Aptly titled,
Sound of Change finds the Cali reggae-rock-hip-hop crew
Dirty Heads going more pop and electro, sounding like the children of
311 who encountered
Muse and
Coldplay much later in life. That's a compliment, as the artists who launched themselves as
Sublime types are -- shockingly -- comfortable and inspired taking on
Wyclef and
will.i.am-sized numbers like "Burn Slow" with special guest
Tech N9ne, while "Franco Eyed" with
Cypress Hill member
B Real is
Smash Mouth for the legalization generation, coming on with bright beats, slick ska, and bong in hand. "Medusa" ("I get so stoned, like I checked out Medusa") with
Ward 21 is a winning combination of dancehall, trap, and
Lil Wayne-styled bragging, then the wistful keeper "My Sweet Summer" offers something sentimental, smooth, and post-vacation, a perfect soundtrack for the heartache that comes after spring break. A couple numbers cry out like
Coldplay and overstate the stately, but these are only the weak moments by default, because
Sound of Change is a transitional album where the highlights are numerous and the growing pains are few. ~ David Jeffries