Customer Reviews

Transistor

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

I know that Aidin Vaziri may be some big shot freelance music reviewer, but everything I've read by Aidin sounds as if he doesn't know much about music at all. Don't get me wrong, he points out how much he knows about different musical groups, but never does he talk about the quality going into those groups. His review on Transistor is ridiculous. This is (in my opinion) one of the most underrated albums of all time, right there with anything by Silverchair. According to Aidin, this album was a bad attempt to follow suit with the reggae movement. Wow. They weren't trying to be something they aren't, maybe Aidin should listen to all of 311's albums. They've always shown their influence in reggae. Absolute masterpiece. If you've heard it before and disliked it, HEAR it again.

This record is bliss. I find the beats and rhythms stellar, while the songs transport me to different places with their psychedelic appeal, voyaging into new territory almost on each track. This album was way ahead of its time when it came out in 1997. 311 found their artistic niche with Transistor, and they went against a lot of expectations by the mainstream audience and disapproving media who wanted another "blue album" (a nice record itself, but not as artistic or musical as this one). I believe such criticism must be taken lightly when judging this art form, for we all have our own subjective tastes and separate definitions of what "good music" must sound like. You sort of have to feel it out for yourself and see if Transistor rubs you the right or wrong way. For too many others, they wanted the same thing that came before, dismissing this album.
To me Transistor feels like the future of music, combining many styles and infusing skilled instrumental play with ambient progressions of vocals, melodies, and song ideas. Transistor rocks, but it has so much more to offer than any casual fan will be ready for.
If 311 ever decide to follow such an abstract direction again, then they will truly shatter the limitations that musical mediators try and use to weigh down recording artists that have made it big. There is a notion to be easily digestible and not overstep any creative bounds beyond simplicity. Fortunately for us, there exists 311.

I don't believe there's anything wrong with going against the norm (sometimes it's needed badly), and 311 displayed this by writing what they wanted. I give a lot of respect to them for pushing the envelope and having this much ambition at a time when they were enjoying much success.
This album is amazing. It's probably best to listen to in an atmosphere that is conducive to feelings of comfort and peace, humming along with headphones on. But, to each his own. So enjoy!

I cannot wait to hear what's in store next.

Most 311 albums have stand-out tracks but lack flow and consistancy, like MUSIC and 311. Some flow together perfectly but don't have many standout tracks, like GRASSROOTS and FROM CHAOS. I like all of the 311 albums for different reasons, but this one has risen to the top for many reasons...

1. With an album that was considered their first major-hyped release, they made the album they wanted to make. They stuck to their guns and the album was a success because of that.

2. It all flows well together. The songs fall together like a puzzle.

3. It has many, many songs...but almost all of them stand on their own as good tracks. "Prisoner", "Jupiter", "No Control", "Rub a Dub", etc. They are all different sounding songs, but on this album, this fit in and stand tall.

4. This album contains three of the most beloved songs in the history of 311: "Beautiful Disaster", "Use of Time", and "Stealing Happy Hours".

As stated earlier, this is probably not the best place for a new fan of 311 to start. Since I'm not a fan of Hits Collections, the place to start is either 311 or FROM CHAOS...but once you're in, this album will more than likely be in your CD player the most amount of time.

It distresses me how many true 311 "fans" out there who dismiss this album because it doesn't sound like the Blue or Music. 311 is not another Top 40 band playing to sell records; they try expressing their ideals on leading better, happier lives through an open mind and showing love to fellow humans. Remember, we are all one race on this planet together. Personally, 311's albums all stand on the same plain, as each explores another aspect of sound territory. This cd captures the warmth, comfort, thought, and occasional edge through a mind-blowing 21 tracks, each one being full of its own flavor and personality, as much of their other material. Just try listening to "Stealing Happy Hours" without finding yourself completely at ease, and looking up to the stars at night after listening to "Prisoner." It does take a short incubation period for it to grow, but when it does, every person who surrenders themselves to the sounds of these 5 incredibly-talented individuals will, in the end, come out a better person. Take care of one another, and peace. By Serving Eachother We Become Free....

With their fourth record, 311 finally ditches the rap rock element and makes an amazing musically diverse record. The most astonishing thing about this is that there are 21 tracks and nearly all of them are good! They range from rockin', to trippy, to relaxing, even some humorous. Not many songs here that you would expect to be hits, but they all top 311's other material. One thing I noticed is the use of guitar effects on this record, instead of limiting it to distortion like on the other cds, they use lots of reverb and delay in these songs. I really wish these guys would just make another album like this, the fans would love it regardless of the critic's ratings. Hopefully "Don't Tread on Me" will be more in the direction I'm hoping for. So definietly check out 311's most underrated and overlooked record, transistor.

Give me this album and Grassroots and I am set for my island. This is 311's most experimental album by far and it showcases the wide ranges of talent they posess musically. Released in 1997 on the heel of the Blue Album, 311 were the princes of rock and this album was a curveball for many. It did still sell 4 million copies on the strengths of the previous albums residuals and the hit "Beautiful Disaster", but overall to mainstream critics it was a dissapointment. To many 311 fans however this album is a gem.

The first 7 tracks are good (especially Prisoner and Inner Light Spectrum), but the album really gets moving with Jupiter and takes off with Use of Time, probably one of the top 5 songs 311 has ever done, with Nick Hexum lamenting about writers block and creating music. The 2nd half of the album (which is 21 tracks and takes up most the cd time allowed) showcases 311's dub influences (Strangers, Rub a Dub)and their ability for laid back stoner grooves (Stealing Happy Hours, Running). There is also a few rockers (Tune In, Starshines) and a track that reminds me of the opening theme from Adam's Family (Light Years). My only complaint is that there sems to be a rushed feeling to many tracks on the 2nd part of the album. 311 has stated they were pressed to get a massive concept like this finished on time. Maybe more time and an expansion of some of the song ideas into a double disc could alleviate this problem.

