First things first. 311, singer Nick Hexum,Chad Sexton,"SA" Doug Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney and thunder bassist P-Nut are a good time positivity driven group that in no way is going for the whole angst/rap/rock trend (Bizkit,Roach,etc.). So, get that out of your head, and lets not try to draw comparisons between them. After breaking it big in 1996 with their self titled disk that spurred the frat party anthems "Down" and "All mixed up", 311 is back with their long awaited 6th major label release, titled "From Chaos". Right from the opening chord of "You get worked" you see that this is not the same uninspired group that tossed out the overproduced and methodically drone "Soundsystem" in 1999. This is a recharged,more mature and confident unit that has never sounded better and tighter as a group. Which is saying something, based on their reputation of being one of the best live acts out there. While blending all the better elements of rock,rap,reggae,ska and pure funk, 311 along with "Blue" album producer Ron Saint, may have finally created the signature disk of their catalog. It is suprisingly strong all the way through, with highlights being the soon to be live staple,"Sick tight" and the ultra-melodic "Amber". Every song has some hook that will be revolving around your head for days. Of course, not all is sunny on the 311 front, "You wouldnt believe", the first single, sounds like a throw away from the "Soundsystem" sessions, and Nicks vocals do have a tendency to be too flat for casual listeners tastes. But, both vocalists make a fairly strong showing in this album, with both rhyme skills, and singing range. All in all, if your already part of the excitable 311 fans, then you were very pleased on June 19th, and if not, then you may be soon, once these break through to radio. Overall, this album does "rock",and it has some great hooks, with some laid back Jamaica inspired moments to keep you smiling.

First of all, I give this a 4.5, Transistor is a 5 in my book...

The review from Amazon.com on this album is ignorant. "From Chaos" is a brilliant album, by a band that is over stereotyped in the whole rap/rock genre. 311 is so much more than typical angst rap/rock (linkin park, korn, etc) they have one of the best drummers in rock ( except Danny Carey from Tool of course) and both of their lyricists are simply amazing. Miss Jennifer basically said "Whoa, Amber is the color of your energy" is pathetic, when in fact, this is more like the amazing and groundbreaking lyrics we heard from "Transistor" Nick is talking about aura's here, for those who have no clue what these are, just go read up on them (yahoo works well) and you'll discover the depth and originality behind Nick's and SA's lyrics. Although in my opinion, 311 doesn't tap the fountain as Tool does, 311 is one of the only bands to stay positive in the midst of all this angst-ridden manufactured garbage called "rock." We should be thankful for musicians like Tool, Dredg, 311, Deftones, etc for giving us true auditory beauty. And making music for themselves, not for the record company execs,

It took them long enough, but after 6 years, 311 have finally released a true follow-up to their self-titled commercial breakthrough, and it cranks like it's '95 all over again. Like all their albums, it's hit and miss all the way, but the ratio of hits to misses leans greatly more toward the former this time, resulting in some of their strongest work in years.

I've always been a fan of 311's, especially after seeing them live several times, but their last two albums cooled my interest a little. "Soundsystem", released two years ago, had a handful of amazing tracks but was overproduced and a little draggy. "Transistor", meanwhile, remains this band's only true dud -- it's so agonizingly overlong and miscalculated that it's nearly impossible to listen to all the way through, and it's a shame because there's a killer EP buried in there somewhere. I wondered if 311 were ever going to get their groove back.

They have. "From Chaos" is a return to form in every way -- heavy without being overbearing, fast without being tuneless, experimental without being overindulgent. A large amount of credit for this has to go to the legendary Ron Saint Germain, who produced the self-titled album and works similar magic here. But that wouldn't mean much if the band didn't bring the noise, and they deliver. Fans everwhere will flash a huge grin at the moment they hear "Sick Tight", which wraps huge riffing around killer vocal melodies from Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez, resulting in one of their best songs since "Down". Several great songs follow, like "I Told Myself" (which explodes with melody), "Amber", and "Hostile Apostle". The experimentation from the last two albums has been toned down, but it's still present; "Uncalm", for instance, is an interesting stab at dancehall. The whole thing clocks in at a tight, fierce 40 minutes with little to no filler. Nice.

