Read on for a full review of 311's
From Chaos
"Amber" by 311 was the Sound File Of The Month for July, 2001 at Sight N Sound.org.
Oh, sure, 311 has other soft and mellow tunes in their repertoire, but "Amber" is perhaps the prettiest of them all. With a soothing hypnotizing melody and a solid Reggae foundation, one can't help but be moved and sing along even on first listen when you don't even know the song yet. "Amber" appears on 311's new release From Chaos. "Amber" is a pretty tune! Hear it now!!
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Read on for a full review of 311's
From Chaos
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311's new album, From Chaos captures a refined original 311 sound as well as presenting a fresh aura from a band that, over the last 10 years now, has evolved into a mature set of well rounded songwriters. Unlike much of today's heavier music, the angst is removed from 311's offerings. Their new album moves between sweetly mellow songs ("Champagne", "Amber"), to power-driven, raw sonic "head rush" assaults ("Sick Tight"), to harmony rich ska ("I'll Be Here Awhile"). But what links it all together is a seriousness of purpose, a speculation that the world can change with the power and space of a three minute pop song. With most songs clocking in at about 3:20, the listener is left wanting more after nearly every track.
Tracks 1,3, & 11 - "You Get Worked", "You Wouldn't Believe", and "Uncalm" respectively - have a Collective Soul-ish catchy fish hook guitar riff that is pleasing and holds those individual pieces together like Superglue. "You Wouldn't Believe" is 311's new single release for radio play and it's release is accompanied by a music video release featuring Shaquille O'Neal shootin' hoop with the boys. A great song all around with riff, melody, power chords, rap, and back again, "You Wouldn't Believe" is playing on a radio station near you, check it out! "Uncalm" is an outstanding tune being memorable melody laden with a heavy rock attitude and percussion perfection.
Track 2 "Sick Tight" is pure Rock with a Rap or two plugging out a lyrical tribute to their fans far and wide. 311 makes a "Sick tight connection when we see our true people on tour. Head rush..." And a head rush it would be, particularly in the mosh pit. Evident with every blow on the album, drummer Chad Sexton is so precise and adds just the right sound at quite the right moment. With Charlie Watts precision, Chad Sexton keeps the head rush with the right heartbeat and blood pressure.
Track 4, "Full Ride" slows the beat a bit but keeps the power-chord guitars active.
Title track "From Chaos" starts with an indelible "From chaos comes clarity, I'll tell ya!" tied to a soothing ride accompanying melody. From there chaos begins with rap sections on top of more Ed Roland-ish catchy riffs.
Have you ever phoned a person you had decided never to contact again? Well, track 6 "I Told Myself" addresses this issue and does it well with more memorable melodies. Although power-chord driven, you'll be singing along in no time.
Sounding like it came from their fourth album Transistor, "Champagne" slows things down a bit with a beautiful jazz-like guitar accompaniment. The song seems to be about a relationship without the give and take. Lead singer Nick Hexum sings "...I can't be around to pick up your bags and your debts, she wants to love me with threats..." A beautiful tune nonetheless!
Tracks 8 & 9 are pretty much the filler on this album. Similar in style and tone to the material released on the 1994 album Grassroots, "Hostile Apostle" and "Wake Your Mind Up" are pretty much loud sonic rap assaults. "Hostile Apostle" is much like the tune "Hydroponic" that appeared on 311's first album Music, and "Wake Your Mind Up" parallels their tunes "Hive" and "T & P Combo".
Ah, now, saving one of the best for last is brilliant! "I'll Be Here Awhile" is a killer tune with a beautiful melody. Seemingly Ska in nature, "I'll Be Here Awhile" has a persistent adagio beat with a crisp jazz-like guitar presence. This is the kind of tune you would expect to hear at a small jazz club with some no-name house musicians playing for entertainment. Nick Hexem explains that this song was written when he was 20 years old. He states that the time was right to release it now that he is 30 and he has, in fact, been here awhile.
The CD also boasts a trove of goodies for computer users. The Enhanced part of the CD includes interviews with questions and answers, trailers for their two DVD releases, and a photo gallery.
Leaving some of the profanity that laced 311's first 3 albums behind, From Chaos is a mature, well rounded, offering with elements of Rock, Metal, Rap, Punk, Reggae, Dancehall, Pop, & Hip-Hop all wrapped up in one clever album.
Steve Pariseau