311 - Evolver (2003)

This is 311's seventh album and marked the first time when I first started listening to them back in 2003. I'm not sure but, my first 311 song I believe is "Creatures (For a While)". I think this is at that time I was really into music videos or the later years as I was getting out of them and I caught there music video for that song. Now that I have the album many years later it actually ranks as one of my least favorite by them. Thinking about it, they don't have an album that sticks out as there best but, there catchy as hell. These kind of albums are the hardest to review, the ones that you don't particular care for even though it's a band you support. Beatles released there seventh album entitled Revolver and 311's seventh album Evolver I think was highly inspired by The Beatles. That's perhaps why I'm not hesitant to shoot it down haha. Songs to check out "Creatures (For a While)", "Beyond the Gray Sky" and "Don't Dwell".

1. "Creatures (For a While)" - 4:27
2. "Reconsider Everything" - 2:50
3. "Crack the Code" - 3:55
4. "Same Mistake Twice" - 3:22
5. "Beyond the Gray Sky" - 4:18
6. "Seems Uncertain" - 3:36
7. "Still Dreaming" - 3:41
8. "Give Me a Call" - 3:21
9. "Don't Dwell" - 2:40
10. "Other Side of Things" - 3:08
11. "Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm" - 6:37

311 - Soundsystem (1999)

Whether it's rock, hip hop, reggae, and funk 311 makes very basic and repetitive songs that just get stuck in your head. The fifth album is so catchy that one may think they wouldn't like it at first might actually grow into it because I don't like anybody else that pulls whatever they try to pull off musically. Unfortunately, the most recent album Uplifter is horrible and I just couldn't get into that one but, Soundsystem is not a miss like Uplifter if you've heard the new album. Vocalist Nick Hexum said the lyrics were some of his deepest and personal material he's written. I believe there's great variety in Soundsystem and it's very positive lyrically unlike a lot of the albums I've reviewed this week or perhaps all of them thinking about it. If you're opened enough for some sing/rap style you'll probably be very impressed and dig this album. Songs to check out "Come Original", "Flowing" and "Freeze Time".

1. "Freeze Time" - 3:21
2. "Come Original" - 3:42
3. "Large in the Margin" - 3:28
4. "Flowing" - 3:13
5. "Can't Fade Me" - 2:10
6. "Life's Not a Race" - 4:26
7. "Strong All Along" - 3:28
8. "Sever" - 4:42
9. "Eons" - 3:13
10. "Evolution" - 4:17
11. "Leaving Babylon" - 3:59
12. "Mindspin" - 4:00
13. "Livin' & Rockin'" - 2:42