Customer Reviews

evolver

5 star:		(280)
4 star:		(90)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

Evolver is the most surprising 311 CD considering that it is so harmonic. The Beatles really rubbed off on them while recording this CD and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. 311 seems to be more in harmony then they have ever been and everything just sounds so crisp that it all flows together. This has been the best CD I've gotten this year and it hasn't left my CD player yet. This is definitely another rock album for 311, but so was Soundsystem and that was probably their best CD before this one. While From Chaos was good, Evolver gets the pieces of the puzzle that From Chaos left out. The first half of the CD is typical 311, but songs 6 through 11 are completely different and may surprise you. Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm almost seems like a) two different songs or b) one song with a three minute intro. Bottom line is Evolver is the best 311 CD to date and if you don't pick it up, you may be putting off one of the best CD's you'll ever hear.

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.

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.

I think that there are several ways in which one can appreciate an album.

1) You're a fan of the band.

I'm fan and admittedly, I'd probably buy any album they put out without even hearing anything on it, just to support their cause, so to speak. However, this does not mean that I would necessarily enjoy the album just because I bought it out of allegiance. Chaos, for example, I purchased because I like 311, but overall, I was disappointed with the album; the only songs I really enjoyed were "Champagne" and "I'll Be Here For A While." Certainly there's more to a good album than just brand loyalty.

2) It's fun to listen to.

This is probably the number one reason, in my opinion, to say an album is great. That is the point of music after all, right? Good times, right?

The first time I heard this album, I was hanging out after hours in this little bar with friends. The first few moments of Creature were interesting, but thirty seconds into it, you just FELT the song was about to kick it up a few notches. In that moment, I glanced around the bar to the five or six of us that were standing there, and we had all cocked back, ready to bounce to the music, the very first time we had heard the song! To me, that's fantastic. We rocked out to the rest of the album, hardly saying anything to each other. Just listening.

It's not just one song either. A good album is one that you put on and you find yourself getting into the music all the way through. I have fell victim to buying the one hit album. You buy the album only to find that there is only one good song out of 10. The classic example for me is Offspring. The one and only album of theirs that I have is Americana. "Pretty Fly For A White Guy" was fairly catchy so I bought the album. Waste o' cash. To show that I'm not biased, again, as an example, I can't say this about Chaos.

3) It doesn't get old.

I probably have close to 500 CDs in my collection, but out of all of those, I find myself returning to the same ones over and over again. It's almost as if you can't get your fix of the music; you can always listen to it more than one time.

How is this achieved? Variety, for one. Each song on this album has it's own feel. It's as if the album takes you on a musical ride.

4) It speaks to you.

Maybe it's the lyrics of a song (Same Mistake Twice felt like it was written for me) or the music encompasses you, or it reminds you of something or you just get into the sounds. Whatever the reason, a good song is more than just pleasure for your ears, it's an experience. Every time I hear "Diesel Power" by Prodigy or "You Walk Away" by Filter, I get pumped up. I get teary eyed when I hear "Wicked Games," by Chris Issaak. Reminds me of a girl whom I took on a rainy walk down 5th Avenue and fell in love with. It's an emotional experience. This is a tough one for a whole to album to accomplish, which is one reason why I can't give Evolver five stars, but overall I felt involved with the music instead of just being a listener.

5) It excels musically.

Say that you don't like 311's sound. Say that you don't like their style. Say that the album doesn't rock enough for you. Say what you want except anything about musical talent in the album.

Talent. You don't have to be the greatest musician in the world to be a great entertainer. However, I think there is a huge under appreciation for true talent in the music industry. These guys have demonstrated skill with there instruments and they show it in this album. Though known typically as being part of the rock-rap crowd, they can actually sing. Imagine that, a singer singing....

Demonstrated skills as music writers. This is the area where I feel that 311 is least appreciated. First it comes down to an original sound. There is no other band that quite has the same sound as 311. I do not feel that can be said of most groups today. These guys were one of the pioneers of the whole rock-rap genre, but they have remained unique with the reggae and jazz influences. Second, their own sound has evolved, hence the name of the album. Listen to Music and listen to Evolver and they sound like completely different bands. I do not claim to be a very good musician, but in my own efforts to write, I have come to realize that it is very, very difficult to really break away from your own style and to not be overly repetitive in the beats or riffs. My favorite guitarist, Tom Morrello of Rage and Audioslave, is a good example. I love his stuff, but it's all very similar. Having learned quite a few of his songs, you notice this even more; the same finger movements, over and over. The Gasoline melody is just Cochise backwards!! 311 has been a victim of this, too; but in this album, I feel they do a pretty good job of developing a new sound.

Remember folks, a band doesn't have to rock your head off on every song to be a good band; furthermore, I would go as far to say that if that's all a band can do...well they aren't that great. Expand your horizons and learn to have an appreciation for all types of songs and music.

I personally think the trance-rock thing that 311 has been doing for a while is one of the new trends in music. Modern day psychedelic? Who knows. Listen to Incubus, Primus (TALENT!!), Queens of The Stone Age.