There's a few things that kept me from a five star rating, though. For one, 311 are starting to sound too much like themselves -- some of the riffs are recycled from older albums, as are some lyrics, and you have to wonder how long they can keep doing this before it gets ridiculous. The album also doesn't have quite as powerful a sonic punch as the last two, and it sounds a little flat at times. And lastly, while Hexum and Martinez are great singers, why do they keep coating their voices in layers and layers of reverb? It's getting a tad old. You guys can sing, so just sing!

But these are small complaints. Bottom line: 311 are back, and they want you to come along. This thing is tailor-made for fans who got on board from the beginning, with "Music" and "Grassroots", which will probably always be their best work. They've had to sit back and watch other bands profit from the sound they revolutionized for years, and they've taken that anger and infused it into their music, giving it back the precious rawness and ferocity sadly missing from the last two records. Support 311, because at this point in their career, they're doing what they do mostly because of you, the fans. Give them a reason to keep on doing it.

I have been a 311 fan ever since "Down" came out as a single, but I also took the chance to try out their older stuff like Grassroots and Music and I love 311 ever since. I was hesitant to give "From Chaos" a shot due to the single "You Wouldn't Believe" because I thought that was just about the best the album could get...but I was glad I was wrong. There's a mix in this album, from hard core old school 311 rock (Sick Tight) to chilled back rock (Uncalm) to beautiful laid back melodies (Amber).

My favorite song on this album is "Uncalm", with great lyrics and an unique tune. Classic 311 originality. I love the ENTIRE album, not just a couple songs out of the 12. It's pretty amazing how 311 has come back from their previous 2 albums (Transistor, Soundsystem), in which I thought were not as great as their old albums. BUY IT and get ready for a "HEADRUSH!"

Don't forget to download 311's extra track "We Do It Like This" from the official 311 site, it's also a great song expressing how they progressed in their music and their originality.

On their 6th studio release, From Chaos, 311 continue to be one of the most groundbreaking and original acts around today. 311 seemlessly meld metal, rap, hip-hop, reggae, and punk into another mind-blowing disc. 311 does a good job of taking aspects of all of their previous discs and combining them with new creative wrinkles, ensuring their music will never get stale. Overall, From Chaos rocks hard but doesn't forget the melody and songwriting in the process. Songs like Sick Tight, Wake Your Mind Up, and You Get Worked showcase 311 at their hard-rocking best. Full Ride is pure funk while Uncalm is one of the most unique songs 311 has ever put together, combining heavy guitar and beautiful vocal melodies. Amber, Champagne, and I'll Be Here Awhile are melodic gems that re-inforce the diversity of 311. Finally, the title track, From Chaos, is a rockin' and catchy melodic tour de force that would make an amazing 2nd single of off this album. Nick Hexum's and SA Martinez's raps and vocals are as tight and melodic as they have ever been. Tim Mahoney throws in some heavy and unique guitar riffs throughout while P-Nut and Chad Sexton are brilliant as usual. Lyrically, the band has never been stronger as they touch on a wide range of subjects that regular people go through on a daily basis. At a time when most rock acts continually re-hash how terrible their lives are with negative lyrics, it is certainly refreshing to see a rock band write about issues that others can relate to, while infusing their lyrics with positivity.

As the pioneers of the hybrid rock genre, it is a shame that 311 still do not get the recognition and respect they so richly deserve. Its hard to see second-hand hacks like Crazytown and Papa Roach being rewarded with a ton of radio and MTV airplay while innovators such as 311 are not. However, 311 will still be going strong 5-10 years from now, due to hardwork, determination, and a loyal grassroots following, while today's flavors of the week will be nowhere to be found.

As for certain so-called music critics, pay no attention to them. It seems that instead of just listening to the music and enjoying it, they look for reasons to pick it apart. As for the suggestion to work with other artists to increase 311's mainstream following, that sounds an awful lot like a suggestion to sell out. While I've learned that 90% of music critics have no idea what they are talking about, its a shame they are in a position to influence the many people who may be checking out a band for the first time. In regards to the critics, "ignorance is bliss to those uneducated".

Congrats to 311 on an amazing new album. I wish them much success and hope they can continue to provide us with great music for years to come.