311 has a lot to be proud of. Still together after 13 years and putting out records that still are relevant (everyone of their proper studio releases has charted in the top 10 since The Blue Album). They also have continued their tradition as a strong live act. This album is the peak of 311 as their subsequent work never again reached the work of the first four albums. Enjoy It!

With a 311 show fast approaching to Milwaukee's Summerfest, I wanted to make sure I was up to date on all their material. I felt compelled write a review of Transistor- 311's best album and one that rarely leaves my CD player after over 6 years. This album brings it all- a few hard tracks, a few reggae, ska, etc. the whole 311 gammit. I really enjoy two of the slower tracks the best- Use of Time and Stealing Happy Hours- perfect just to chill out to. Other standouts are Transistor, Prisoner, Continuous Life, and Rub a Dub- a really fun reggae-fused track that makes me feel like I'm sipping a tropical drink on the beach in the Caribbean. Overall- this is a great album- front to back and to produce something that remains tireless to this day really says something about a group. I highly recommended this CD to anyone.

This is 311's most ambitious work ever done. Transistor was released in 1997 and found the band riding a wave of success from the blue album. This album managed to seel abput 4 million copies on the strength of the wave of popularity from the blue album and ths single Beautiful Disaster. Transistor is best taken as an entire album although there are tons of standout tracks on the album. This album is 311's best attempt to write an album in the Floydian vein of making an album a choesive unit from start to finish and not as a collection of singles pasted together.
The songs on Transistor range from head bobbing songs to mellowed out stoner jams. Transistor also marks 311's heaviest use of their dub influence (which for some reason they continue to ignore and have not yet made an album completely of dub influence). Songs such as Use Of Time, Starshines, Stealing Happy Hours, and Prisoner show what a talent 311 was back at this time. The breakdown in the middle of Starshines is sick as is the opening bass lines of What Was I thinking? This is an album which if you havent listened to in a couple of years is worthy to be pulled out. Definitly meant to be listened to while relaxing and smoking a little reefer, 311 do an excellent job of touching upon the majority of their influences. My only complaint is that a few of the songs seemed to be a bit unfinished in some areas. Unlike others who believe 311 could have benefitted from trimming a few of the songs i believe it would have been a better idead to actually expand a little bit on some of the unfinished tracks instead of contracting the idea. But what can you do when the record company wants your album before iron grows cold?
In the end, this album marked the end of the old 311 for me. They were going in a direction and when this album came out the fans cried for a return to grassroots which 311 have been trying to do for the last six years with minimal success. IMO, You cant ask a band to go back musically in their sound and hope to recapture a sound from five to six years ago. Hopefully the boys in 311 are cooking up that long awaited dub album that will knock everyones socks off. Transistor shows they have the tools and thier more recent material is sprinkled with a little dub here and there. But in the meantime, pop in Transistor, turn down the lights and get a little high and enjoy a true musical tour de force

Fans who jumped aboard the 311 bandwagon after their mainstream success with the blue album, beware. This, their fourth and by far the longest major label record, sounds nothing like its predecessor. First off, the amount of rapping between Nick Hexum and SA Martinez is not as great in supply; instead the two vocalists dare to show off their true vocal talents by singing the majority of this album. From beginning to end, this CD will make you feel like you're floating somewhere in outer space, especially the outro which features an actual recording of sound in outer space.
There's a hidden intro (as the first song gets ready to begin, rewind the CD about 1:42) that kicks off the album with a sudden blast. The track listing:

Transistor: a great rocker that shifts into a reggae-style beat towards the end and back again.
Prisoner: a reggae-influenced song showing off the vocal talents of Hexum and Martinez.
Galaxy: a hard rockin' one with SA's cool rapping
Beautiful Disaster: a rocker with hints of reggae and a cool opening by Tim Mahoney.
Inner Light Spectrum: a slower, softer song featuring SA's calm, soothing singing.
Electricity: a good song with Hexum on vocals.
What Was I Thinking: an aggressive outburst with a great bass line and Hexum's distorted vocals.
Jupiter: another good one with Hexum and Martinez. I just love the guitars on this one.
Use of Time: starts out acoustic with Hexum's singing, then goes into a pair of Tim Mahoney guitar solos. One of my favorite 311 songs.
The Continuous Life: a spacey opening which shifts into the rapping of Martinez. Great lyrics on this one.
No Control: starts with Hexum singing, then goes right into SA rapping. A cool rocker.
Running: another spacey opening. I just love this song.
Color: an interesting instrumental that makes a great transition into the next song.
Light Years: a spooky, Halloween-ish guitar line with Hexum on vocals.
Creature Feature: starts out lightly with SA singing, then shifts to a dark, tense guitar feel.
Tune In: a great song with SA rapping the verses, then going into Nick on the chorus. Reminiscent of Down.
Rub a Dub: a nice, soft song with Hexum on vocals.
Starshines: starts with Hexum on the first two verses and chorus, then slows a bit for Martinez's part.
Strangers: a cool funky beat with Hexum rapping.
Borders: an awesome, hard-rockin' song with Nick and SA bouncing off each other vocally.
Stealing Happy Hours: a soft, relaxing bit with Hexum on vocals.

I love to listen to this CD at night with all the lights off, all other noises drained out, while staring into the star-filled night sky. Pick up this CD and try it for yourself. You won't regret it.