Rome's first solo single

[UMfan]

Premeried today by Rolling Stone. Available for purchase June 12th.

A bit different than his SWR stuff, but still uniquely Rome. Curious to see what people think who said "Rome is good, we just dont like him using the sublime name". Here it is...rome without "Sublime"...

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... n-20120530

[OGMP760]

Its not a bad track at all, any different than its not a great track at all either.

Its def not SWR style, at all, but thats not a bad thing. I couldnt see KROQ playing it. Its just Pop and I dont mean that in a negative way.

The song is cool and hes venturing outside of the blatant reggae track, which i really like to see! Looks like he's exploring new avenues of opportunity with his music & songwriting and why not if the interest is there?

This particular song isn't an instant connection with me specifically, where 30+min has gone by and i've listened to the song 10 times. But it wasnt anything that i turned off right away. I listened to it a couple of times and its an okay track!

I'll definitely pick up the album cause Rome is talented as shit. He's a great writer, has a good voice and hes working with some talented talent in the scene. As a person it seems like we share a lot of the same general interests in music with the embracing & appreciation of most genre's, so i'm excited as hell to hear what hes come up with!

I give the track 1 Thumbs Up!

[UMfan]

Yeah the track isn't about anything I can relate to, but that humming part/piano part is catchy. Enough that I had to sit down with my guitar and figure it all out today. I think that's all a song has to do be today...catchy enough to get stuck in someone's head.

[CaliBreeze]

eeehh, not a fan of the new song. That's not to say the rest of the album won't be stellar. But, when the first few lyrics of his solo project are, "I can taste the gin and oxy on your lips..." it is easy to divide fans of the Sublime days, from the Sublime w/ Rome "project" and now, Rome's solo career. It is a completely different sound, which I am sure he intended to put out their for the masses, to set himself apart from the "Sublime" name and the timeless brand.

Will Rome's music be timeless, only time will tell...

[Buttercup]

I swear I have heard that main piano/vocal melody somewhere before. Wish I could remember where.

I expected his solostuff to be a litte different from SWR, but I thought they would pick a single that kroq, who he seems to have a great relationship with, would get behind. I can't imagine this song being played on there.

[torres]

On his debut solo EP Dedication, out June 12th on Fueled by Ramen, singer-songwriter Rome of Sublime with Rome teamed up with a variety of producers and songwriters, from Benny Blanco (Maroon 5, Ke$ha) to RoboPop (Gym Class Heroes). The EP's title track is a personal but peppy acoustic paean written with fun. singer Nate Ruess and producer Jeff Bhasker, who has worked with Kanye West and Beyoncé.

Rome has aspirations to become a pop artist, this goes beyond "the scene". I mean, it's not that it's a bad song 'cause it's good for what it is. FOUR people were mentioned to help him write these songs. It's just kind of hard to listen to this and still picture him fronting Sublime. Just gives me the feeling that the plan is to stick with "Sublime With Rome" until Rome can headline shows on his own and then he'll be ready to leave Eric Wilson and the Sublime name behind him.

Furthermore, it just doesn't make me comfortable that it's not his priority to keep Brad's legacy alive. This doesn't mean just playing shows (he makes tens of thousands every night doing that). He should be able to speak about Brad at length in interviews. Dude should go out of his way to praise Brad every chance he gets. As talented as Rome is on his own, Brad is the main reason Rome is making money right now and got noticed in the first place. I hate the feeling of him using the Sublime name purely as a gateway to furthering his own career. He's still what, 23 years old? Just makes me wonder if he's eventually going to "outgrow" Sublime and as Ras-1 put it in a Long Beach Shortbus song, become a "victim of the music industry's beast within".

Maybe the assumptions are unfair as I've never met the guy. I just hope he stays grounded.

[Chevontez]

I swear I have heard that main piano/vocal melody somewhere before. Wish I could remember where.

Yes it's definitely very familiar sounding. That tends to happen a lot with songs that are clearly written for pop radio. I do not mean that as a diss to the song, because I think it's pretty good and wish Rome the best with his solo album. I am one of those people that felt that "Yours Truly" was very underwhelming.

[cy131]

Remember, this is just my opinion....
Garbage!

[Buttercup]

Well listening to the whole EP, it is very pop. Undoubtedly this will turn off some SWR fans. I don't know what to think. I can appreciate a good hook and listening to the new Dirty Heads album it is hella catchy but at the same time it feels true to their dirty HB roots and most importantly you can feel how passionate they are about the music by listening to the songs themselves. It is a great balance, just like the self-titled Sublime album. True to the sound of Sublime with a bit of spit polish that could appeal to a wider audience.

However, these Rome songs sound emotionless and just a blatant attempt at commercial success. I don't understand how an artist can get creative satisfaction out of it. I understand about "selling out" if you are a poor struggling artist with no name recognition (we all got to eat), but writing generic throwaway pop songs when you are in a position like Rome is in, with the ability to capitalize on the SWR fan-base. I just don't get it.

It is like when Gwen Stefani went solo. Following her No Doubt career closely it was obvious she was playing the music she wanted to create in that band and she was making a ton of money too. Why go release two terrible pop albums? Sure she made a ton more money but where is your musical creativity satisfaction? Singing about shit being bananas, did Gwen think that was step up musically from what No Doubt was doing? The only incentive I can see is Gwen and Rome want more celebrity appeal - it's all about the fame.

I think Rome has a great voice and can play a mean guitar and I actually dig the Yours Truly album, but if this EP is a true reflection of his musical creativity and type of songs he wants to play I think I'll pass.

[johnnycosmic]

ya, i heard that familiar melody too. it's from Coldplay's newer single. "every tear is a water fall". it's obviously a bit different, but also very reminiscent.

The tones are kind of interesting. i like how he's trying to focus on keeping the song themes on track. an idea that kind of got lost in the shuffle on the 'yours truly' album. (someone dropped the ball on that one. them 'yes' men are no good)

It's pop stuff all the way. he's def trying to create that pop star thing for himself. I'm sure if all goes according to his plans, SWR will be choking on the dust in the rear view. And rightly so.

the first run of shows was fun.

the 3 or 4th time. not so much.

the album not so much.

Rome should have already gone his own way when Bud left.

The jig is up.

[Knowledgeborn07]

You can't deny his voice...it's great.....I dig the song....kind of reminds me in parts vocally in sound similar to the singer of the expendables......As far as leading the new "SUBLIME" not my cup of tea because It's not punk enough IMO or Randomly Creative like brad but then again...No Is Brad but Brad and the only one I could really see doing it if the time ever came to be would be Jakob Nowell....I mean him losing his father at such a young age and seeing him on youtube singing Burritos gave me chills...Because obviously those songs have so much meaning to a child who lost his father and is the Father of a whole scene. Whether he decides to do that or not is up to him....I hope he blends his own and sings his fathers songs if the time ever come's kind of like the Marley's have done...I mean brad was heavily influenced by Bob...what a trip that would be if they ever connected....anyways,,,,My opinion....rome has a good voice...and now is known to some new people AS part of Sublime...He can still be one of those artists out there that are heavily influenced by Brad and push forward doin his brand....i mean For anybody those shoes are just too heavy to fill if you are not affiliated someway through blood....

[Dillinger]

...The jig is up.

so true