A few months ago I talked to Paul Leary for our story on Bradley Nowell's death anniversary. Leary produced Sublime's eponymous major label debut.
Since Leary also produced Yours Truly, Sublime with Rome's forthcoming album (out July 12), the conversation obviously gravitated toward the new album and comparisons between Rome Ramirez and Bradley Nowell.
Leary said, “Rome is a completely different cat in the studio. He's a real studio
musician. Brad just put up with the studio; I think he loved making the
music but I think he just liked to play. He wasn't really into being in
the studio and learning studio stuff.
“Rome is just all over the studio–he soaks everything up like a sponge and is hard to get out of the control
room. He's on top of everything. Brad would come in and do what you
asked, but he wouldn't be in there looking for things to do, and that's
what Rome does.”
At the time, Sublime with Rome had just released “Panic,” the first single off their album. Today Sublime with Rome released “Lovers Rock,” their latest single. (Listen to it after the jump; it's also streaming here.)
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If you recall, we weren't big fans of “Panic” when we first heard it. Leary shares a similar sentiment: “Panic isn't my favorite song of the record, though.” A lot of the same-old, same-old comparisons have to do with Sublime OG members Eric and
Buddy, however. “They're involved in the songwriting process. It's really more
than just someone writing a song. Those guys have a real sound and character
to them. That's where Sublime comes in. It's just a thing. It's so much
fun to work with them because you hear them play and you think, my gosh
here's Sublime again.”
Leary didn't have enough good things to say about Rome Ramirez, either. “You gotta keep up with him or he'll leave you in the dust,” he says. So he's really good? I asked. Leary replied, “Oh my gosh, the world is not ready for Rome yet.”
“I
have a feeling [Nowell and Ramirez comparisons] are not going to last very long because Rome is so
much his own cat. I got over that real quick, just a few days after working with him. I realized it was
pointless–he's going to make it with or without Sublime.
But it's great
that he's with Sublime because they're such a great combination. They all
fit together very well.”
