Customer Reviews

Grassroots

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Listening to GRASSROOTS today, I'm still overwhelmed by the variety of styles on this record. When it came out in 1994, it sounded like nothing else on the pop music radar. Here was a hard rock band that was equally comfortable playing reggae, latin-tinged ballads, "jam band" rock, rap and even a little jazz. Unlike many other versatile groups of the time (Phish, Dave Matthews) 311 rocked harder and very often melded these various styles into one seamless track. It's this type of musical alchemy that propelled 311 to their status as one of the top live bands in the U.S., while at the same time confusing lame critics (Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly) who were incapable of accepting a sound so utterly original.

The laugh is squarely on the critics now. 311 have been together for almost 15 years now, and they're as big as they've ever been. Yet GRASSROOTS remains their masterpiece; 45 minutes of essential 311 music.

01. Homebrew 10/10 - The perfect opening salvo with a killer Led Zep guitar riff and lyrics inspired by an acid trip.

02. Lucky 7/10 - Weakest track on the CD. Still salvaged by its percussive groove and funny lyrics.

03. Nutsymtom 9/10 - Heavy intro groove, breaks into a Santana-like jam for the second half with a killer Tim Mahoney guitar solo.

04. 8:16 am 9/10 - Very pretty mellow rocker. Exactly the type of song you wouldn't expect from this sort of band and a great example of their genre-smashing greatness.

05. Omaha Stylee 9/10 - Awesome rap-flavored track is a shoutout to their home town.

06. Applied Science 8/10 - Nice groove, killer Chad Sexton drum solo.

07. Taiyed 8/10 - Another good change-of-pace track. SA handles all the lyrics himself while Nick Hexum sits in on second guitar. Another wicked Tim Mahoney solo (the CD in general is totally loaded with his genius lead guitar work.)

08. Silver 8/10 - One of the heaviest cuts on the disc. Yet another killer groove and more astute lyrics from Hexum.

09. Grassroots 9.5/10 - Title track does a fantastic job of combining 311's many styles into a whole greater than the some of its parts. Total 311 synergy.

10. Salsa 8/10 - Another propulsive headbanger with some great lyrics from SA; "the girl who gave you her sex I heard was homeless..." Priceless!

11. Lose 9/10 - Out of nowhere, a great Caribbean flavored jazz ballad with Hexum coming across like a male Billie Holiday. Guarenteed to impress even the biggest 311 hata.

12. Six 9/10 - Sinewy riff establishes a menacing groove that relents on the ska-infected chorus. The ending on this one is incredible.

13. Offbeat Bare-Ass 9.5/10 - This album is loaded with bad-ass guitar riffs, but this one may take the cake. Lyrics here about being horrassed by the cops for having a Dead sticker on your tour bus are insightful and have a keen sensitivity beyond the grasp of most "alternative rockers".

14. 1-2-3 10/10 - This beautiful slow jam seals the deal for GRASSROOTS as the best 311 album of all time.

Overall, this is an album that-- despite limited commercial success upon its release-- has grown in reputation to be one of the bona-fide classics of the genre. Highly recommended to all fans of great rock music.

"Grassroots" is truly a masterpiece. It is the band at their best musically, creatively, and lyrically. After an amazing debut album in "Music," the band hit their peak with their sophomore album. I would recommend every 311 album to any fan, except possibly the Self-Titled (Blue) album [some like it but I think it is their weakest effort]. However, this album is truly a must-have for any music fan, whether they like 311 or not. In my opinion, this is the best album ever made (of any band).

1. Homebrew (5/5) - Perfect opener. the guitar riff and vocals go together perfectly, and the chorus is extremely smooth. Gets the listener hyped up for the rest of the album.

2. Lucky (5/5) - Another great song. Chorus is catchy, and the vocals flow extremely well.

3. Nutsymptom (5/5) - This song took more than a few listens to grow on me, but I love it now. The beginning you will either love or hate, but once the song switches halfway through to a irresistable slap bass line from P-Nut and a phenomenal solo from Tim, one can't help but groove to the song.

