Evolver

by

311

Edit

Heres my personal rundown:

"Creatures(for a while)" : first single, great opener for the album. A little misleading, as this is probably the heaviest song on the album. Most energetic rockin' song i've heard from ANY band in a long time. 10/10

"Reconsider Everything" : straight up rocker, with some great guitar and a great message telling people to think for themselves. 7/10

"Crack the Code" : reggae-flavored love song, without being cheesy. "crack the code" being a metaphor for finding someone who's got you figured out (or "cracked your code"). Great song, likely to be a favorite if you get this album. Its definitely one of my favorites. 10/10

"Same Mistake Twice" : straight-forward rocker, probably the most forgettable song on the album, although it's still good. Some people may like it as it resembles music by "the Clash". 6/10

"Beyond the Gray Sky" : Seems to be the song getting the most attention off this album. Some people diss it saying its too depressing, as the subject of the song is suicide. I disagree and say its the exact opposite, it couldn't be a more positive, uplifting song. After the first chorus, i have tingles running up and down my spine for the rest of the song. Still, after hearing the song a hundred times. Beautiful, melodic, meaningful, and very personal to Nick Hexum himself, as it is about his best high school friend, who committed suicide in 2002. Probably the most beautiful, meaningful 311 song to date.

10/10 ( only because i cant give it any more stars than that)

"Seems uncertain" : soft, melodic, acoustic song. hard to grasp the first few listens, but it'll grow on you, and you'll be singing along before you know it. 8/10

"Still Dreaming" : rocker, for some reason reminds me of older 311, like from transistor or soundsystem. Good song, but not one my favorites on the album. 7/10

"Give Me a Call" : this song just feels good. its a very upbeat, happy song. Very catchy and fun to sing along to. This song grew on me and became a favorite. 9/10

"Dont Dwell" : i love this song so much that i wish it were a few minutes longer. Thats my only gripe about this song, its pretty short. Starts out with a rippin' bass-line from p-nut, turns into a great, fun, bouncy song. A favorite for sure. 9/10

"Other Side of Things" : The heaviest song on the album besides "Creatures". Probably the only song on the album that could be considered rap-rock, but its barely that. The chorus is melodic and pretty catchy, while the verses are rapped, first by SA and then by Hexum. Essential to this album, because without it, "Creatures" would be really out of place because, generally, the rest of the album is kinda 'happy'/soft. 7/10

"Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm" : This song embodies the title of the album, "Evolver". This song starts one way, and slowly (but surely) evolves. Starts out quietly, just Nick singing and a guitar. Kicks into a beautiful acoustic song with great arrangement and melody. And just when you think its over, it kicks back in with a great chorus and some cool electric guitar solos. Beautiful, melodic ending to 311's most beautiful and melodic album yet. 10/10

True 311 fans as well as people who know 311 for "Amber","I'll Be Here Awhile","Come Original", and/or "You Wouldn't Believe", pick this album up... right now. Get up and go get it now, it will not disappoint. If you know 311 for their albums "Grassroots" or the blue album, you might want to borrow it first or wait to hear the next single.

ALBUM OVERALL ::: 20 stars, out of 10. i love this album.

First off, I am an Omaha native (hometown of the guys), and 311 is HIGHLY respected here. That being said, let me get going on the review..

I don't really know where to begin with this album. 311 "needed" a revolution in their music, according to fans and media alike. I don't think that this is the direction they should head, however. I purchased this CD right away (I own all of 'em.. oddly enough 2 copies of Transistor). I popped it open.. and was a bit confused. Honestly, most people will die swearing that 311's best work was "Music." I really do enjoy that music, the reggae is just masterful. I also am a fan of their melodic songs, like "Champagne" on "From Chaos." I can't find much of either on this CD. Nor the rap that they pushed in albums such as Transistor.. But still I gave it a listen. And then some. And I can't find that key song that makes the album. The closest I get is halfway through "Sometimes Jacks..," where the beat changes. But the beginning of that song, which I am currently listening to, is NOT the 311 I know and love. It feels almost like an alienation from the band I grew up with. Granted some of the songs, actually more than half of them, are great (mainly "Creatures," "Seems Uncertain"), but this still doesn't feel right. They are missing that harmonic bliss that made them so big during the 90s. No REALLY catchy songs on this album.. best we have is "Creatures," which, like previously stated, is a GOOD song. Just wish the evolution would have been a step forward.. not sideways.. anyway..

311 can't put out a BAD album in my heart, but I just wish that they could recapture the same harmony they achieved in the past (not redoing that music, but making the new stuff as captivating). My 2 cents.