Transistor

by

311

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I don't understand the so-called "fans" who bash this album for not sounding like old-school 311. This is undeniably 311's most eclectic and experimental album to date, and understandably so; the band was simply at a point in their career where making the same record twice was not an option anymore. Every song on here is amazing, except maybe for "Rub a Dub". Haven't quite figured that one out yet; it's just not 311 at all. This is a long album with only a handful of roof-raising hard rock songs, focusing more on expanding the band's sound into larger territory with songs like "Inner Light Spectrum" and "Stealing Happy Hours". The lyrics here are top notch, not falling into the cheesy territory of the "From Chaos" record. The songs often do not follow traditional song structures, throwing in some interesting time signature changes and rhythmic transitons such as the reggae jam at the end of the title track. Mahoney's guitar work is amazing on this record, focusing less on metal-influenced chords and more on jazz, blues, and reggae soloing. The first thing the 311 listener will notice upon first listen is the greatly reduced usage of rapping. Don't get me wrong; 311 is always good at rapping lyrics, but it's nice to hear two extremely gifted singers finally showcasing their deeper talents. Many people criticize the record for not being like the self-titled "blue" album, but there's one thing you must remember: the self-titled album, while being the band's first big hit album, was in fact their 3rd major label album. They had been doing this act for some time, and it was about time they dared and challenged their listeners to enter new territory with them while still remaining true to their roots. This album may not have all the headbanging party songs from earlier records, but the songwriting is undeniably their best ever. So don't listen to naysayers. 311 has yet to match this album's artistic integrity and genius. Interesting how bands' most creative and interesting albums are often discarded and forgotten by folks these days because they lack the old reliable sound of the band. Other sad examples of this are Nine Inch Nails' "The Fragile", Led Zeppelin's "Presence", and Pearl Jam's amazing "No Code". Listen with an open ear, folks. This record may take a little time to grow on you, but once it does, you'll be glad it did.

311 is one of the rare bands that, after achieving success, seemed only to want to concede their place in the spotlight. Transistor is indeed a reflection of the band's desire to keep one foot out of the mainstream, and because of that, fans of the band's previous records, especially the self titled "311," may be disappointed. Where "311" was tightly wound and polished, "Transistor" was more content to let convention slide.

Transistor follows 311 as they explore their mellow, hybrid rock/reggae element in full force. The majority of the album is chill and mellow. Except for a handful of tracks, Transistor abandons the punk/grunge and hip-hop styles most 311 fans had grown accustomed to.

The actual quality of the songs is somewhat inconsistent, and many critics have suggested that 311 might have benefited from axing about half of the tracks. I was initially inclined to agree, but after a few listens, it became pretty obvious that the massive 21-track set was designed that way with a purpose in mind. The sheer number of songs fits the overall experimental nature of the album, and it allowed each of the band members to really come forth and influence the sound as they saw fit. The overall range of styles therefore is very eclectic, but for the most part, the album consistently stays on course as it rocks much quieter and mellower than the other work done by 311.

It's not something that I was drawn into after just a few listens - it is an album that you must be patient with. If you're a fan looking to pick up your first 311 album, then you're probably going to want to pick up something with 311's signature style - and therefore I don't recommend that you pick up Transistor first. But if you've already got a few of their albums, then by all means go out and purchase Transistor when you get a chance. It's something that takes a while to appreciate, but most of those who have given it a chance have walked away feeling grateful to have done so.