Band:	Limp Bizkit
Album:	Three Dollar Bill Y'all
Style:	Alternative metal, Nu metal
Release date:	July 01, 1997
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Intro
02. Pollution
03. Counterfeit
04. Stuck
05. Nobody Loves Me
06. Sour
07. Stalemate
08. Clunk
09. Faith [George Michael cover]
10. Stink Finger
11. Indigo Flow
12. Leech [demo]
13. Everything

Omne, I hear you ask, are you planning on celebrating three years on Metal Storm by reviewing a Limp Bizkit album?

Well, let me explain by saying that Three Dollar Bill Y'all is somewhat of a novelty in hindsight, given what Limp Bizkit would soon become in only a few scant years after this album's release; the album is in a much different vein to the band's later work, highlighting the progression (yes, hard as that is to believe) they made. A much more primal, raw and less unique album, Three Dollar Bill Y'all is an island of its own in the band's long career: one worth a visit to, if only for curiosity's sake.

As "Pollution" cranks out its Borland riff and kicks into life, you will hear the blueprint that Limp Bizkit would build upon, though for now it's a rough sketch in the right shape, just lacking finer details. This is to be expected from a debut album, though the degree of direction change in future is something of an exception; while future Limp Bizkit would be a slick, rap-infused outfit, Three Dollar Bill Y'all has more in common with Coal Chamber than their later work. Subsequent albums would see Fred Durst full of swagger and an ego that would see him sing "Nookie" with a straight face. Three Dollar Bill Y'all is the sound of angst, anger and anxiety, the likes of which drips through the self-loathing "Nobody Loves Me"; while Durst would try to tap into this on later albums (see their cover of "Behind Blue Eyes"), it isn't as authentic as it is here. Though it lacks refinement and talent, he can't be accused of lacking youthful exuberance, even though his one-dimensional screaming shows his limitations.

So, is Three Dollar Bill Y'all any good? Well, it has its own strange charm about it, with the likes of "Counterfeit", "Stuck" and "Stalemate" fun time capsules back to an age when parental angst took the form of "my parents don't understand me" rather than "okay, boomer". While DJ Lethal had prior experience with House Of Pain, the rest of the band are rough around the edges, giving proceedings a punky twist that makes tracks like "Pollution" enjoyable. Borland already has several tricks up his sleeve, with the likes of "Counterfeit" and "Stink Finger" showing his Tom Morello-inspired roots, throwing out some decent riffs across the the album.

Much of the shortcomings facing the album can be attributed to the fact it is a debut album, a band who have yet to fully hone their sound and, as a result, sonically resemble an atypical band in the genre they're hoping to fit into. For many, this will cause alarm as the band are trying to fit into the nu metal scene, a sound they may find about as appealing as putting mayonnaise on their morning cereal instead of milk (although I have it on good authority that this is how Nikarg has his Weetabix in the morning).

Three Dollar Bill Y'all is an island of its own in Limp Bizkit's discography, one with its own charm that endears itself to you in an odd way, leaving you with a mixed, but enjoyable collection of tracks. Who knows, maybe in another three years I'll look back in horror and realize I somewhat praised a Limp Bizkit record.