By the time Fat debuted with this self-titled release in 1997, fusing rap and rock was nothing new. Rockers ranging from
the Red Hot Chili Peppers to
Rage Against the Machine had done their share of rapping, and rappers like Run-D.M.C., Ice-T and the Beastie Boys had never been shy about the fact that they were seriously into rock. Nonetheless, combining rock and rap was something that still had a lot of creative possibilities, and Fat reminded us of that fact on this exhilarating CD. Although the band's music isn't revolutionary, there's a definite freshness to "What We Do," "Dog" and other forceful alternative rock tunes that incorporate a great deal of rapping. Fat (whose music is also influenced by metal and punk) knows how to have fun, and quite often, its songs are as infectious as they are aggressive. Highly recommended.