MUSIC REVIEW: 311, “Uplifter”
June 5th, 2009 by Pat
I don’t do this enough… hopefully this is a new trend. I will rate albums on a scale of 1 - 5 stars (creative, right?). A 1 star rating meaning the album is so bad that I would rather listen to a baby scream into my ear than listen to this again. A 5 meaning it is an album that is above and beyond anything in any genre currently. If I really like the album it will get a 4 rating.
311 is a band that I hated the first time I heard them back in the mid 1990’s. Rock mixed with Rap mixed with Reggae? Too weird dude. That is until one day when I was working as a prep cook for a country club and I heard the song “Large in the Margin.” While this was one of 311’s better tunes, many people thought I was crazy for having this be my favorite 311 song with hits like “Down,” “Beautiful Disaster,” “All Mixed Up,” and “Come Original.” For whatever reason though it was “Large in the Margin” that sold me, and I haven’t looked back since.
I own every 311 album. Yes, every. From their Live album to “Dammit.” I even own the disaster that is their last album “Don’t Tread On Me;” an album I deemed so bad that I considered throwing it in the garbage. However, despite my distaste, I kept it to keep the collection complete. Which brings us to their latest adventure in Rasticore music, “Uplifter.”
I haven’t liked most of 311’s work in the 21st century. It’s been missing the edge that made them so anti-authority and fun at the same time. You could feel they got old once Y2K struck. Gone were the weed smoking punks that rapped and rocked their way into a cannabis induced coma of hits, and in were dads with wives and maturity… ew. Needless to say my hopes were not high for this album (pardon the pun).
Right off the bat they break into a classic 311 radio hit, “Hey You.” Heavy guitars lead into a poppy reggae pluck that bleed harmonizing vocals and a nice balance of heavy and poppy. The song isn’t a breakthrough, but it seems to be a mix of the good things they used to do and the few good things they do now. It’s a good tune. Predictable and far from blowing away your musical mind, but good.
Next we have “It’s Alright,” a song that feels nice and islandy. It’s sways back and forth with fairly predictable lyrics while making you think of fruity drinks, when all of a sudden they kick in the heavy guitars for the chorus. What’s nice about this song is it’s hard enough for the rocker but poppy enough for a chick. I’m sensing some old 311 coming through so far… this is good!
Track 4 is a tune called “Golden Sunlight.” This song sucks. Nick Hexum singing like this is just not interesting, pretty, or entertaining. It’s just a boring tune. If you’re a super fan you’ll say you like it. If you’re the casual music lover that we all are, you probably won’t come back to this track.
Track 5, “India Ink,” might be my favorite 311 song since 1999. This is the 311 I miss: Heavy, aggressive, and harmonic, but in a completely non-traditional way that only they can accomplish. The chorus will ring through your mind all day (in a good way). I find myself constantly going back to listen to it, which I haven’t done with a 311 song since their cover of The Cure’s “Love Song” for that Adam Sandler flick. This may not be a radio hit, because the good songs never are, but old school 311 fans should be able to appreciate this tune. It’s repetitive lyrically, but it’s pleasing to listen to if you like a medium tempo and heavy guitar.
Track 7, “Too Much Too Fast,” is a little too poppy for me when it comes to 311.
Track 8, “Never Ending Summer,” has a lame intro, but the song is pretty cool. Some classic 311 yet again that takes me back to 1997’s “Transistor” album.
“Jackpot”(track 11) is a tune that finally sees S.A. Martinez rap on the album. Can someone explain to me why for the last decade S.A. has virtually stopped rapping on their albums? He does in this song, and while it’s not a great tune, it’s nice to hear the dynamic duo rap again. 311 are pioneers of the rap/rock scene, yet they have been ignoring that for 10 years. While I realize Limp Bizkit killed Rapcore and rap/rock, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done still by a group that was in fact one of the founders of the genre. Say what you want about rap, but these guys make it fun and enjoyable when they actually do it. Plus, S.A. is not a strong lead singer. They chose to give him more of s lead singing presence in their last 2 albums and it was, in my opinion, awful. His voice is high and whiny, which works for some bands, and is essential for 311’s harmony to off set the lack of dynamic in Hexum’s voice in choruses, but not as the lead voice.
The album ends with a Reggae love ballad that bored me, but you may be able to woo a girl with it if you’re into that (ha!).
SUMMARY: This is the best 311 album since their 1999 release of “Soundsystem” by far. It’s fun, it returns them to their heavier roots, and for once I didn’t feel like they were trying to cater to lame college hippies who don’t really know what a hippie is, but pretend they are one. I’m praying they keep up with this trend of heavy guitars, and for God’s Sake boys have S.A. rap more often!!! I think this album will translate VERY well in a live setting, and I hope they make their way to the area so I can test that theory.
RATING: 3.5 out 5 stars. It’s good, better than average, and I almost love it.
I recommend buying it.
If you have never really heard 311, make sure you give them a few tries and listen to the whole song. A lot of people have trouble processing literally 3 types of music in one song, but once you put it together it’s a great experience.
Favorite 311 album: A toss up between the Blue Album (Titled “311″) and” Soundsystem.”
iTunes has a lot of bonus material if you buy the entire album through them.
I know Target and Best Buy have it cheap this week only. ($10)
If you want to check out 311 for news, tour dates, and merch, check out www.311.com
