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.

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.

Whoever the album critic for amazon is, they have a skewed view of what good is or isn't. 311 is beyond their time as far as music, kind of like David Bowie back in the 60's. 311 spawned bands like no doubt and are surely evolved from music like the red hot chili peppers create. Amazon critics, this is a fact. 311 has an original sound that they have mastered. So, if their music sounds the same, it is because they have their own unique groove that narrow minded critics can't explore and differentiate. ...

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.

They hooked me with their melodic "Amber." That song in itself is worth buying the album. They really hit hard with their opening "You Get Worked." It's just a premonition of what's to come after. They mix it up a bit with "Champagne," "Amber," and "I'll Be Here Awhile," and the

rest the album does not disappoint. They show off their musical talent and precision playing in this installment. Check it out!