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311 - Don't Tread on Me Audio CD

A fair review of the 311 "Don't Tread on Me" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all 311 reviews here, or go back to the 311 tabs.

311 Band: 311
Title: Don't Tread on Me
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-08-16
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Don't Tread On Me 2: Thank Your Lucky Stars 3: Frolic Room 4: Speak Easy 5: Solar Flare 6: Waiting 7: Long for the Flowers 8: Getting Through to Her 9: Whiskey & Wine 10: It's Getting OK Now 11: There's Always an Excuse

What happened?
They are and always will be one of my favorite bands, but this album well. I love 311. . . . sucked. Yes I said it. It sucks and I will tell you why. I enjoyed their previous albums because I felt the music. I felt depth in the tunes. What I heard on this album was a sell out, soft porn approach to making music except for a few songs. Sure you might attract every 14 year old girl on the block, but do you really want to go from a strong soulful message with your own sound to sounding like your an opening band from a Brittney Spears concert? A lot of these songs remind me of music I would hear on a kids show. Cheesy.


don't tread on this
Even Nick Hexum recently admitted this and that the album was rushed. I'm a huge fan of 311 but this is clearly there worst work. The songs are too throw-away and lack the original riffing and riff changes that exists in almost all of their other releases. Look for Transistor, Evolver of Soundsystem for the real 311 masterpieces.


On "Don't Tread On Me" by 311:
I have actually heard of them back in the fall of '93 with the release of their single, "Do You Right" off their album, "Music". Okay I must admit; I was a latecomer with 311. Had not listened to it at the time; I still didn't care because I began noticing many new musical acts and was not impressed with most. I felt that was the year music began taking its turn for the worse. . . and so the decline went. Years had gone by and I would notice them here and there but not really taking the time to look deeper. Well, after the turn of Y2K, I was introduced to them properly. Not personally, just to their first five albums and they were nothing like I'd expect. I was impressed. Those albums were almost indescribable. It wasn't just the "mindspinnin'" music; it was the deeply heartfelt and insightful lyrics and they were just absolutely incredibly melodic through and through. So long afterwards, I was looking forward to their "From Chaos". I had heard it at various times in the background over the summer of '01 and it was fine but nothing that pulled me in from their previous works. It is a decent album but I had started noticing their quality of music beginning to diminish but still I stuck around. . . I had waited a long time to listen to "Evolver" and "Don't Tread On Me" because at that point; I realized (especially after the weak attempt at covering The Cure's Love Song. . . for an Adam Sandler movie of all things!) they're not as strong creatively speaking as they once were. The former album is their absolute worst! Only "Creatures for a While" was the only good song and that is the first song on the record; after that it's complete pop garbage with trying. . . trying to recycle what made them so great in the first place. This one however, is a tad better. About four songs (I think) out of eleven are the only good ones i. e. , "Thank Your Lucky Stars", "Speak Easy" "Frolic Room" as well as the title track are all good going back to the old 311 (at least as far back as the wonderfully experimental "Transistor") but the rest is awful. For example one of the worst songs is "Whisky & Wine" with S. A. literally whining sounding more nasally than ever. . . and I consider or have considered him an awesome singer but while listening to that song; Easy E comes to mind and I never thought I'd be the one to compare any of them or anything they do with anything that has anything to do with (gasps) N. W. A. Ugh. I shudder to think.

As far as looking forward to any of 311's future projects? I doubt it. I have heard they're in the process of making a new album to be released sometime this year. . . I'm not anticipating that one. As far as I'm concerned, they'll have to break new ground again in order for me to obtain interest.


Decent, But Awful By Comparison


While still better than any "rock" album recently released, this album is a really watered down version of 311, where the rap influenced singing is replaced by some of the most feminine singing Nick has ever done. Given the funky, reggae laiden rock that 311 is known for, this album is terribly bland and not creative at all.

I'm a big 311 fan, but I will not pretend this album is good. I want my slap bass, my hip hop influenced drumming, funky guitars and fresh lyrics.


Great CD to have in your 311 collection
Don't Tread On Me is a great song and the message it has is great. I had to have this CD after a friend let me listen to the first song. It's a fun and playful song. I love 311 and think they are great music to listen to especially in the summer time. They have a reggae feel about them and their music just makes you feel calm, relaxed, and happy. If you haven't given 311 a chance you need to.


You can see a complete list of all 311 discography, or go back to the 311 tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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