4. 8:16 AM (5/5) - This is one of my favorite 311 songs. Beautiful lyrics, and a chorus that makes you want to drift away. This is an extremely unique song, and everytime I listen to it I never want it to end.

5. Omaha Stylee (5/5) - IMO this is the song that truly defines the 311 style. Hard rocking riffs, with a chorus that has a distinct reggae feel to it. The lyrics speak about the band's "Grassroots" in Nebraska, and is a concert favorite. No other band would or could make a song like this, and it is truly a masterpiece that is one of the favorites of most 311 fans.

6. Applied Science (4/5) - I think this song would be considered medicocre compared to the rest of the album if it weren't for a perfect drum solo in the middle of it. Perhaps not the longest or most technically difficult solo, but it fits the song perfectly. The band does a wonderful 5 member version of it when performing this song live. Probably should be given 5/5 but I'll be tough since I like a few of the other songs a bit more.

7. Taiyed (5/5) - Very laid-back song. SA flows wonderfully over a mellow guitar riff. Only complaint is that it is a bit short, because to be honest I could listen to him go on forever and be content.

8. Silver (4/5) - good rock guitar riff, and wonderful lyrics (for the most part). Some people love this song, however it is one of my least favorite on this album. Still, by no means a bad song.

9. Grassroots (5/5) - This is probably my second favorite 311 song. It has everything in it. Great drums, fitting guitar, a hard rock part and a mellow part as well. Upon listening to the album the first time, this is the song that stuck out to me. Some people don't like the fact that the beat switches up constantly and not always fluidly, but I think it adds more of a raw feeling to the song. I absolutely love this song.

10. Salsa (5/5) - This could possible be the best flow/rhyme/rap/whatever you want to call it, song 311 has done. Nick starts out with a phenomenal verse, and then SA comes in with probably the longest verse he has penned to date. It seems like he goes on forever and I love it. Maybe not as creative as the other songs, but it is great to listen to.

11. Lose (6/5) - This is my favorite song in the world. 311 and every other band included, I love this song more than any I have heard. The lyrics (simple but beautiful) are perfectly crafted over a mellow guitar riff and a nice drum beat. The guitar solo is just what the song calls for. IMO music doesn't get any more perfect than this.

12. Six (5/5) - Back to the creative 311 style, this song blends rhymes with a simple but catchy guitar riff and a good chorus. I love how during the last part of the song SA and Nick layer vocals on top of each other to create a great groove.

13. Offbeat Bare-ass (2/5) - Good hard rock instrumentation, but the vocals just dont seem to go with the song. It does provide a bit of humor, as the "story" (if you want to call it that) makes it hard for the listener not to crack a smile. By far my least favorite song on the album, because it lacks the creative and rythmic genious of the other tracks.

14. 1,2,3 (5/5) - Wow. What a perfect way to end the album. With this wonderful mellow song in which SA's melodic voice is showcased a bit, the Grassroots album is brought to a close in a fitting way. From the heavy rock riff of "Homebrew" that started the album out to this melodic gem that ends it, the 311 style at its peak is truly encompassed perfectly. Another unique song with great lyrics which makes the listener question how this band could possibly craft such interesting songs.

Overall this album is phenomenal. The only things some might find disturbing are the less-than-stellar production (although it gives it more of a raw feel which some, including myself, like); and the fact that not all songs are smooth in transition from one part or riff to another. As with all 311 albums, YOU MUST LISTEN TO IT AT LEAST 5 times before you will come to appreciate it. This isn't catchy pop music, and it will require multiple listens before one truly appreciates it. All in All, this album is a MUST for anybody interested in hearing good music.

As an avid 311 fan from way back, I often wonder which of their albums deserves to be called my favorite. I don't think there is such an animal... but as far as the most constant, track 1 to track 14 enjoyment, Grassroots takes the cake. The five geniuses of the band take you from catchy rock (just TRY getting Homebrew out of your head!) to mellow, always melodic sublimity. Silliness abounds in Offbeat Bear Ass, as does their peace and freedom vibe. Omaha Stylee is perhaps the perfect 311 song... an upbeat musical journey that begins with an amazing little hook. Listen to 1,2,3 when you're feeling a little rueful and need a dose of optimism. The title track and Applied Science are both evidence of Nick Hexum's brilliance, and SA Martinez really struts his stuff in Nutsymtom. New 311 fans, pick this album up! You will be glad you did!

