Continuing my review of every Dope studio album ever, we’re up to 2001’s Life.
This is Life…
Life was released on November 6th, 2001. It was produced by Edsel and Josh Abraham, who also produced Static-X’s Shadow Zone. Life spawned two singles, Now or Never and Slipping Away. Both the album and its singles charted pretty decently, considering how over saturated the early 00s was in pop music.
However, I’m willing to bet that’s not what you know this album for. Life was the album that brought us Dope’s most infamous track, Die MF Die. If you know any song by Dope, it’s probably this one. True story, the last time I talked to someone about Edsel, they said “The Die MF Die guy, right?” This and Blood Money are often cited as the Dope aesthetic, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re both such iconic songs, and tied so heavily into Dope’s overall tone and style as a band.
The Review: Cristina’s POV
Professional reviewers were not kind to this album. Blender’s review from 2003 stated, “If you thought the success of Staind and Limp Bizkit proved that producer Josh Abraham has the sharpest ears in nü-metal, listen to Dope’s second album and think again.” This critique, however, seems more reflective of the reviewer’s bias towards what was mainstream at the time rather than an objective assessment of the album’s quality. So let us strive to do better, here.
While Life may not be my favorite Dope album, it certainly does not deserve the harsh reviews it received. Tracks like “Now or Never,” “Thanks for Nothing,” and the very singable “What About…” stand out as strong entries. “With or Without You”‘ adds depth with its slower, more introspective vibe and Edsel’s emotive vocal delivery. The album also features one of Dope’s best music videos to date for “Now or Never.” (VERY underrated: check out this amazing video right here)
Most importantly, Life has substantial replay value. Compared to other albums from that era, this one is more likely to draw listeners back. Life’s themes of rebellion, self-destruction, and defiance are universal concepts we can all relate to. I’ve always said I could never forgive an album for making me feel nothing. Luckily, like many fans, this album resonated with me. Its raw energy and honesty is endlessly engaging.
Life didn’t get the recognition it deserved when it was released. Perhaps it’s time we changed that?
Next in our series is Group Therapy – stick right with us as I review every Dope studio album ever.