Every time 311 releases an album, a friend named Eli and I end up discussing it online. We’ve been doing this ever since Soundsystem was released in 1999. We bitch about the album constantly for about a month, leading up to a somewhat incoherent rant or two, and eventually decide the album was great about 2 years later. We’ve never met in person and know each other from back in our AOL programming days in the mid-90′s. You know, back when Kill™ and Stealth were runnin’ the game. For those of you who have any idea of what that means (and those who do,) stop laughing at me and read the rest of the post.
Eli: the show was good Eli: the uplifter songs sounded better live Matt: live usually sounds better Eli: especially neverending summer and jackpot Eli: they've become a live band, dude Eli: even compared to soundsystem, uplifter sucks Matt: thats debatable Matt: i have a hard time with soundsystem Matt: it's what i like to call their "ali g" phase. Eli: lol Matt: lol come on Matt: that's accurate man Eli: seriously Eli: it's aged well Eli: from chaos has not
While not their best release, I think that From Chaos is a solid album. I haven’t listened it too much over the years as it reminds me of riding the E train to the World Trade Center while commuting my job at the time, which brings back some bad memories. I even remember wearing an old pair of torn jeans and my 311 hoodie the first day back to work after 9/11, less than 5 blocks from ground zero.
Matt: they do mix it up? Eli: yeah, i think they did Eli: that song is embarassing to me Eli: mix it up is probably the worst song they've ever done Eli: that or amber Matt: its terribly simplistic, but stays in my head for hours Eli: their rhyming skills have gone backwards Eli: i don't get it Eli: that's why i feel like they aren't even trying Matt: perhaps its not so much what they want to do right now Matt: and are forcing it Eli: maybe Eli: i have 2 predictions if they stay together another 10 years Eli: 1. another hard album like blue or music Eli: 2. an acoustic album Matt: they need another full live album Matt: its been 11 years Eli: wait, you didn't see 311 in central park? Eli: how the hell'd you screw that up?
A new live album would be fucking awesome, and yes – I did screw up.
In the end, 311 is still a favorite band of mine, and even the walls around the desk I’m writing this post from is littered with posters of theirs from over the years, several LP’s and a autographed ticket or two. It’s safe to say I’ll be nodding my head for many years to come.
