AMG Review of 40 Oz. to Freedom

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

With their debut, 40 Oz. to Freedom, Sublime appeal to alterna-punks but they cut a little deeper with their lyrics and their very aesthetic, which blends different cultures and sounds. Since Sublime have a knack for combining dancehall reggae with hardcore punk, the music can be nervy and invigorating, but the group's joyous blend of cultures gets nervy on the lyrical level, particularly on the controversial "Date Rape."