311 - Universal Pulse

Omaha, Nebraska's finest 311 are back with their much anticipated 10th studio effort, Universal Pulse. The follow up to 2009's edgy Uplifter finds the reggae rockers delivering a much shorter effort focused on hard rocking anthems that made them so popular back in the mid 90's and less emphasis on ballads that populated their last studio effort quite immensely.

The disc opens up with a blast on "Time Bomb", a melodic, summertime ready tune featuring the all too familiar vocal stylings of Nick Hexum plowing through the song with remarkable precision and the hip-hop styled vocal pairing of SA Martinez compliment the track so well and make the song stand out with pure delight. My favorite song off the disc is the album's first single, "Sunset in July" a dazzling, funky tune that is 311 at its finest with bassist P-Nut's bass licks becoming the highlight of the song amidst the cavalcade of melodic guitars and ambient grooves found at every turn throughout this one. "Trouble" is an intricate, advanced tune that is reminiscent of material found on 1997's Transistor, the band's longest and most expansive effort currently in their catalog. This song has an abundance of carefully placed guitar rhythms and Nick's calming vocal presence setting everything in motion on this experimental yet laid-back track.

We're already into the disc's second half, and we find "Count Me In", an extremely fun and eclectic track that is the perfect accompaniment to your summer barbecues, trips to the beach, or any outdoor excursion that you see fit! We get ready to draw the album to a close with "Weightless", a deep, reggae styled track that finds Nick using his vocal abilities to adapt to the song quite easily and deliver an adequate tune that clearly demonstrates the band's musical talent and their ability to excite and captivate their listening audience at the same time. "And A Ways To Go" is an ethereal and introspective tune that brings the energy down several notches to create a reflective piece that shows off the band's versatility and their amazing depth as both musicians and people. 311 continue to impress me more and more with each studio effort they have made so far, and it's amazing to see the journey that they've taken and how much they've grown in their 20+ year career as a band.

All in all, a short yet cohesive effort from 311 that hearkens back to the Transistor/Soundsystem era heydays and sees the band trying a more experimental approach yet still retaining the classic formula that has made their music so beloved and well-received by many adoring fans around the world.

                                                                                                                                   Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Time Bomb
2. Wild Nights
3. Sunset In July
4. Trouble
5. Count Me In
6. Rock On
7. Weightless
8. And A Ways To Go

Note: For Boston area fans, don't forget to catch 311 in concert this Saturday July 23 with special guests Sublime With Rome! It's sure to be an awesome show so get your tickets in a hurry!