Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Super cheese. The best two words to describe 311’s new album, “Uplifter.” Sure, 311 stuck somewhat to its formula: heavy guitar riffs, S.A. Martinez busting out flows, and Nick Hexum singing about love — but with aging the band has lost its edge.
There’s nothing surprising about this new album. It sounds like a combination of all the bad things from the band’s three latest studio albums “From Chaos,” “Evolver” and “Don’t Tread On Me.” These bad things include cliché lyrics, guitar licks that sound as if they’re featured on a Sega Genesis video game and chord progressions you swear you’ve heard before on previous albums.
If you’ve followed 311 from its start you can hear with the album “Evolver,” a shift towards a lighter, more mature sound that doesn’t do what 311 used to do, which was rock. It’s disappointing, but one can assume it’s expected from now on. As much as I enjoy classic 311, I have to say don’t waste your money on this album. The “classic” 311 albums far surpass this one.
Music Review: Slightly Stoopid
Music guy
A road map to music utopia
Q&A: Paul Benjaman Karleskindt, guitarist/vocalist of Paul ...
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Music guy
Your guide to music utopia
Music review: Woods — 'At Echo Lake'
KJHK’s weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Music review: 'Fork in the Road' by ...
3 out of 4 stars
Stage presence: The Cosmopolitics
local musicians. feel free to swoon: The
New name, same sound
Don’t call them ‘Volunteers’ anymore. They’re ‘the Vols,’ and the Lawrence band ...
Who???
Student band making waves in national contest
The Louisiana Street Band is leading a competition for a recording session ...
Music review: Yo La Tengo, ‘Popular Songs’ ...
KJHK’s weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Music: Kings of Leon, Only By The ...
Q&A: Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Q & A with Vince DiFiore of ...
DiFore discusses life in college and the stresses of being a musician
Sound Tribe Sector 9
Q&A: Brendan Hangauer: vocalist/guitarist of Fourth of ...
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Q&A with Reckless Kelly's Willy Braun
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Who???
Music guy
Your guide to music utopia
Music review: Joe Foster: Adrift (Self-release)
KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Q&A Girl Talk
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Celebrity Dish: Thomas Becker
Becker plays guitar for Kansas City band The Beautiful Bodies.
Reviews
Damn alright
Q&A with Davey Pierce of the band, ...
We have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Interview: John Medeski
Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert
The band rocks old songs while elevating itself to the next level.
Belting out some noise
Exploding engines and a wall of noise
Mersmann: ‘Flesh-eating reality’ fresh alternative to current ...
People are drawn to zombies, because a world with zombies is an ...
Review: Peter Bjorn and John album
‘Living Thing’ offers only one song that makes the cut.
Taking the Stage
Tanner Walle, the lead singer for Lawrence cover band The Wobbly H, ...
Question & Answer with John Scofield
His claims to fame almost endless—having played with jazz greats such as ...
Q&A with Bryce Avary — The Rocket ...
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Lerman: Classic rock icons sell out
Artists who used to represent rebellion are now part of the establishment.
Music Review: Obits - 'Moody, Standard and ...
KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption
The sincerest form of flattery
Find out how the musically inclined pay homage to legendary, and sometimes ...
Shake-ya-boogie with SELLOUT!
Behind the scenes with a local cover band
Q&A: The Lemonheads' Evan Dando
The sweet-and-sour singer behind The Lemonheads tells all.
Review- !!!
Music
Montemayor: It’s not still rock and roll
What we miss by relying on digital music sources.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Review: 311: “Uplifter” Album
I just watched this awesome interview of 311 on Billboard.com talking about their new album! I am so glad they are back I love their music. http://www.billboard.com/#/eatures/video-q-a-311-cranks-the-uplifter-1003998306.story.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID