From Chaos
With so many acts crowding the funk-rap-metal combo that 311 has been working for the past decade, now is the time for the band to crack the mold and take the genre in a new direction. Unfortunately, onFrom Chaos, 311 doesn't break any new ground, instead hammering the same old riffs and beatsintothe ground. The band blends tepid reggae, repetitive rock, and breezy mainstream pop into a mix that tanks from a lack of interesting hooks. Even the lyrics swim in mediocrity. Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez's vocal tone and songwriting ability ("Woah, amber is the color of your energy / Woah, shades of gold displayed naturally") both fall flat throughout the album. While other genre-crossing bands like theRed Hot Chili PeppersandNo Doubtcontinually increase their mainstream following by working with new artists and developing their sound, the same does not seem to be true for 311. OnFrom Chaos, the Nebraskan band just sound stuck in their own rut.--Jennifer Maerz