Very interesting to hear this point of view! Soundsystem was the first album I heard of theirs a little over 15 years ago, and it immediately had me hooked. But the rest of the album is what I said, as of this listen. Soundsystem I think is the only one I hadn't even given one listen to though.Įdit: The last 3 tracks are the opposite of everything I said. Wanted to hear y'alls thoughts on the album and what you appreciate in it, or perhaps what I should pay more attention to for future listens.įull disclosure, I am going through the whole 311 discog start to finish, with the only albums I was 100% familiar with before 2 days ago being Grassroots, Blue, Transistor, Universal Pulse, Stereolithic, and Mosaic. But now that I do have a better sense for the subtlety of 311, I still think this album just offers no value and I don't feel like I'm overwhelmed with newness and not hearing it right. Then again, I thought 80% of Transistor was bad the first time I heard it, and now I think 80% of it is great. It doesn't sound like Blue exactly, but it sorta sounds like a lukewarm version of the stereotypical 311 sound ish, across 13 songs. None of them are catchy, no hits, none of them really grab me, they all pretty much sound the same, not much experimentation, no concept really. The fire destroyed all their equipment, clothes, money and personal possessions.Just finished listening to it for the first time pretty much ever, had maybe tried a song or 2 with no recollection, and recently got REALLY into 311 as in, now positively consider them one of my favorite bands.Īfter the masterful album that is Transistor (I don't think it's perfect or like every single song, but it has some masterful work and overall has a masterpiece feel to it, and is of course experimental and visionary and conceptual), I get that it's hard to follow up.īut seriously, Soundsystem was what they came up with? It sounds like a collection of random 311 b-sides to me. The band hit the road in support of the record and was temporarily sidelined when their touring RV caught on fire and exploded on the shoulder of the highway. Just before disintegrating into total poverty, they were signed to Capricorn Records.ģ11's first cd "Music", was released with little fanfare in February of '93 (now Gold). They rented a small house in Van Nuys, California and all moved in together. The records were called "Dammit," "Hydroponic," and "Unity." With these records and their solid live show, the band quickly established a following in the Midwest and then set out for the West Coast. In 1990 & 1991 the band released three independent records on their own label (What Have You Records). 311 was complete (Nick, Chad, Tim, P-Nut and SA). At that time, SA Martinez began to make guest appearances with the band - and was eventually added as a full member. In 1991, they parted ways with Jim Watson and added Tim Mahoney as lead guitarist. They played their first gig opening for Fugazi on June 10th 1990. Months later, Chad persuaded Nick to move back to Omaha and join them. scene, Chad soon moved back to Omaha and began jamming with P-Nut and a guitarist named Jim Watson. In late '88, Nick, Chad and Ward moved to LA and made an unsuccessful stab at getting a recording contract.ĭisillusioned with the L.A. They soon added a keyboardist named Ward Bones and called themselves "Unity". When Nick returned to Omaha for Chad and Tim's high school graduation - the three of them jammed and realized they had a special musical chemistry. Nick was also in the high school concert jazz band with Chad.Īt seventeen, Nick graduated early from high school and moved to downtown Los Angeles in pursuit of a music career. P-Nut and SA Martinez lived on the south side of town and went to Bryan High School together.ĭuring high school, Nick and Tim played in a rock band together called "The Ed's". Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney and Chad Sexton lived on the west side of town and went to Westside High School together. All five members of 311 grew up in the 1970's in Omaha, Nebraska.
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