Spin (11/01, p.139) - 7 out of 10 - "...Skacore nostalgists slavishly repeating the canon, their summer-reading list includes Jamaican toasters and classic-punk sing-alongs via Johnny Rotten and Jello Biafra....catchy and rueful..."
Long Beach Dub Allstars: Ras 1 (vocals, guitar); Tim Wu (vocals, flute, saxophone, synthesizer); Jack Maness (vocals, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Opie Ortiz (vocals); Marshall Goodman (drums, percussion, turntables); Bud (drums).
Additional personnel: Will.I.Am (vocals); Miguel (electric guitar, melodica, background vocals); Aaron Owens (guitar); Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (pedal steel guitar); Gabriel McNair (horn arrangements, E-MU synthesizer).
Producers: Paul Leary, Oliver Leiber, David Gamson, Marshall Goodman, The Burn Unit.
Recorded at Total Access Studios, Redondo Beach, California.
The Long Beach Dub Allstars, headed up by the rhythm section from Sublime, returns for another collective effort that effortlessly bridges the gap between dancehall, roots reggae, ska, dub, pop, and R&B. From the pumping ska feel of "Rolled Up" to the atmospheric hip-hop tour de force "Life Goes On," (featuring members of underground rap outfits the Jurassic 5 and Delinquent Habits), this loose collection of like-minded musicians manages to make a cohesive-sounding statement out of an impressive variety of styles. While WONDERS OF THE WORLD visits a variety of musical planets, though, dub is the foremost ingredient throughout, and the Allstars prove adept at the form, providing groove and ambience--the two cornerstones of the style--in equal amounts for a satisfying feel.