311 Album: “311 [PA]”

If you read through most of the reviews on here for this album, you will see that most of the more negative reviews are by people that don't like 311 period, not just THIS album. I don't really see the point writing a review for an album that is by a band you know you don't like. I'll suggest that you don't listen to those types of people.

If you are interested in hearing 311, this is an essential to get. The rap/rock style shines through in this CD. However, this is not necessarily their style that they use for every CD. I don't get how some people can say that 311 always sounds the same. 311 has always been one to create something new, try something different, take a chance. I think they did on this CD and I think they do on almost everything they do.

If you like rock, then you'll like this CD. Yes, there is rapping by both Nick and S.A., but its not ALL rap. Songs like Purpose, Sweet and All Mixed Up are melodic gems.

Overall, as a 311 fan, I am giving the Blue Album 5 stars because I think it is an important piece to the 311 puzzle. It is a must have for any 311 fan, old or new.

Five stars is a must for 311's breakthrough album. 311 once again show off their skill of genre bending while nearly flawlessly bridging the gap between being unknowns to a radio friendly band. While I agree with others that this is not their best album it still blows everything else away. 311 has a raw energy that just seems to flow, and the fact that they are probably the best musicians in the world right now makes them very enjoyable to listen to, even if you did get tired of hearing Down every five minutes in ninth grade. This is by far their most diverse album. Grassroots is also, but the Blue Album has very poignant differences between each song. Listening on shuffle kind of throws of the albums groove. Congrats for fitting an amalgam of styles and tempos on one CD and making it work. I wouldn't change a dang thing.

311 is in my opinion the overall most talented band on earth. 311 consists of Nick Hexum (vocals, plays 2nd guitar on some songs), Chad Sexton (one of the world's best drummers), SA (the first and best DJ in a rock band, and he also does awesome vocals, trading off with Nick in most songs), P-Nut (one of the best bass players in any rock band ever - Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers listens to him for inspiration), Tim Mahoney (fantastic guitarist, is unlimited in the styles he can play). Both Nick and SA can rap better than I've ever heard, and they can both sing beautiful melodies. When they harmonize there is a sense that they were meant to sing together - their voices match up perfectly.

On this album, their third major label release, they decided to keep it simple and straight-forward with their sound. Tim only used his guitar (a PRS), octave pedal (which he uses on nearly every song), and amp (Mesa Boogie) and no other effects or anything. When the band followed this album up with Transistor it threw a lot of people off because Transistor has a totally different sound. In my opinion Transistor is the best album anyone has ever made, although Evolver may be tied.

Back to the album I'm reviewing - it is self-titled, and often called 'The Blue Album' by the band and fans. Here is a description of each song as best as I can give:

(1) Down - This song rocks so hard it is unbelievable. This is the song that was released as a single and made it to #1 on the charts and is the only 311 song a lot of people know. Characteristic positive message with fierce guitar riffs and rapping by SA and a great catchy chorus sung by Nick.

(2) Random - Starts with a drum beat only Chad would play, the chorus is interesting because it has Nick singing with SA rapping at the same time. They only did this in one other song, Six from their album called Grassroots. The end of this song has a slow heavy riff that rocks hard.

(3) Jackolantern's Weather - A fantastic song written by Chad, they call this one their Halloween song. The last part with Nick rapping is definitely something to headbang to. Tim uses his octave pedal on almost the entire song.

(4) All Mixed Up - Another radio hit, this one went to #4 on the charts. A great song with a bouncy riff and more catchy melodies but softer than the previous three.

(5) Hive - This song is nonstop fierce guitar riffs and rapping by Nick and SA. Possibly the best rapping of any of their songs.

(6) Guns (are for *******) - No sooner does Hive end than another song with hard rockin' riffs begins with another onslaught of great rapping by Nick and SA. This song was also written by Chad.

