They said they ’d keep us out on the road and that ’s exactly what we wanted to hear so we decided to go with them. (Douglas) Martinez, vocals, scratching P-Nut (Aaron Wills), bass Chad Sexton, drums.įormed around 1991 in Omaha, Nebraska signed with Capricorn/Mercury Records in 1991 released debut album, Music, 1993 released Grassroots, 1994 released 311, 1995 released Enlarged to Show Detail video, 1996 released Transistor, 1997.Īddresses: Record company -Capricorn Records, 1100 Spring Street, Suite 103, Atlanta, GA 30308. Members include Nick Hexum, vocals, guitar Tim Mahoney, guitar S.A.

“They told us they wouldn ’t hassle us For the Record … In a Rational Alternative Digital interview, 311 bassist P-Nut told writer Wade Chamberlain why they signed with a smaller label. So, in 1991, they signed with Capricorn Records, a sub-label of Mercury.

But they soon realized that their approach to stardom would have to be as unique as the music they made. “My life ’s goal was to get songs on the radio and be a popular singer, ” stated Hexum. When the Omaha-based group formed in 1991, they had all the ambition necessary to put them at the top of the charts. But 311 refused to conform with tradition, and the group sought more original means to achieve success. Traditionally, if radio cannot specifically identify a group ’s style of music, it is difficult for that band to receive airplay. “Hexum, singer and guitarist for the rock/reggae/hip-hop band 311, explained that his surprise stemmed from the fact that the group is a hybrid of different musical genres. Considine in Guitar World magazine, “I guess I ’m kind of surprised that we ’re getting as much play as we are. This was done at their very own Pow Wow Festival, created to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the album.Nick Hexum expressed his view of 311 ’s popularity to J.D. Over time, Transistor has developed a cult following and become a fan favourite, eventually leading to the band performing the album in its entirety on August 6, 2011, in front of over 10,000 fans. It's the deep cuts that you play over and over again, trying to catch the meaning', they conclude that the album is 'one of a kind'. Commenting that 'the singles aren't what make Transistor great. In contrast, the album was retrospectively received positive by Consequence of Sound, comparing it to The Beatles' album Sgt. Rolling Stone criticized the album, saying it is 'trying too hard to expand their sonic horizons' and comments how they seem to unwillingly change their musical style. Entertainment Weekly also panned the album, stating that the album features 'some of the weakest rhymes and derivative white-bread dub in recent memory' and concludes that they don't know 'the thin line between experimentation and self-indulgence'. Club, who says 'With 21 songs spread out over 68 minutes, the record has taken plenty of critical punishment for its excessive length alone.' and calls it a 'joyless, tedious exercise in white-boy reggae, white-boy rap, white-boy dub and white-boy rock.', concluding that the band could suffer a Spin Doctors-style career combustion in the future. The album has received criticism from The A.V. They nominated the song 'Transistor' as the only Track Pick from the album. Allmusic comments 'A project of this magnitude is almost doomed to fall on its face, and Transistor nearly does.' and notes that there's enough good songs for a 30 to 40 minute album, but has too much filler. Transistor received a mixed review from Allmusic. Transistor also contains elements of dub, space rock and funk. Although, their rap rock style is still present in some songs, such as 'Galaxy', 'No Control', 'Tune In', 'Starshines', and 'Borders'. While still utilizing their alternative rock sound in many songs, Transistor saw 311 moving away from their hip hop-influenced sound of their previous albums for more of a reggae-influenced sound, as shown in songs such as 'Prisoner', 'Inner Light Spectrum', 'Running', 'Rub a Dub', and 'Stealing Happy Hours'. Nick Hexum admitted that doing too many songs in not enough time for Transistor was a mistake. Transistor was originally intended to be a double album, but all songs were instead placed onto one disc. Retrospectively, however, the album has been more positively received.Ĭlocking in at 67:59 and with twenty-one tracks (or twenty-three, counting both hidden tracks), Transistor is 311's longest album and is the only 311 album to contain more than sixteen tracks. Upon its release, Transistor received negative reviews from critics, who felt that the record was overlong and self-indulgent. The album saw a change in musical style as fewer songs feature rapping in comparison to the band's previous albums. Transistor is the fourth studio album by 311.

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