Gold Cobra: A Sonic Analysis
An academic exploration of Limp Bizkit's 2011 studio album, detailing its musical characteristics, critical reception, commercial performance, and industry context.
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Album Background
Context and Reunion
Following the release of The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) in 2004 and a subsequent hiatus, Limp Bizkit experienced a period of transition. Original guitarist Wes Borland had departed, and drummer John Otto was temporarily replaced. The band's official status became uncertain, with Borland himself stating his future plans did not include Limp Bizkit. However, in 2009, the band announced a significant reunion, welcoming Borland back and embarking on the "Unicorns N' Rainbows Tour." It was during this period that the recording of a new album, tentatively titled Gold Cobra, commenced.
Title and Creative Direction
The album's title, Gold Cobra, was reportedly chosen by Fred Durst without a specific intended meaning, selected primarily for its stylistic fit with the music being composed. The creative process involved various elements, including a planned spoken introduction by Gene Simmons of KISS, which ultimately did not make the final cut. Additionally, the band recorded several tracks intended for release outside the main album, such as "Combat Jazz" featuring rapper Raekwon, indicating a diverse approach to their output during this period.
Musicality and Lyrical Themes
Sonic Landscape
Gold Cobra is largely characterized as a return to the band's established nu metal and rap rock sound, reminiscent of their earlier, highly successful albums like Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. However, the album also incorporates a more eclectic range of influences, distinguishing it from their previous work. Notably, the album features a greater emphasis on guitarist Wes Borland's diverse playing style, which spans from heavy metal and hard rock to electronic music influences. Bassist Sam Rivers' contributions incorporate elements of jazz and funk, while DJ Lethal's keyboards and samples add both melodic and abrasive textures. Unlike some prior albums, Gold Cobra predominantly features the core band members without extensive guest vocalists, except on specific bonus tracks.
Lyrical Content and Song Structure
The album's lyrical content is primarily penned by Fred Durst. Tracks like "Shark Attack" reference earlier works, such as the lyric "another one of those days" echoing "Break Stuff." The album showcases a variety of song structures, including uptempo tracks, heavier pieces like "Bring It Back," and more introspective, serene ballads such as "Walking Away," which notably deviates from the band's typical rap-influenced sound. "Shotgun," the album's lead single, is highlighted for its guitar solo and described as an anthem influenced by heavy metal. Other tracks like "Loser" blend softer elements with rap verses, while "Autotunage" features Durst utilizing autotune, and "90.2.10" incorporates thrash metal elements.
Featured Sample
The track "Shotgun" provides a notable example of the album's musical direction, particularly highlighting Wes Borland's guitar work. Listen to a sample below:
Critical Reception
Aggregate and Review Scores
Gold Cobra received a mixed reception from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album obtained an average score of 53 based on 11 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Individual reviews varied significantly, with some praising the album's energy and return to form, while others criticized its perceived lack of innovation or lyrical content.
Notable Criticisms and Praises
Positive assessments often highlighted the album's adherence to Limp Bizkit's signature sound and Borland's guitar contributions. Artistdirect awarded the album a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, calling it a powerful statement in both rap and metal. AllMusic described it as a strong return to the band's earlier aggressive style. About.com and Consequence of Sound also offered favorable reviews, noting the album's nostalgic appeal and effectiveness within its genre.
Conversely, less favorable reviews, such as one from Entertainment Weekly which gave it a C−, and a particularly harsh critique from Antiquiet (initially 1/5 stars), pointed to a perceived lack of originality or substance. Wes Borland notably responded to negative feedback, defending the album's authenticity within the context of Limp Bizkit's established identity.
Commercial Performance
United States Performance
In its debut week in the United States, Gold Cobra sold approximately 27,000 copies, securing the 16th position on the Billboard 200 chart. The album also performed well on genre-specific charts, reaching No. 3 on Rock Albums, No. 11 on Digital Albums, No. 2 on Alternative Albums, and topping the Hard Rock Albums chart at No. 1. It also appeared at No. 21 on the Tastemaker Albums chart.
International Chart Impact
Internationally, Gold Cobra achieved notable chart success. It entered the Top 10 in Germany (No. 1) and Austria (No. 2), and reached No. 13 in Canada. The album also charted in Australia (No. 12), Poland (No. 24), Russia (No. 3), and Italy (No. 58), demonstrating a solid global commercial presence for the band's return.
Track Listing
Standard Edition
All lyrics written by Fred Durst; all music composed by Limp Bizkit (Durst, Borland, Rivers, Otto, Lethal).