In a review about Music, I stated that it was by far the best 311 album with this coming in a close 2nd. However, admittedely, I had only listened to it a few times. But having listened to it a lot more since then, I must take that back. Don't get me wrong, Music is an excellent, fantatic album, but this one is just better, if that's possible. It's one of the very few albums I own where all the songs are 5 stars. There isn't one bad track here. Everything that makes 311 great is on here, where on other albums pieces are missing. The flows are supurb (in Salsa particularly), the guitar solos are very memorable (espeically in Taiyed and Nutsymtom), and the mellow songs are some of the most beautiful they've ever recorded (1,2,3 is one of their best songs ever recorded, and 8:16 am is close). But there really isn't a bad song here. Let me rephrase that. There really isn't a song that would be one of the better songs on any other album they've ever recorded on here. It's that good. I still like the later stuff they've done, but I can't ever see them topping this album. The band members should be complimented for putting together such a masterpiece.

Welcome to the most diverse album on earth. I would also like to welcome you to the single greatest album on earth. With all of 311's acheivements (the ability to change sounds on each CD, the ability to sell out practically every show, whatever), in the end the crowning event in their nearly flawless career will be the release of Grassroots. Here we have an album that everyone can love (even my dad found a few tracks that he could nod his head to). If you were to ask me what the standout tracks are, I wouldn't be able to say. The fast tracks are the epitome of a modern rock song; each is progressive, catchy, and very well produced. The slow jams are just that, laid-back chill songs, obviously the roots to the now commercially successful songs Amber, Beyond the Gray Sky, and I'll Be Here Awhile. The album is also really rap-heavy, probably the foremost of all their stuff. It flows really well, more so than their freshman release. Hardcore 311 fans will obviously buy this album without hesitation. For those of you who are just getting interested I would suggest this album first. It's pure 311 and will help you adjust to the amalgam of different sounds on the various other albums. 'Nuff said. Buy the album.

...too bad most 311 fans listen to their newer albums and all but pass this one up. Grassroots is what 311 is all about. As with Music before it, there is a creative energy throughout Grassroots which elevates it to legendary status. Grassroots is one of those albums you can listen to ALL THE WAY THROUGH, and love every minute of it. Like Pearl Jam's Ten for instance. All the songs are classic, especially the concert fave Homebrew and my personal favorite, 8:16 A.M., and illustrate what makes 311 a standout in the "rock/rap/reggae fusion" genre. 311 is a tight group with a real talent for songwriting and Grassroots is their finest effort. Get this album!

I bought "Grassroots" in 1996 and still think it's their best work to date. The whole album has a slightly aggressive streak to it in comparison to their other albums but when they go mellow, they do so in a big way. "8.16am", "Lose" and the album closer "1,2,3..." could put you in a trance for hours. Conversely, "Homebrew", "Offbeat Bareass" and particularly "Omaha Stylee" will rock your brains out. Listening to it now the sound quality is pretty thin and weak - but for some reason that's part of its charm. Despite all the production and engineering flaws, "Grassroots" manages to get its point across. The same year "Grassroots" was released, Korn unleashed their debut which led to endless groups with superior sounding recordings (mainly to cope with the increased detuned air being pushed around) but with very little to say for themselves. Instead, 311 challenged convention and had fun at the same time. On the whole, I can't recommend this album enough. If you're feeling a little weary about the unintelligent ramblings of nu-metal posers, this (and 311 in general) will be a breath of fresh air.

