311 - 'Uplifter' Review

311 write feel-good summer songs, so it’s only appropriate that their latest album, Uplifter, hit stores at the beginning of June. Rarely straying from the successful amalgam of genres that made them stars in the ‘90s – rap-rock, reggae, pop, ska, alt-rock – 311 are less concerned with updating their sound than they are with boosting its impact. As a result, Uplifter will probably fall into the for-fans-only category, but even newbies will be able to appreciate the quintet’s melodic assurance.

311 came to prominence in the mid-‘90s thanks to rap-rock hits like “Down” – rather than engage in the genre’s mixture of anger and attitude, though, the Nebraska band deftly melded frontman Nick Hexum’s singing and S.A.’s rapping, throwing distortion-heavy guitars and a bouncy beat into the mix so that the songs felt breezy and accessible rather than forbidding. As the ‘00s wind to a close, 311 are sticking to their strengths on Uplifter. Though they’re joined for the first time by Metallica super-producer Bob Rock, 311 continue to focus on positive vibes and breezy tunes, with just the slightest bit of musical aggression added to the equation to give the material a rough edge.

Hardcore rock fans dismissed 311 as lightweights, but the group’s pop-centric instincts are hard to disparage, especially when the band members come up with consistently catchy songs. Uplifter has a decent success rate, kicking off with the playfully rocking first single “Hey You,” where a hard-charging riff quickly gives way to a smoothed-out reggae groove, ultimately leading to a guitar-driven chorus. (In truth, the song feels like a laid-back rewrite of “Down.”) It’s but one of several Uplifter tracks that seems designed for the car stereo – you hit the open road, put down the top, and crank the tunes. That sort of simplistic description actually works quite well since Uplifter doesn’t aspire to deep insights. Bob Rock’s records are known for their towering immediacy, and Uplifter benefits from his big-and-loud treatment.

That’s not to suggest that Uplifter doesn’t have its softer, more melodic moments. “Golden Sunlight” rides a sunny, slightly funky beat to tell a story about a man trying to be a good father and husband. And on the album-closing acoustic ballad “My Heart Sings,” Hexum is wide awake in a hotel room early in the morning, thinking of his true love. The song’s island-getaway tone gives the lyrics a wistful, romantic feel that’s utterly relaxing. At their weakest, 311 can sound like the spiritual descendants of Jimmy Buffett’s chilled-out soft rock, but in limited doses they can be mightily effective.

If Uplifter finds 311 up to their old tricks, the one element of their repertoire they should consider abandoning is rap-rock. In particular, “Jackpot” is the sort of brain-dead dude rock that tries very hard to move the crowd but instead comes off as completely played-out. And though it’s not quite as irritating, “Something Out of Nothing” unsuccessfully recycles the alt-rock styles that launched them into the mainstream over a decade ago – heard now, it’s just really dated.

311's 'Uplifter' – Bottom Line

Ultimately, Uplifter is about good times with good friends – really, 311 are all about providing the soundtrack for your next beer commercial or Hollywood comedy. They may not be a very ambitious band, but they’re a very tuneful one – like summer, they can’t last forever, but you can enjoy them for the moment.

'Uplifter' – Best Tracks:

“Hey You” (Purchase/Download)
“My Heart Sings” (Purchase/Download)
“Golden Sunlight” (Purchase/Download)
“Mix It Up” (Purchase/Download)

Release date – June 2, 2009
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