Review: 311: “Uplifter” Album

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.

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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.

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