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311 are talented musicians who need to quit the rap front
"Down" and "All Mixed Up" are both excellent tracks. The rapping doesn't bother me much on these cuts because the music behind the vocal mix is so good. Aside from those two songs, the only other cut I enjoyed was "Don't Stay Home". The rest of the songs consist of absolutely horrendous "white boy" rap of the worst kind. Don't get me wrong, I like quite a few 311 songs like the aforementioned three cuts off this album, and nearly everything off Transistor, but the material on here is just so juvenile and played-out that it's downright hokey. "Don't Let Me Down", which is supposedly about "some girl" getting beaten, is laughable. It sounds like Hexum made the whole thing up because he's way too vague. I'd like to know who the girl is, and why we should care about her plight, because vague crap like that ain't going to tug on my heartstrings. What makes it even funnier is that 311 go against everything they preach in every other song they wrote and say that "If you touch her again/I'll f*ck you up. For guys so preachy about "love and unity", they of all people should know that violence isn't solved by more violence. Stupid hypocrite stoners. Oh, by the way, did I mention these guys love weed? I think I should, because that's virtually all they sing about on this album. Do yourself a favor and get Transistor instead of this album. The instrumentation is actually creative, and there isn't dominated by Hard Rock/Rap like this one is. I also have their Live album from 1998 (on cassette no less!) which contains many songs from both Grassroots and Music, and based on those songs, 311's first two albums sound just as hokey as this one does. I personally think that 311 need to stay away from turntables and fight the urge to rap, because they actually are very talented musicians, and songs like "Beautiful Disaster", "Color", "Use of Time", "Stealing Happy Hours", "Light Years", "Rub A Dub", Creature Feature, and the cover of Cure's "Love Song" illustrate that.
Good CD
I bought this cd last week,because I'm a HUGE 311 fan,Overall this is a good(but not great)album.This best songs on the album are "Brodels","Jackolantern's Weather",and "Hive".Wheter you like rap,reggae,or rock,you will not be disappointed with this album.So GO OUT AND GET IT!!!
This broke them through for a reason
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.
this is only the tip of the iceberg of 311's brilliance
The blue album is the first CD I bought by 311 and it instantly became one of my fave CDs ever. That was more than 5 years ago and since then 311 has become an obsession of mine. Nick's voice is just captivating...and when SA starts in it's like the perfect blend of rap and vocals I've ever heard. And of course, you can't forget Chad Sexton, probably the most awesome drummer in the industry, as well as Tim on guitar and P-Nut on bass. This band has the perfect mix of talented musicians. This CD has great songs, especially Random, All Mixed Up, Purpose, and Sweet. This is probably one of my most-listened to CDs, and since buying this one I have bought every other CD they've made and was even pleasantly surprised by their first 2 CDs. I just wish I'd heard about them sooner! Music is awesome, I recommend that to anyone who likes this album, it's probably one of the best debut albums ever to come out. Anything by 311 is sure to please...anything they come up with is beautiful, harmonic, and positive. The writing genius of Nick Hexum with both lyrics and music blows me away. You have to buy this CD! And anything else by 311 as a matter of fact. You won't be disappointed.