(7) Misdirected Hostility - This song has a slow heavy riff with, once again, great rapping by both Nick and SA. I like the lyrics 'I can't handle all the negative vibe merchants - is that all you have in you perchance'

(8) Purpose - They take somewhat of a break from the heaviness of the three previous songs with this beautiful song. This song still rocks pretty hard though in the middle and at the end.

(9) Loco - 'Make an instrumental, add a little vocal, take it to the show and make the people go loco' is repeated plenty of times, and Nick's vocals at one point sound like he is doing something impossibly fast that I can't do if I try.

(10) Brodels - This song has a very heavy slow riff to it but speeds up at parts, and the riff at the end is the heavy slow riff played differently by Tim so it makes you want to headbang like crazy. SA's lyrics, as he is known for, make little to no sense 'I told a shark I was a dolphin...'

(11) Don't Stay Home - Another radio single, this is a fun song to sing along too although there is a part just before Chad does a brief drum solo that, like the part in Loco, I can't sing. Thanks Nick.

(12) DLMD - Don't Let Me Down is what it stands for, it is a song about guys who beat up their girlfriends. I love Nick's authoritative 'If you hurt her again I'll f*** you up!' at the end.

(13) Sweet - Definitely a 'sweet' song, the music to this one was written by Tim and it shows. The song ends with a great guitar solo that sounds effortless.

(14) T&P Combo - T&P means Tim & P-Nut who co-wrote the music for this song. This song rocks hard from beginning to end and is a great way to end the album.

So there's my review and if you are considering buying this album then I strongly urge you to do so. If you dislike the occasional swear words then there is an edited version of the CD available so there is no excuse not to buy one version or the other. If you have never purchased a 311 CD I suggest starting with Grassroots or From Chaos although you can't go wrong with any of their CDs - just be aware that each of their albums sound different.

311's most sucessful released depended upon how the listeners would pick up on the the new sound of rock/rap that started to get somewhat popular in the mid 90's.

Fortuneately for 311, their self-titled provided perhaps the greatest songs from their repertoire. "Down", "All Mixed Up," "Misdirected Hostility," and "Don't Stay Home" are all classics with cutting guitars and bass with a blistering line up of lyrics that even that micro-machine dude would have trouble saying.

"Sweet" is a nice regae type song with "Random" displays a dark and even cheerful chorus. "Hive," "T&P Combo" and "Brodels" are more of a grungy guitar sound with a beasty boy sounding rap fest of lyrics.

The remaining songs contain all the ingredients of 311's grunge/rock/rap and even melodic chorus type songs such as "Jackolantern's Weather," "Guns," "Loco" and "Purpose"

Most of this self-titled album features the basis for bands such as linkin park and incubus. I'd say any fan of 311 should have this album even if you are a late bloomer only knowing the softer slower new stuff.

311's self-titled album seems like an odd choice to be a commercial breakthrough, but then again, 311 has always seemed to me a little too-quirky to be mainstream. However, for a brief moment in 1995 the listening public decided to give 311 a go, based mostly on the strength of the singles like the somewhat overplayed "Down," and "All Mixed Up," and the poppy "Don't Stay Home," with a middle-section remeniscent of the middle of Led Zeppelin's "Fool In the Rain." Other songs, however, are more left-of-center: "Hive," one of 311's most punishing songs contains some warped, Primus-esque guitar figures. "Random" and "Jackolantern's Weather" have very twisted, yet melodic riffs. "Purpose" and "Sweet" find the band mining familiar reggae-rock territory to great effect, the latter song's chorus containing a brilliant, twisting Tim Mahoney guitar riff. Other stand-out tracks are "DLMD," "Guns (are for pussies)," "Misdirected Hostility," and the rocking "T&P Combo."

This gets a strong 4 stars, but the relatively short length of the CD and a few weak tracks ("Brodels," "Loco") detract from its overall flow. A very quirky, spacey sounding CD (maybe it's all of those Lydian riffs that give it the otherworldly feel) that proved to be 311's commercial, but not artistic, high watermark.