311 – Don’t Tread on Me (Zomba/Volcano)

311 have been around for some time now, and I was into them at the peak of their popularity, the self-titled release some refer to as the Other Blue Album. With the hits “Down” and “All Mixed Up”, 311 made a name for themself with both the emerging nu metal crowd, as well as with many of the same people who took ska and swing and made it into a fad for about a year. I too, got burned out with 311 by the time “Soundsystem” came out in 1999. 311 to me were treading water, and as they got more repetitive, I felt it even began to hurt their old work. Eventually I came to see their old work as nothing special too begin with, one of those bands teens like because they don’t really know any better.

5 years later, I see 311 still have a pretty stong following, enough anyways to warrant a greatest hits compilation and seveal more albums, with this release “Don’t Tread on Me” being he most recent. Once again I have to say 311 are playing the same-old, same-old.

Since I’ve had a break from the band (and since they took a step up in coolness in my eyes after beating up Scott Stapp), the Omaha culture-hopping stoners aren’t so objectionable to me these days, but at the same time, this is still nothing special. Tracks blend into one another, they don’t seem able to put together riffs like they did on the first few albums. Basically, this is bland stuff for your college fratboy who thinks he gets Bob Marley. – Goon

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