Why not 5 stars instead of four? Five implies perfection and to me, that's a pretty tough standard to reach. But just so you know, here are some albums that I think are perfect:

Rage Against The Machine - Battle of Los Angeles
Cannot believe this album wasn't more popular. This is my favorite album of all time.
Alice in Chains - Dirt
Korn - Issues
Cream - Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream
Spawn - Soundtrack
Harry Connick, Jr. - Blue Light, Red Light
Prodigy - The Fat of The Land
Fats Domino - My Blue Heaven - The Best of Fats Domino
Nusrat Fateh ali Kahn - Revelation

John 3:11 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and tell you what we have seen; but you still do not listen."

New albums always takes a few rotations to get used to. So, this late review would be more true to how I feel about this new one. Every album seems to have it's own flavor. Some people didn't find that last album to be that great. However, I really liked it. I'm not biased because I like 311, but I really did enjoy these albums before hearing others' opinions of it. There was even a period in time where I wasn't listening to music much, but still enjoyed 311's music. In fact, that was around the time that From Chaos came out.

Don't pass judgement too quickly at first listen. This is another great album from the guys. My favorite song is "Seems Uncertain". Nick's voice is really nice when he is sing singing in a soft way. I like to call it "pretty", but I'm sure there is a more masculine way to describe it. I also love the very end of the album. It is too beautiful to describe. You have to hear it. I think this album is really relaxing. It has a lot of positivity. It just makes me feel happy (and I'm probably one of the most depressing people out there). I really recommend you give this one a try. NOW!

"Evolver," the appropriately-titled new album from 311, is in many ways, their best. However, in many ways, it isn't. It depends on what you like about 311.
For over a decade, 311 have built a reputation for being able to pull off all types of music, including but definitely not limited to Rock, Rap, Reggae, and slow, mellow tunes. The side effect of this is that you get a lot of different types of fans. If you're like me and enjoy pretty much everything 311 does, then you'll love "Evolver." But if you're the type that really only likes 311's raps, then you'll probably be disappointed by most of the album.
The 11-song CD is more musically complex than any previous 311 album, which pleased me and should please most other 311 fans. Tim's guitar parts are more varied and intricate, and P-Nut brings back the funky slap-bass for "Don't Dwell." P-Nut's bass ability is also showcased in the bonus track at the end. In addition, there are also more mellow moments, most notably "Beyond The Gray Sky," "Seems Uncertain," and the album's standout track, "Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm." And if you liked their single "Flowing," then you'll love "Same Mistake Twice."
All in all, "Evolver" may not be as hip-hop-ish as older releases like "Music" and "Grassroots," but it definitely shows a musical advancement (or evolution, haha), both in ability and composition. Plus, when they do choose to rock hard ("Reconsider Everything," "The Other Side Of Things," etc.) they do so extremely well.

Evolver's missing a lot the stuff I love about 311 - there doesn't seem to be as much rhythm twisting and style hopping as they've done on past CDs - to the point that some of the songs on Evolver ( Seems Uncertain, for example ) sound like any-other-band could have recorded them, which is not something I've experienced with any previous 311 album ( I've got 'em all, post-Omaha ).

The lyrics are also not as insightful or thoughful as they've produced in the past ( I personally think SoundSystem has some of best-written 311 lyrics ). This, coupled with the sparse use of interesting rhythm changes and such, can make some of the more subdued songs a little boring to listen to ( another thing I haven't experienced with 311 before ).

From their website, I know the band did a lot of the recording in the bus while on tour; and it hasn't been that long since From Chaos hit the racks. I think the band could have lived with some of the songs a little longer. You know, cuz I'm such an expert on music production being a software engineer in North Carolina.

There are a few gems on the CD though. You've probably heard Creatures on the radio; I also like the happy funk groove of Don't Dwell; Give Me a Call has a good sound too; and Other Side of Things quells my 311-groove-striding-style-twisting-jumping-my-neighbors-just-called-the-cops-cuz-my-stereo-is-too-loud needs.

So, in sum, Evolver is a mediocre listen-to that doesn't compare to what the band has already accomplished. Not sure how much of this CD will work its way into my daily 311 diet - I don't feel any "standards" like Applied Science or Who's got the Herb? on this one, but I do keep playing some of the tracks over and over so who knows. My advice ... and may the 311 boys forgive me for this ... listen to what gets radio play and save your cash this time around.

Oh, and while I've got your attention: are you as irritated as I am with enhanced CDs? My computer is my stereo 90% of the time, and while I enjoyed watching the quicktime movies the first time I put the CD in, every other time all I really want is the music and wish I could skip over the quicktime launch without having to do anything particularly special ( like hold down the left shift key or clickety-click the quicktime away ). End-of-rant.

