311 Stereolithic Album Review

by Tyler Flynn

311 is an alternative rock/rap rock/reggae/funk rock band out of Omaha, Nebraska. Receiving much success in the 90's and early 2000's with some of their songs like "Amber", "Creatures (For a While)", and "Down", they have always been a consistent alternative band releasing an album every few years. Since they were able to release the album on "311 Day" this year, that meant the band had a very busy 24 hours. Every 311 Day, the band plays a 5, or so, hour long show, including multiple setlists and hours of music, including old songs, new songs and everything in between. 

But enough about 311 Day, let's get to the album. Stereolithic (or STER3OL1TH1C starts very strong with the track "Ebb and Flow." Definitely one of the harder hitting tracks on the album, with a heavy riff, and a relatively heavy chorus with Nick and SA's clean harmonized vocals on top, the track really stuck out in my mind, especially for an opener for an album. I like me some heavy, fast openers. 

The album has a good mix of heavier songs, and reggae songs, but in my opinion, they lacked a little bit on the reggae songs. They have a few good ones in there like "Sand Dollars", and "Friday Afternoon" (which starts off that way, but goes wayyyy off into an Avenged Sevenfold ending). So, if I could change anything about the album, that would be my input.

The album has many strong qualities, however. The entire band seemed to step it up, in every aspect, on this album. Cooler drums, harder guitars, funkier bass, and amazing harmonies on the vocals. It is a typical 311 album, because you get all of those elements, but it seems like they tried to push themselves out of their comfort zones on this one. They have some tracks that sound totally different than anything that they have done before. They even stepped it up production wise on this album. I would argue that this is by far the best sounding 311 album, sonicly. 

All in all, this is a very impressive album from one of my favorite bands of all times. They really stepped it up on this record, and I couldn't have asked for anything more as a dedicated fan. I'm looking forward to seeing them this summer, and I'll be writing a review on the concert. But if you're a fan of 311, or you were a fan, or you have never heard anything by them, give this album a shot. I promise that there's one track for everyone.

Favorite Tracks: "Boom Shanka", "Sand Dollars", "The Great Divide"