Yes, the robins have been singing and the cherry blossoms are blooming but the true sign that summer is coming is the announcement of a brand new Sublime album. The pride of Long Beach reunited last year with original drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, fronted by Jakob Nowell, son of the late original vocalist Bradly Nowell. The band’s triumphant return, almost 30 years after Nowell’s tragic fatal overdose, was marked by their first original single since “Doin’ Time,” “Ensenada” is quintessential Sublime – an ode to the beach, women, and long summer days with creative producing and composition, led by Jakob’s vocals, eerily similar to his father’s.
The March 25 album announcement was accompanied by Sublime’s second single of the 21st century “Until the Sun Explodes.” The title track is one of the last songs on the album, and reflects on Sublime’s legacy and Jakob’s place in it. Jakob says,
“The last Sublime record that will ever be made is self‑titled. There’s no replacing history, period. “Until The Sun Explodes: the album is an epilogue, and Until The Sun Explodes the single is the epilogue to the epilogue… It is a tribute to the expansive works of Sublime… and most importantly it is a thank you. I love you dad, and I owe you my life.” in an Instagram post
The record is set to come out on June 12, just six weeks shy of self-titled’s 30-year anniversary. With song titles like “Maybe Partying Will Help” and “Casino Taormina” and features ranging from Bad Brains frontman H.R. to Australian surf band Skegss the final Sublime project sets to reinforce the band’s legacy as the kings of summer.
On June 12, for the first time in 30 years, the sweet sounds of 20 brand new Sublime songs will echo from every broken-down van on Highway 1 to the beach-starved Californians thousands of miles from home.