311 at its finest...
bassrocker410 | usa | 09/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a big 311 fan and i have a copy of basically every studio album they have ever released. Believe me when I say that if you like 311 you will not be disapointed with this cd. 'Evolver' expands and matures on the distinct sound found on the 'Soundsystem' album and marks 311's highest point yet. Although this album only produced 2 major singles, "Creatures(for a while)" and "Beyond The Gray Sky", almost every song is worthy of airplay. If you are looking for a studio album with more songs you've heard before try 'From Chaos', but if you want to be able to pop a 311 cd into your car and not want to skip any songs, 'Evolver' is the cd for you."
Album made for live performances
JOHNNYFUNBAGS | Arizona | 08/12/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Being a 311 fan for over 11 years now, I have heard just about every recording they have ever made. With that said, I would like to note that on first listening to this cd, I was not completeley amazed or blown away by it. The whole album was worth listening to and enjoyable, but not any better than the rest of the catalog. But I have to make a point that all of the songs on this cd are AMAZING concert material. They simply sound perfect live and in person. "Beyond the gray sky" was a live performance that was not easily forgettable."
Sub-Par...
Alex Goldberg | Brooklyn, NY | 12/27/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This album features a small handfull of songs which embody the relaxed, funky 311 sound, but for the most part this is an album of generic radio-rock. What we see on here is a watered down 311, aspiring towards a "mature" sound to no avail.
I understand that Nick & the boys were well into their 30s (except p-nut) on this release and that perhaps it was awkward for Nick to keep rapping. But I honestly don't understand why they had to drop the sound that earned them a crazy cult following in the first place. If they want to stray away from the slight hip-hop influence they had, that's fine, but keep the music funky like it was. There is minimal slap-bass, no heavy riffs, very little funk. The reggae edge seems to be all they kept, but it too sounds diluted and forced.
I realize that all bands "evolve" with age, but I honestly expected 311 to be more consistent. That said, they still put on a great live show and seem to play mostly older tracks. Hmmm...I wonder why!
I will give this album 3 stars (although if compared to 311's older work it deserves 1/2 a star) because it can still trump any other "popular" rock that's out their. While it has no 311 edge to it, it's solid music, just bland."