylings to the band’s already successful sound" and the songs "read as fully realized and intentioned." [25]
In December 2017,"Set Your Eyes to Zion" and "Southtown" were ranked at #9 and #5,respectively,on "The 10 best P.O.D. songs" list by Louder Sound. [26]
In August 2018,New Release Today called the album "a pivotal moment for P.O.D." and "simultaneously sludgy and tight in aesthetic from start to finish." [27]
In October 2020,Andrew Voigt of HM Magazine said he listened to the album "religiously",saying P.O.D. "offered heaviness,passion,and hope in an innovative way that other bands of that era hadn’t figured out and would later frequently try to imitate." [28]
On April 23,2021,P.O.D. announced on their official YouTube channel a series of live stream concerts called "Satellite Over Southtown". [29] During the series of shows,P.O.D. performed The Fundamental Elements of Southtown live in its entirety on May 27,2021. [30] [31] [32]
In August 2024,David Allen,the designer of P.O.D.'s logo,wrote about The Fundamental Elements of Southtown on Instagram,saying the band "supported me and got me hired by Atlantic as a freelance designer. I got to go on the road and contribute some fun images to this album". [33]
During a September 2024 interview with Sonny Sandoval,Riff Magazine said about The Fundamental Elements of Southtown,"The record spawned a pair of hits and its faith-based message got the attention of the gospel music industry". [34]
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