311 - 311
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Free Music Notes for 311
Free Music Review: Deservingly Awful album
Hit: 1 Stars
I've heard a lot of good things about 311, all i can say is why? This is really bad folks. So they were one of the first to do the awful rap/rock thing. The only band that could ever pull that off without sounding like some second generation Vanilla Ice was Rage against the machine. I haven't heard any other 311 albums, but the lyrics on this one are extremely self absorbed and just plain embarassing. In 'Jack o'lanterns weather' 311 lays it all down for us, "I beat a bad rap when I skip a soul trap, just trippin' and laughin' at the ...". There is more vomit inducing nonsense such as 'Hive' "Listen up this, you're gonna bump to this, and if I'm feelin mean I'm gonna clutch my fist". And this is suppose to be one of thier better albums? Most of the songs sound the same and it's hard to tell where one ends and the next one begins. "All mixed Up" is the only song that sounds different and is tolerable. 311 may be good party music, but when you actually sit down and listen closely, don't expect anything too inteligent or substantial, don't expect much at all.Free Music Review: "Music" & "Grassroots" were better but this is still 5 stars
Hit: 5 Stars
Lets face it: 311's first two albums were the best. Sure this album got them into the MTV crazed world, but people have to rememeber that in the MTV world a phenominal band like 311 can only stay in the minds of MTV fans for so long. But non-MTV watchers (like myslef) can listen to this CD over and over again. The opener "Down" is one of the greatest 311 songs ever. Some of the other highlights are "Random", "Hive", "Guns (Are for ......)", "Misdirected Hostility", and of course the best song on the CD in my opinion, "Don't Stay Home". Although it's no "Music" or "Grassroots" 311 still keeps it strong and is able to release a 3rd album and still keep it's target audience.Free Music Review: 311's finest hour
Hit: 5 Stars
First, I'd like to express my confusion over the negative reviews this album has been getting. People are saying it can't live up to later 311 works, such as Transistor and From Chaos, two albums that don't even come close to the standard put forth by this album, Music, and Grassroots.From the opening chords of "Down", to the frenetic final track, "T & P Combo", this album is perfect. Sure, the lyrics aren't too deep or insightful, but if you're complaining it about that, you missed the point. 311 is meant to be fun - it's great party music, just leave it at that.
If you are just getting into 311, get this or Soundsystem first, then move to the older stuff, Grassroots and Music. They may not be as polished, but they are easily the best 311 has ever done.
Free Music Review: Not the Best 311 Album, but Amazing Anyway (3.5 stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
This is the album that broke 311 into the mainstream, this is the album that sold millions of copies, this is also the album that people who would only like them for a short time bought, while in the eyes of many true fans this was and is their weakest effort to date, not that's saying much because even the weakest 311 album is better then a lot of bands strongest. There are many strong points on the album and some of the songs even rank as some of their best. The album opener Down is the hard rockin song that broke the band into mainstream MTV audiences, in my opinion this is one of those songs that you can hear millions of times and never get bored of, it's that good. It's also followed by one of their best most overlooked songs, Random, it's a great song and SA's rhymes are great. Then follows the first of the not that good songs, including Jackolantern's Weather, Brodels, Loco, and the worst of them all Misdirected Hostility. Another great song on the album is Hive, even though the lyrics are a little corny and dated, it's still a great song, one of the best on the cd. The overlooked 3rd single off the album, Don't Stay Home, is probably the albums finest moment, it also features an amazing drum solo from Chad Sexton. The album closes with the criminally overlooked and underrated song T&P Combo, this ranks up their with some of my favorite 311 songs ever, it has everything a 311 song should, elements of funk, rock, rap and awesome musicianship. Even though the album is very mediocre these few songs make it completely worthwhileFree Music Review: This broke them through for a reason
Hit: 4 Stars
311 had albums released prior to that of their self-titled, but this was the one that ultimately broke them into the mainstream, expanding their fanbase and getting them more public attention all without selling them out, a talent which few bands possess. "Down", "Random", and "All Mixed Up" got the band instant radio play across the nation, although those tracks are only a taste of the awesomely catchy and accessible album. Nick Hexum's catchy, flowing, and sometimes laidback lyrics mix well with S.A.'s quick rapping style and work well within the bands structure.Hexum's and Timothy Mahoney's guitar playing is actually original, which is hard to find in this day and age, fusing funk with punk with reggae and straight-forward alternative rock, all worked well with P Nut's bass and Chad Sexton's hip-hop influenced drumming. Put it all together and you've got one hell of a band that puts all the other generic rock-rap to shame, all without complaing about their lives, as these other so-called "bands" do. Unlike these other groups, the lyrics are honest, speaking out against hardcore drugs (namely cocaine) in "Hive",...in "Guns (Are For Pussies)", and abuse in "DLMD", one of the most attention-grabbing songs on the record. "Loco", the laidback "Don't Stay Home", and the all-over-the-place "Jackolantern's Weather" also grab the listeners attention.
This is what rap-rock fusions should sound like while still keeping their dignity, so any kids listening to the modern, ...should check into this for a bit of a lesson on the genre. I couldn't have possibly thought of a better album to break 311 in to the masses. Thankfully they're honest enough to the point where they haven't sold out their true meanings and fans.