Wow... This CD is one of the best CDs that I have EVER heard. I have an all-star collection of CDs, where I like every song, and this is in it. So far, I have From Chaos-311, Blood Sugar Sex Magik-Red Hot Chili Peppers(Who i'm also addicted to), and Soundsystem-311.My fave 311 CDs in order are:
1.Grassroots
2.Soundsystem
3.From Chaos
4. Evolver
5.Tie between Music and Self Titled(The Blue Album)
6.Transistor
When I got this CD, I only liked Homebrew,Lucky,8:16AM,Taiyed, and Six.But I started listening to Applied Science, and got hooked. Then I got hooked to Salsa, Silver,and all the other hard rockers.
1. Homebrew. an energetic classic. 10/10

2.Lucky. sweet ska-ish chorus. 10/10

3. Nutsymptom. Really energetic, with a cool slap bass line about 1/2way through, then turns to a jam thats kinda like Santana.Sweeeet... 10/10

4. 8:16 AM. A chill-out, cruise in your car song. The beginning is actually kinda jazzy, then gets funky. And the ending is kinda like the one in Homebrew. 10/10

5. Omaha Stylee. Cool 45 sec intro by SA mixing sounds and stuff. Then turns into an alterna-rocker with a cool ska chorus. Has a cool ending. 10/10

6. Applied Science. Aaahhhh... Perfect. The guitars are awesome. Chad (the drummer) has a solo about 1/2way through,and it lasts about 45 sec(not long enough).Then goes back to the original part. 10/10

7. Taiyed. Another chill-out song like 8:16AM. Its only SA in this song.this song is good, but really, they could have made it better. Like adding Nick's rapping and some singing. Oh well. 10/10

8. Silver. An awesome guitar riff that can get stuck in your head. Before the guitars come in, you hear Nick say "Bobby, you be quiet out there." (??? Don't ask)This songs lyrics are anti-racist, so there's proof to all those people who believe in the stupid 311/KKK rumor. 9/10 (wow! It's not 10!)

9. Grassroots. The song on here that took me until a few weeks ago to get addicted. Cool mix of reggae and rock, or as I call, rockae. 10/10

10. Salsa. My least favorite song on the album, and I still love it. A cool reggaeish background comes up every now and then, and I love it. Kinda short, though. 8.5/10

11. Lose. Pure laid-back reggae. Sweet. 10/10

12. Six. Has cool guitars and a ska chorus, then a cool grunge-ish jam near the end. 9/10

13. Offbeat Bare As. A cool song. I love the part when it's Nick rapping with just the drums in the background. 9.5/10

14. 1,2,3. Another classic reggaeish song to finish off the CD. 10/10

Get this CD! You will LOVE it!!!!!!!!!
Also check out the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cake, Sublime, and Linkin Park.

When I first heard this album, I couldn't understand what it was that i was hearing. It is original in so many ways. The lyrics, the way it was recorded, the flows, the brilliant funk grooves, the off-beat drums, and the groove energy. I didn't know if what I heard was guitars, or programed riffs. It was all so new and original. I have been into this album for years because their is so much to explore. The rhyming is incredible. I can't even flow along with a lot of the lyrics still, and I've heard the album countless times. The subject matter is wise and very interesting. Their are many little hidden messages within the lyrics, but 311 does not preach at all, and convey their message in very colorfull and creative ways - like this lyric about staying grounded and stuctured in your expression- "the roots that grow underground are as big as the tree that you see, if not it will fall down." I could praise so many ways of this album, but if you feel like exploring something successfully experimental and outside of predictable, then pick up Grassroots.

'Grassroots' is a stunningly outstanding follow up to 311's greatly original debut, 'Music'. On their sophomore release, the band takes the songwriting up a notch with even more cleverly crafted lyrics and extraordinary musicianship to combine for a musically diverse masterpiece. SA and Nick prove their lyrical genius by crafting these unbelievable lyrics that cover topics such as legalization of marijuana, flatulating on others, lost love, and the fact that you would have never thought that a band this great would ever come out of a town like Omaha, Nebraska. Tim Mahoney's amazing guitar work perfectly compliments P-NUT's melodic bass playing which beautifully meshes together with Chad Sexton's out-of-this-world drumming. I would name a few standout tracks, but every song is truly a gem and when combined as a whole, makes for a very pleasurable listen. "Applied Science" contains one the best drum solos I've ever heard and SA shows off his beat-boxing skills on "Offbeat Bareass". 311 have had 7 wonderful albums, but this one still stands out to me as their best. They have truly mastered the art of underground success.