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Introbra" | 1:20 |
2. | "Bring It Back" | 2:17 |
3. | "Gold Cobra" | 3:53 |
4. | "Shark Attack" | 3:26 |
5. | "Get a Life" | 4:54 |
6. | "Shotgun" | 4:32 |
7. | "Douche Bag" | 3:42 |
8. | "Walking Away" | 4:45 |
9. | "Loser" | 4:53 |
10. | "Autotunage" | 5:00 |
11. | "90.2.10" | 4:18 |
12. | "Why Try" | 2:51 |
13. | "Killer in You" | 3:46 |
Total length: | 49:37 |
Deluxe & Regional Editions
Various editions included bonus tracks, featuring collaborations and alternate versions:
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Back Porch" | Durst, Boney B.eats | 3:22 |
15. | "My Own Cobain" | 3:40 | |
16. | "Angels" | 3:20 | |
Total length: | 59:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Los Angeles" | 2:53 |
Total length: | 62:50 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
17. | "Middle Finger" (featuring Paul Wall) | Wall, Durst | Mathematics | 4:27 |
Total length: | 64:24 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
17. | "Combat Jazz" (featuring Raekwon) | Mathematics | 2:37 |
Total length: | 62:34 |
Personnel
Band Members
Limp Bizkit
- Wes Borland – guitars
- Fred Durst – vocals, guitars on "Shotgun"
- DJ Lethal – turntables, keyboards, samples, programming
- John Otto – drums
- Sam Rivers – bass
Production Staff
Production
- Cory Durst – photography
- Cliff Feiman – production supervisor
- Dave Schiffman – mixing, recording
- Liam Ward – layout
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Boney B.eats – additional production on "Back Porch"
- Hayes – additional production on "Shotgun"
- Wes Borland – cover art design, art direction, illustration
- Fred Durst – producer, art direction
Chart Performance
Weekly Chart Positions (2011)
Chart | Peak Position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart | 12 |
Austrian Album Chart | 2 |
Canadian Albums Chart | 13 |
German Albums Chart | 1 |
Italian Albums Chart | 58 |
Polish Albums Chart | 24 |
Russian Albums Chart | 3 |
U.S. Billboard 200 | 16 |
U.S. Billboard Digital Albums | 11 |
U.S. Billboard Rock Albums | 3 |
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Hard Rock Albums | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Tastemaker Albums | 21 |
Year-End Chart Performance
The album also appeared on year-end charts, reflecting its sustained performance throughout 2011:
Chart | Position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums Chart | 57 |
German Albums Chart | 66 |
Russian Albums Chart | 45 |
Certifications and Sales
Recognized Achievements
Gold Cobra has achieved certifications in several key markets, indicating significant commercial success and market penetration:
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Russia (NFPF) | Gold | 5,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Release History
Key Release Dates and Formats
The album was released across different regions with varying dates and formats:
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Europe | June 24, 2011 | CD, digital download | Interscope |
United States | June 28, 2011 | CD, digital download | Interscope |
Japan | June 29, 2011 | CD, digital download | Interscope |
Brazil | July 19, 2011 | Universal | Universal |
References
Source Citations
The information presented in this analysis is derived from the following sources:
- Barkan, Jonathan (June 27, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit 'Gold Cobra'". Bloody Disgusting.
- Billboard Staff (July 20, 2011). "Limp Bizkit, 'Gold Cobra'". Billboard.
- Blabbermouth.net Staff (July 6, 2011). "LIMP BIZKIT's 'Gold Cobra' Cracks U.S. Top 20". Blabbermouth.net.
- Buchanan, David (June 24, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra". Consequence of Sound.
- Collis, Clark (May 5, 2010). "Limp Bizkit on their reunion album-and who exactly was to blame for their break up in the first place". Entertainment Weekly Music Mix.
- D'Angelo, Joe (August 16, 2004). "Wes Borland Back With Limp Bizkit". MTV News.
- Erlewine, Stephen (June 29, 2011). "Album Review: Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra". AllMusic.
- Firecloud, Johnny (June 20, 2011). "Blowin' up the septic tank, y'all!". antiquiet.
- Firecloud, Johnny (June 21, 2011). "Gold Cobra rebuttal: Wes Borland Vs. antiquiet". antiquiet.
- Florino, Rick (June 17, 2011). "Limp Bizkit — 'Gold Cobra' Album Review 5 out of 5 stars". Artistdirect.
- Grischow, Chad (June 27, 2011). "Original line-up yields mostly good results on latest". IGN.
- Grierson, Tim (June 28, 2011). "Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra Review". About.com.
- Harris, Chris (March 17, 2006). "Bye Bye Bizkit? Wes Borland Says Limp Are Pretty Much Done". MTV News.
- Langhoff, Josh. "Limp Bizkit: Gold Cobra < PopMatters". Popmatters.com.
- Lewis, Faye. "Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra | Reviews |". Rock Sound.
- Martin, Dan (June 21, 2011). "NME Reviews – Album Review: Limp Bizkit – 'Gold Cobra'". NME.
- Moss, Corey (November 3, 2005). "Fred Durst Says Limp Bizkit Are About To Bring On The Gravy – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.
- NME Staff (November 25, 2010). "Fred Durst previews new Limp Bizkit songs online". NME.
- Shaw, Zack (June 23, 2011). "Wes Borland Proves He Still Loves Fred Durst, Responds To Negative Album Review". Metal Insider.
- Simon (November 30, 2009). "World exclusive! Limp Bizkit name new album". Kerrang.com.
- Bundesverband Musikindustrie. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Limp Bizkit; 'Gold Cobra')".
- FIMI. "Classifica italiana FIMI del 27 giugno 2011".
- Lenta.ru. "Что слушали россияне в 2011 году". (PDF)
- MTV. "Album Jahrescharts 2011".
- MTV.de. "Album Jahrescharts 2011".
- Official Charts.de. "Charts.de: Album: Limp Bizkit: Gold Cobra".
- OLiS. "OLiS: sales for the period 04.07.2011 – 10.07.2011".
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References
References
- The overall impression is that the Bizkit remain as annoying, entertaining and incorrigibly obnoxious as they ever were. [25 Jun 2011, p.50]
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Disclaimer
Academic and Informational Notice
This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence for educational and analytical purposes. The content is based on publicly available data from Wikipedia and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Limp Bizkit's album Gold Cobra. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the source material, this content is not a substitute for professional music criticism or academic research.
This is not professional music analysis. The information provided herein is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional music critique, review, or endorsement. Always consult official sources and expert opinions for in-depth musical analysis.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.