This CD has been out for over a week, and it is really growing on people. I loved it from the get go, and believe it will become the most popular 311 album yet, surpassing grassroots, though that is one of my all time favorite CD's. Let's break Evolver down:

Creatures (for a while)
Starts with a freaky rhythm that holds though the funky cadence changes of the song (which 311 is known for). The sound is remenicent to the "Music" album, in my opinion, which shows that 311 is holding to their roots.

Reconsider Everything
This is a pulsing, high guitar riff, rocker with some good effects that keep it going. The lyrics are cool and 311 style, thoughtful lyrics, not just filler.

Crack the Code
Sick. Starts out with a music box / scratching effects, a tight sound for the track. This is a "relaxer" but still holds energy, which it draws from the bass guitar and ever changing drum rhythms that don't repeat through new cadences. A newer sound overall for 311, but evolved from "Transistor".

Same Mistake Twice
Just another 311 bomb track. Hard hopping beats rock the tempo of this one. Song has 4 different sounding sections (cadences) A classic 311 sound.

Beyond the Gray Sky
Phsychadellic! Reggae strums and a soft beat with wah-wah guitar melodies and a more subtle change between Hexom and Martinez. The song moves into a more electric chorus and backs off once again to the reggae sound. Who says 311 doesn't do a reggae sound in this album! This song definately has 311 roots, and uses similar techniques to "Leaving Babylon", but moves differently than all other 311 works, so I would say it is a "new sound."

Seems Uncertain
Different. Flute like sounds in melody are not new to 311, but accoustic guitar is. This is awesome! 311's chill sound mixes well with the accoustic guitar. The song uses chord progressions forgotten by most of todyas bands. The jazz 7ths and 9ths along with blues chords and moog synth sounds are rooted in this song. The whole style though, is new!

Still Dreaming
Starts out with "spacelike" blips and echo effects, and jumps right in to heavy guitar rock. 311 keeps the hard sound fresh with arpegiating lead guitar of Mahoney, and again by changing rhythm and the key. A headbanger for all!

Give Me a Call
Starts with an intro of echoes and scratches, mixed with a rock steady beat and Hexom lyrics. Can you say 311! Takes you back to the early 90's sound of the genre. This track doesn't have a lot of rhythm change but breaks into this jazz/blues organ thing. Nice! Mixing the old with the new! I like it!

Don't Dwell
P-Nut shake it up! P-Nut's awesome slap bass gets the song moving. In this track all of the musicians shine with harmonic sound from all instuments and voices, even the effects are matched nicely! Keep it up 311!

Other Side of Things
Changed up rhythm from sounds of Soundsystem. Cadence changes often, lyrics keep you interested, new vocal harmonies goin' on here. Need I say more? Another "new sound" for 311.

Sometimes Jack's Rule The Realm
Take everthyng 311 is now and then, throw it into a music blender, and hear the music blend together into the awesome sounds of this track. Like one big 311 smoothie! Rigid instrumentals, and the new harmonies, jazz chords, "out there" lyrics of 311, and cool effects, with a complete change in style at 3:11 in the track, make this one of the best tracks from the boys I've ever heard! Plus you get a little extra from the boys at the end of the track. (like they did on Grassroots twice) Keep up the great music 311!

Need I say more? The albums this year from other bands (as others have said in reviews as well) just haven't shined through. Evolver shines like a 311 Jem, and that shine will last decades like their other albums are already doing. This, as I've said is one of the best releases of 2003. Now, get the CD, and get ready for the 311 TOUR!

I stated previously in a review for this cd:
311 is still 311!
They're back. They've got a new album. They've got a newer sound. But they're still 311! In this album they used a new soundboard for effects and downmixing, and you can hear the difference. The effects are much more recognizable and more complex. The songs are balanced, but they still shift modes thoughout the song like they always have, so the Omaha Stylee thrives and lives on! Evolver is a great name for the album not because they have 'changed' in any way, but more because their sound has a new paradigm with the new mixing techniques, and has grown from all of it's predecessors. The sounds and ideas of the Transistor and Soundsystem albums are apparent in this album, and the instrumental tracks rock as they always have. I don't agree however, that they are in any way following the Chili Peppers or any of that, because the bands have completely different styles. 311 is more geared toward a polished jazz sound coming from their jazz playing roots. This album is the best 311 album yet, and is a must have for any music collection. It is exciting, chill, and will get you to groove for another year or two! Track 1 "Creatures"(For A While) opens the CD with a pumped up style and 311 never looks back! It definately tops most of the releases this year, and though 311 delayed it's release, 311 always makes sure their albums are the way they want them. The album will definately take you "beyond the gray realm" of today's popular music!

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. 'Evolver' expands and matures on the distinct sound found on the 'Soundsystem' album and marks 311's highest point yet. Although this album only produced 2 major singles, "Creatures(for a while)" and "Beyond The Gray Sky", almost every song is worthy of airplay. If you are looking for a studio album with more songs you've heard before try 'From Chaos', but if you want to be able to pop a 311 cd into your car and not want to skip any songs, 'Evolver' is the cd for you.