A Greatest Hits compilation that's actually great: why you should love 311.
Written: Dec 03 '04
Product Rating:
Pros: Solid collection of hits from a talented band. There's "Amber"...there's "Homebrew"...
Cons: "Come Original" and "Creatures (For A While)" are really the only cons.
The Bottom Line: 311: Greatest Hits '93-'03 takes you on a 59:07 journey of a wonderful assortment of songs. Equal dispersement of uptempo, carefree songs and mellow, chilled out songs. EXCELLENT ALBUM!
blindsider's Full Review: Greatest Hits '93-'03 by 311
When I stop to ponder why I adore 311's sound so much, there really aren't any specific details I can give you as to why they're one of my favorite bands. It's just a contagion, an infection if you will; a chaotic yet calming, obvious yet somehow translucent appeal that they carry. So, before you know anything, you're sucked into it, and you look down and you've got five of their albums spilling from your hands, all while the Wal-Mart employees are gawking at you as if you're a complete nutcase. Yes, this really can happen, but don't ask why, how, or any of those whimsical details. What have you gotten yourself into? Hey, don't fret. 311 will take good care of you as you plunge into their songs that have a practically entrancing quality about them... While I didn't take much note in the fourth grade as my friend and I thought we were incredibly hardcore and rebellious since everyone else was listening to Spice Girls, but we were "rocking out" to 311's massive hit single, "Down", over the years, I've definitely come to this great epiphany: 311 is a near-flawless band. It's really rare for them to disappoint me. Therefore, it's no wonder why I think this collection of greatest hits is great "and then some, some". (I HAD TO.)
MEET 311
Nick Hexum - vocals, guitar, programming
Chad Sexton - drums, percussion, programming
S.A. Martinez - vocals
Tim Mahoney - guitar
P-Nut - Bass
TAKE A GLIMPSE AT A FEW OF MY FAVORITE HITS
As many of you know, "Down" is the anthem about...well, what IS it about, anyway? Whatever. So, it propelled Omaha, Nebraska's own 311 to this beautiful level of stardom, and they've had their lesser-thans since then, but the thing is, they've stayed pretty massive. IT'S NO FREAKING WONDER. Even though this song is disappointingly short, you will be singing the freakishly catchy chorus long before its end. "Changed a lot and then some, some! Know that we have always been down, down!" Nick's terrific voice trills, a seemingly awesome contrast to S.A.'s verbal tornado-esque whiplash ((I often use that term to describe his voice, because there's no other way, really) verses, all over some chunky guitars that just scream 1996. But you love it. I love it. Your neighbors love it.
"Amber" is frighteningly mesmerizing, and it was the prominent single from the band's 2001 release, From Chaos (indisputably their best album in my eyes). A golden, ethereal track swims in these tinkly guitars as Nick uses his softer-than-a-baby's-tush voice to captivate you. It works, no surprise. You ascend into a trance-like state, and you just can't seem to realize what hits you. 311's self-proclaimed "soft side" really is beautiful and lovely in every single way, which immediately makes this song a stand-out.
It is safe to say that many 311 fans were disappointed with their album Transistor. I, too, found it as a "lesser-than" in comparison with most of their great work. However, when you factor in that "Beautiful Disaster" was on that album, you begin to ponder just how bad it could have been, because frankly, this song kicks everyone's face. "I know a drugstore cowgirl, so afraid of getting booored!" Nick explains. Stellar drumwork by Chad here, catchy song, interesting lyrics. "Don't Stay Home" and "Homebrew" take you back to the band's older days, which provides for nice variation among their more modern hits. The former is a pleasant, feel-good song, and it's just a real 311-y song (if that makes sense). "Homebrew" is Nick's account of his wilder days, and takes one back to a certain "4th of July" in which he experimented with drugs. It's actually a pretty interesting reflection, and Nick admits, "Sh*t like that now scares me, but I'd like to do it again."
Dare I say it's almost salsa-like? "Do You Right" makes me so jubilant. Bathe in its cute-ness. "I'm freeee," Nick exuberates, "as I stare at the seaaaa!" Its sound is strikingly similar to that of "Homebrew", and hey, the more the merrier. I love 311's sound at this level, an uptempo, bordering-on-awkward (in only the best kind of way, I assure you) song that just radiates happiness. The only weird thing about this song is that you think it's going to end, like, four times, but it doesn't. "Bright mornings! Days when I want so much, I want nothing!" Only 311...
"Beyond The Gray Sky" is a poignant, airy ballad penned by Nick about a friend who committed suicide. This, little may you have known, was released as a single from the band's 2003 album Evolver, but it surprisingly did not perform very well on the charts or in radio play. What a shame, as this is a great song that should not be overlooked. "Don't give up the fight to stay alive," Nick proclaims, as he struggles to figure out what he could have done to help his friend out. "One day, you'll see the clear blue beyond the gray sky," Nick and S.A. harmonize magnificently. The band's smash hit cover of The Cure's "Love Song" keeps things in the mellow vein, but opts for a more reggae-esque, island feel, perhaps to suit the soundtrack of the movie that it was recorded for, 50 First Dates. Nick's vocals are among his best on this one, and you know...I personally just can't get sick of it. Hmm. "Flowing" is a song that is truly adhesive to the brain - in a good way. With a spacey little intro, followed by a crashing, consistent drum beat, it is extremely remarkable. "Along the way to close my eyes, I lost where I was going," Nick's vocals glide through this song, as Tim and P-Nut's guitars keep us interested.
SKIP-WORTHY HITS
"Come Original" and "Creatures (For A While)" are easily my least favorite 311 hits, as they just...aren't the sound of 311 that I like. "Come Original" has gnawed on my nerves upon first hearing it in 1999. It's stupidly repetitive, Nick's voice is quite sub-par, and S.A.'s verbal whiplash usually works, but this time it makes me want to pull my hair out, strand by strand. I dislike "Creatures (For A While)" because Nick's vocals are too quiet for my liking in the opening verse, and, hey - I realize it's supposed to be a "fun" song (even though it's, um, not) but lyrics like "I wanna make a mess! I wanna blow of stress!" make me cringe. The verse transitions try to be all climactic, but everything is too forced, and it just doesn't seem like things guys in their mid 30s would be saying...but, hey, 311 never age. Here I am making a counterargument with myself. Moving onward.
DON'T THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE BEST OF 311, BUDDY
While it is accurate to say that this is a substantially impressive showcase of 311's best songs, don't just dismiss the rest of their stuff quite yet. Some of 311's best songs aren't hits. For instance, "Uncalm" and "Champagne" from the band's 2001 release, From Chaos. "Large In The Margin" from the 1999 Soundsystem album is something everyone has wanted to say, but you just couldn't phrase it well enough. Come on! If you really want to see 311's very best, in addition to this album, I recommend that you purchase a few other 311's albums! You'll be blown away by what these guys are capable of, even beyond the hits. Remember, a band's best songs are often not the ones released as singles, and 311 are certainly no exceptions to that proven-true rule. :)
THE HITS IN THEIR ENTIRETY (the best ones starred)
1. Down *
2. Flowing *
3. All Mixed Up
4. Amber *
5. Come Original
6. Beautiful Disaster *
7. Creatures (For A While)
8. Do You Right *
9. I'll Be Here A While
10. You Wouldn't Believe
11. Transistor
12. Don't Stay Home *
13. Homebrew *
14. Beyond The Gray Sky *
15. Love Song *
16. How Do You Feel?
17. First Straw
Over ten years ago, 311 made their way from the Midwest to the heart of Los Angeles and soon thereafter, they made their way across the airwaves and g...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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