The scatological meaning of Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water is obvious to anyone who's graduated junior high, but it stumbles over its punch line, winding up as bewildering, not offensive. But it doesn't stop there, since hot dogs and chocolate starfishes are metaphors, as
Fred Durst uses them to illuminate his one topic, how nobody understands him. He occasionally frames his rage as us versus them, as on "My Generation," but, ultimately, it's all about himself. If the band supported him with sheets of noise, terrifying guitars, monstrous rhythms, or even a hook every now and then,
Durst's narcissism may have been palatable, but the group pretty much churns out the same colorless heavy plod for each song. Since
Limp Bizkit have never relied on song or studiocraft, it shouldn't come as a surprise that neither is in evidence here, but the problem is they're fishing in a shallow pool. Previously, they had pent-up rage on their side, but here, the music sounds rote -- when it gets louder, it signifies nothing, it just gets louder -- and
Durst can see no farther than his past year, dwelling on bad things said about him, dismissing somewhat justified criticism that he helped stoke the fires at Woodstock 99 with a round of the "critics that don't get it," and devoting a song to an attack at labelmate
Trent Reznor. Some fans may empathize with
Durst, but will it resonate? Everyone feels rage after being dumped by their significant other, but does everyone live in a world where they feel like they're attacked on all sides? Come to think of it, they do, but
Durst's vision on
Chocolate Starfish is so insular, it's hard for anyone else to come inside. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine