311 VIMTV Album Review #387: 311 – Universal Pulse

Jake: 58/100

Tom: 63 /100

Verdict: Not recommended as a starting point for new 311 listeners, but if you’re a die-hard, you’ll probably find it pretty fun to listen to.

Overview: First off, 311′s tenth studio album is way too short. At eight tracks and not even half an hour of music, it may as well be an EP. Other than that, the material is okay, but not as engaging as, well, any of their releases. Still, there’s great energy here and Universal Pulse will still be a fun record to rock out to on those wild summer nights.

Jake’s Track Picks:

1. Time Bomb
2. Wild Nights
4. Trouble

Tom’s Track Picks:

1. Time Bomb
3. Sunset In July

VIMTV Research Links:

Time Bomb

Trouble

311 Interview

VIMTV Episode #311: 311 – Transistor

Jake: Recommended, 66/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 100/100

Overview: Transistor is one of Tom’s favorite albums. EVER. This album has been a huge influence on the way he listens to music and what music he likes, which is a bias that is simply impossible to overlook. Jake, on the other hand, has a much fresher perspective on this record. While he too believes that there is incredible material on Transistor, there are too many weak tracks to justify this being a 21-track, roughly 70-minute behemoth. Still a recommended listen for someone wanting the less radio-friendly side of one of the most radio-friendly bands of the 90s.

Recommended Similar Artists: Incubus, The Urge, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pepper

Jake’s Track Picks:

1. Transistor
2. Prisoner
7. What Was I Thinking
9. Use Of Time

Tom’s Track Picks:

1. Transistor
5. Inner Light Spectrum
8. Jupiter
9. Use Of Time
12. Running
15. Creature Feature

VIMTV Research Links:

Transistor

Use Of Time

311 Interview

VIMTV Episode #140: 311 – Soundsystem

Jake: Recommended, 67/100

Tom: Recommended, 82/100

-Requested by and dedicated to Greg Hatt

Overview: This 1999 release found 311 blending several aspects of their previous four albums. The record as a whole is structured more similarly to their self-titled album, but fuses more of the experimentation of Transistor with their classic early 90′s sound rather than abandoning it entirely. The result is a bit loose as an album, but the individual tracks are strong all along, with the exception of the last two. Overall, by far not the best 311 album, but certainly not the worst.

Recommended Similar Artists: Incubus, The Urge, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pepper

Jake’s Track Picks:

2. Come Original
3. Large In the Margin
6. Life’s Not a Race

Tom’s Track Picks:

2. Come Original
4. Flowing
7. Strong All Along
8. Sever

VIMTV Research Links:

“Come Original” Music Video:

“Sever” Live:

VIMTV Episode #21: 311 – Uplifter

Jake: Recommend, 80/100

Tom: Recommend, 80/100

Overview: The best way to describe this album is exactly how 311 chose to name it: an uplifter. This is definitely a feel-good, summer album. While it isn’t 311′s best work by any means, it shows that they haven’t forgotten how to make some great rock tunes and show everybody how to have a good time.

Recommended Similar Artists: The Urge, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid

Jake’s Track Picks: