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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It takes some nerve nicking an album title from the Beatles, even in a slightly modified state. But since this Omaha, Nebraska band went through so many significant changes leading up to the release of its seventh studio album, at least it's a logical move. The aggressive Woody Woodpecker-style lyrical play and needling funk core of career lows, 1997's Transistor and 1999's Soundsystem, are toned down, replaced by a more sophisticated sound that stretches the group's well-trounced reggae-rap-rock template to include wisps of electronica and soul. The members of 311 still aspire to be half-as-clever as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but finally seem satisfied in their on skin on tracks such as "Creatures (For a While)" and the emotional "Beyond the Gray Sky." The psychedelic experiment "Seem Uncertain," meanwhile, merely lives up to its title. Producer Ron Saint Germain (Creed, Living Colour) has obviously taken significant strides in shaking the band up. This album points the way forward. --Aidin Vaziri
Product Description
311 EVOLVER
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Upon hearing the first single, "Creatures(For Awhile)", I couldn't help but scratch my head and wonder where 311 were headed with "Evolver". After an initial listening, and a second, and a third, my head progessively nodded harder and harder as my appreciation for their current musical direction, well, just evolved. My following of all things 311 runs 8 years deep, hence making me somewhat biased and a bit of a harder sell to new ideas, but I think "Evolver" contains a good mix of old school flavor as well as the new ideas to give it a fresh taste on my musical palate.
The album contains everything you'd expect from the signature blend of 311, but in a different way - for example, "Same Mistake Twice" and "Reconsider Everything" are straight 311 rockers, but in between there's "Crack the Code", which is a mixture of a melodic jam and a rock riff with a dancehall beat. With "Beyond the Grey Sky" you get a nice laid back verse followed by a heavy chorus, and thankfully a beautiful guitar solo from Tim Mahoney that literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it.
The use of the acoustic guitar, which has not emerged since "Use of Time" on "Transistor", makes an appearance on the tracks "It Seems Uncertain" and "Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm", a couple of downtempo songs that will stir your emotions. These two songs along with "Give Me A Call" may sound pop-heavy on an old school listener's ears, but they can still impress. It's almost impossible to ignore SA's unique vocal line in "Give Me A Call" despite the catchy chorus, and "It Seems Uncertain" contains too important a message to be overlooked. I don't think 311 could never forget their positive tip, but their ability to present it in different ways is a feat well accomplished, made most quite apparent with the songs "Other Side of Things" and "Beyond the Grey Sky."
311's ability to push forward their own limitations has never failed to amaze me. The way in which they present the material in a new way makes this album a 311 masterpiece.
The album contains everything you'd expect from the signature blend of 311, but in a different way - for example, "Same Mistake Twice" and "Reconsider Everything" are straight 311 rockers, but in between there's "Crack the Code", which is a mixture of a melodic jam and a rock riff with a dancehall beat. With "Beyond the Grey Sky" you get a nice laid back verse followed by a heavy chorus, and thankfully a beautiful guitar solo from Tim Mahoney that literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it.
The use of the acoustic guitar, which has not emerged since "Use of Time" on "Transistor", makes an appearance on the tracks "It Seems Uncertain" and "Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm", a couple of downtempo songs that will stir your emotions. These two songs along with "Give Me A Call" may sound pop-heavy on an old school listener's ears, but they can still impress. It's almost impossible to ignore SA's unique vocal line in "Give Me A Call" despite the catchy chorus, and "It Seems Uncertain" contains too important a message to be overlooked. I don't think 311 could never forget their positive tip, but their ability to present it in different ways is a feat well accomplished, made most quite apparent with the songs "Other Side of Things" and "Beyond the Grey Sky."
311's ability to push forward their own limitations has never failed to amaze me. The way in which they present the material in a new way makes this album a 311 masterpiece.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As impressed as I was with "Creatures" before the release of the album, I was happy to hear it did not define the album. Evolver as a whole spans a wide aural spectrum which should not disappoint. "Creatures" and "Reconsider Everything" are great slightly catchy rock tunes, which give the album a great start. "Crack the Code" shows the bands ability to craft beautiful melodic tracks without the cheese. "Beyond the Gray Sky" is probably the star of the show. Lyrically it is a very emotional tack set to equally powerful music. "Seems Uncertain" is a very interesting trippy acoustic number with some catchy lyrics, all in all a very unique track. "Give me a Call" is a great mix of rock and dancehall showcasing a bit of SA's vocal talents. "Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm" is a nice mellow and thoughtful song, a great way to end this album. Overall Evolver is an impressive effort. 311 once again do not disappoint their fans by repeating themselves. Each track has a very unique feel and overall covers a very broad musical spectrum, making this album a great choice for just about anyone.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
All in all, a really great album
"Evolver" was a very good title for this album because it truly sounds like evolution for the band. Their traditional sound is implemented in every song yet it feels like the band... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Shelley D. Bowen
One of 311's best
Real quick,I rediscovered this cd,and have to say I can't take it out,I have heard it before,but never actually listened to it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Michael S. Collins
Sub-Par...
This album features a small handfull of songs which embody the relaxed, funky 311 sound, but for the most part this is an album of generic radio-rock. Read more
Published on December 27, 2008 by Alex Goldberg
311's weakest effort yet
Many said 1997's Transistor was a shoddy, overdrawn experimental production, not worthy of the ranks of the Blue album. Read more
Published on October 21, 2007 by Poots McGee
311 at its finest...
I am a big 311 fan and i have a copy of basically every studio album they have ever released. Believe me when I say that if you like 311 you will not be disapointed with this cd. Read more
Published on September 24, 2006 by bassrocker410
Album made for live performances
Being a 311 fan for over 11 years now, I have heard just about every recording they have ever made. With that said, I would like to note that on first listening to this cd, I was... Read more
Published on August 11, 2006 by JOHNNYFUNBAGS
A successful try at evolving
The problem with 311 is that on the surface it seems like they make the same stuff album after album. Read more
Published on November 2, 2005 by Jonathan F. Mcverry
311 Evolving
This cd is jammin! From "Creatures" through "Jacks Rule", this cd just rocks. 311 keeps evolving and getting better. Its a definite step up from "From Chaos". Read more
Published on August 27, 2005 by Kevin Corroa
Welcome to the Evolution
Having been a fan since Music, I was very excited when 311's new album came out. I am happy that I've added this one to my collection. Read more
Published on August 26, 2005 by David Roberts
311 deliver a sonic delight.
311's seventh studio effort, "Evolver", has some considerable ups, and some inevitable (nothing is ever flawless in life) points of mediocrity, but really doesn't have any low... Read more
Published on July 7, 2005 by Ben-Jammin'
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SoundUnwound - the personal music encyclopedia
Evolver is 311's tenth studio release.
Nick Hexum, Chad Sexton, P-Nut, S.A. Martinez, and Tim Mahoneyhave been a member of 311.
Nick Hexum, Chad Sexton, P-Nut, S.A. Martinez, and Tim Mahoneyhave been a member of 311.
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