From Chaos

311

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 19, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 19, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Volcano
• ASIN: B00005KBBL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (199 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,485 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > R&B > Funk > Metal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With so many acts crowding the funk-rap-metal combo that 311 has been working for the past decade, now is the time for the band to crack the mold and take the genre in a new direction. Unfortunately, on From Chaos, 311 doesn't break any new ground, instead hammering the same old riffs and beats into the ground. The band blends tepid reggae, repetitive rock, and breezy mainstream pop into a mix that tanks from a lack of interesting hooks. Even the lyrics swim in mediocrity. Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez's vocal tone and songwriting ability ("Woah, amber is the color of your energy / Woah, shades of gold displayed naturally") both fall flat throughout the album. While other genre-crossing bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt continually increase their mainstream following by working with new artists and developing their sound, the same does not seem to be true for 311. On From Chaos, the Nebraskan band just sound stuck in their own rut. --Jennifer Maerz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aging with clarity...., June 20, 2001

By	Kurb "Kurb" (Central America) - See all my reviews

First things first. 311, singer Nick Hexum,Chad Sexton,"SA" Doug Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney and thunder bassist P-Nut are a good time positivity driven group that in no way is going for the whole angst/rap/rock trend (Bizkit,Roach,etc.). So, get that out of your head, and lets not try to draw comparisons between them. After breaking it big in 1996 with their self titled disk that spurred the frat party anthems "Down" and "All mixed up", 311 is back with their long awaited 6th major label release, titled "From Chaos". Right from the opening chord of "You get worked" you see that this is not the same uninspired group that tossed out the overproduced and methodically drone "Soundsystem" in 1999. This is a recharged,more mature and confident unit that has never sounded better and tighter as a group. Which is saying something, based on their reputation of being one of the best live acts out there. While blending all the better elements of rock,rap,reggae,ska and pure funk, 311 along with "Blue" album producer Ron Saint, may have finally created the signature disk of their catalog. It is suprisingly strong all the way through, with highlights being the soon to be live staple,"Sick tight" and the ultra-melodic "Amber". Every song has some hook that will be revolving around your head for days. Of course, not all is sunny on the 311 front, "You wouldnt believe", the first single, sounds like a throw away from the "Soundsystem" sessions, and Nicks vocals do have a tendency to be too flat for casual listeners tastes. But, both vocalists make a fairly strong showing in this album, with both rhyme skills, and singing range. All in all, if your already part of the excitable 311 fans, then you were very pleased on June 19th, and if not, then you may be soon, once these break through to radio. Overall, this album does "rock",and it has some great hooks, with some laid back Jamaica inspired moments to keep you smiling.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't listen to Miss Maerz here..., April 25, 2003

By	Chris (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews

First of all, I give this a 4.5, Transistor is a 5 in my book...

The review from Amazon.com on this album is ignorant. "From Chaos" is a brilliant album, by a band that is over stereotyped in the whole rap/rock genre. 311 is so much more than typical angst rap/rock (linkin park, korn, etc) they have one of the best drummers in rock ( except Danny Carey from Tool of course) and both of their lyricists are simply amazing. Miss Jennifer basically said "Whoa, Amber is the color of your energy" is pathetic, when in fact, this is more like the amazing and groundbreaking lyrics we heard from "Transistor" Nick is talking about aura's here, for those who have no clue what these are, just go read up on them (yahoo works well) and you'll discover the depth and originality behind Nick's and SA's lyrics. Although in my opinion, 311 doesn't tap the fountain as Tool does, 311 is one of the only bands to stay positive in the midst of all this angst-ridden manufactured garbage called "rock." We should be thankful for musicians like Tool, Dredg, 311, Deftones, etc for giving us true auditory beauty. And making music for themselves, not for the record company execs,

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critics!?!, February 24, 2003

By	Tijs Limburg "Audio Professional" (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It seems to me critics cannot be trusted very often these days when it comes to music. They'll dissapoint you either way. You'll find a review that raves so loud that you buy the CD only to be extremely dissapointed, or their "critique" fails miserably to understand the music you want to hear. Critics want more and more bands to go mainstream! What gives? It makes you wonder if they ever listen to the radio these days or the mainstream bands they rave about. Are we all to become slaves ot the cloners of music they call "must hear bands"? After all, I thought the syle and meaning of 311 music was to avoid anything and everything to do with mainstream. Can you imagine what would have happened if James Brown, Little Richard, P-Funk, or Nirvana and many others were to have gone mainstream? James Brown would be known for soul pop instead of funk, Little Richardd would have sung gospel, P-Funk would have disco records, and Nirvana would sound like Live or Soundgarden. Why sound like someone else when you can sound like no one else, and invent your own genre! 311 "From Chaos" is the prime example of 311 originality because it isn't mainstream. Are we supposed to hope that in the next 311 album they invite Christina Agulara to do backup vocals or Eminem to substitute the rap lyrics of S. A. Martinez!? What a concert that would be! "From Chaos" gives the opportunity to throw away the popular radio garbage of today and listen to truly funky bass of P. Nut and original music of 311. It will give "clarity" to your music listening from the "chaos" that is the music industry today. After all, "From chaos comes clarity..." Let the critics, radio stations, and MTV dull your mind with their reccomended "Grammy Award Winning" crap of today, or listen to the more or less underground blues, punk , jazz, reggae style of 311 and others in the category like Sublime, and even Dave Matthews. You'll love the truly rigid sound of "Sick Tight"; "I Told Myself"; and "Hostile Apostle" with amazing funk bass and guitar, and the smoother reggae blues style of "Champagne" and "Amber". Dont Be fooled by the critics, listen to the real fans, check out the website (311.com), and as always, listen for yourself. You wont be giving this CD away, or any other 311 CD for that matter!