311 have had quite a career so far. When they came out in the 90's, they definitely clashed with the more gloomy grunge scene: positive lyrics and catchy, upbeat music with a reggae and hip-hop twist. They still found success while simultaneously paving the way for a variety of popular bands like No Doubt and Incubus. They are one of the few bands from that era to have survived and continue touring and putting out new music -- the band are in the studio working on their eighth album as we speak. Their first best-of, "Greatest Hits: 93-03" is a celebration of some of 311's best known work, along with some newer, previously unreleased material. True, not all of 311 "Greatest" songs are here, such is the flaw with any best-of collection, but as far as hits and singles, this has got them all. Along with predictable entries like "Down," "All Mixed Up" and "Amber," there are a few surprises thrown in. "Beyond The Grey Sky" (from 2003's "Evolver") is a song I didn't expect to be here, and other songs that didn't quite break-out like they should have like "Flowing" and "Transistor" are good to hear again (even though I own all of their other stuff). While there is an abundance of newer material, including their cover of The Cure's "Love Song" (from the "50 First Dates" soundtrack) and two new songs, "How Do You Feel?" and "First Straw," the lack of older material is rather disappointing. "Homebrew" and "Do You Right" are included, but their older albums had other great moments too (they should have, at least, put "Feels So Good" on). But complaints aside, it's a great collection, seventeen excellent songs. You definitely get your money's worth, and if you're a hardcore 311 fan, the two new studio tracks are incentive enough. And if you are new to the band, what better way to start?

Ah, 311... A group who's style you just can't live without. They combinde alternitive rock, punk, metal, ska, rap, reagae, jazz & classic rock into one. They have alot of laid-back tunes, yet alot of edgy tracks. Here of course showcases their greatest hits as the title says. I know it's missing Prisioner, but was that a hit anyway? This was my starting album from 311. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked them since Come Original came out, that was when I first heard of them. They became big in 95 or 96, you decide and their breakthrough hit was Down which is still their most well-known hit today. Very awsome & simple little classic. Nick Hexum is the vocalist & sometimes guitarist, SA Martinez is the rapper & DJ of the bunch, and he is a talanted rapper. Nick used to rap occasinally, but i've never heard him really rap since I haven't heard any of their albums yet. Oh well, I prefer it where SA Martinez is the rapper. They are a very talanted band, the other 3 members are awsome as well. I will say which songs were included on the original albums, then do the song-by-song thing.

Down, All Mixed Up, Don't Stay Home (311 Year: 1995)

Flowing, Come Original (Soundsystem Year: 1999)

Amber, I'll Be Here Awhile, You Wouldn't Believe (From Chaos Year: 2001)

Beautiful Disaster, Transistor (Transistor Year: 1997)

Creatures (For A While), Beyond The Grey Sky (Evolver Year: 2003)

Do You Right (Music Year: 1993)

Homebrew (Grassroots Year: 1994)

Love Song (50 First Dates Soundtrack Year: 2004)

How Do You Feel, First Straw (previously unreleased Year: 2004)

1. Down: Ah yes, the well known classic with tounge-twisting rapping from SA & Nick delivers the classic chorus. 10/10

2. Flowing: I think it was a minor hit, has a technotic intro & then changes to a more metal Yellow Submarine-type beat, then a little metal background on the verses. Nick is basically solo on it with nice, emotional lyrics. 9/10

3. All Mixed Up: One of my favorite songs of all time. Repetiave but very awsome. Another well known classic. I like the way SA sings on it. Awsome beat. 10/10

4. Amber: A reagae ballad, another pretty big one, although I never heard it on radio. Relaxing & bluesy. 8.5/10

5. Come Original: The song that sort-of got me into 311. It's a really awsome tune with nice fast rapping from SA again and Nick is just great on the chorus & short verses. 9/10

6. Beautiful Disaster: It's not a disaster, but it's certianly beautiful! Another classic from their most underappricated album.

Very ska influenced. 9.5/10

7. Creatures (For A While): One of the most recent hits, another classic. Nick's voice is slightly different, well, he's a growin man. He also has black hair now, no more mr. dirty blonde. Guess that's his teen look. He still can sing. :-D 10/10

8. Do You Right: Not really a hit since it's from Music and it wasnt their breakthru, but it shouldve been, I love it. I love how it changes the mood. 10/10

9. I'll Be Here Awhile: Another song with reagae/ska influence, nice melody. 9/10

10. You Wouldn't Believe: I liked them even more when this came out, brings back great memories of 2001. Another popular song from From Chaos, but it couldve been a much bigger hit. Sounds in between Down & Beautiful Disaster. Nice riff before the chorus & SA delivers awsome lines. 10/10

11. Transistor: Probably my least fav on the album, still good. I hope Transistor is as good as this & Beautiful Disaster are. 7/10

12. Don't Stay Home: Minor hit from Blue Album, really good. 8/10

13. Homebrew: Yes, Nick raps on this one! But I have to say, he's not that good of a rapper. No pun intented. Awsome song from Grassroots tho. 8.5/10

14. Beyond The Gray Sky: Probably the slowest ballad 311 has ever done. It has the wawas reminincent of Amber. Not as much reagae influence. SA sings again, but kinda high-pitched. Kind of out-of-place on the album since it was a flop, couldve replaced it with Prisioner. Still really good. 8/10

15. Love Song (Cure cover): Nice cover, but I think Nick's trying a little too hard to sound like Robert Smith on it. Much more mellow than The Cure's version. Overplayed. 8.5/10

16. How Do You Feel?: A bit of a nu-metal-ish attempt here, still really good. 9/10

17. First Straw: The most recent hit, pretty different from almost everything they've done. I don't understand why everyone hates it, I like it alot, I jam to it often. SA sings again & he's still not a bad singer. 8.5/10

Awsome compliation, recomended to anybody who hasnt heard of 311, i'm telling you, theyre one of the best bands youll ever hear.

I wish people would stop whining about this album. Everyone person who's complaining about the track listing should actually look at the title. It's 311-Greatest Hits 93-03, not 311-Best of-93-03. Whoever wrote the review that stated that the band even posted the reason why this is not a greatest hit's album is obviously the only person who gets it. It would be impossible for 311 to gather songs for a Best Of compilation, because almost every 311 is great. Now, that being said, the 17 songs on this album(14 orginal, 1 cover, and 2 new songs) are great and, while they don't nessascarily capture the potential of 311, it offers a fantatic rock album that any true 311 fan, or a fan of rock music in general, can appreciate. So, if you can look past all the complaints you will discover a great album that is well worth it's price tag. Here's to 11 years of 311, and hopefully 11+ years to come.

Best Songs=Homebrew, Do You Right, First Straw, All Mixed Up, Love Song, Creatures(For Awhile), Beyond the Gray Sky

Damn Good Songs=Down, How Do You Feel, Beautiful Disaster, Flowing, Don't Stay Home, Amber, You Wouldn't Believe,

Okay Songs=Come Original, I'll Be Here Awhile, Transisitor

This cd rocks all the hits (singles) are here, This is a cd for all 311 fans it doesnt matter if your hardcore or not just get it, 15 of their hits, even though prisoner isnt on it, it is still a rockin 311 album

Well, what can you say about 311. I will say honestly, in the beginning, I didn't buy into them. It took an off chance for me to finally give them the old college try. And now, six years later, I have to say that 311 could easily be on of the greatest musical groups ever. Now don't bash it just because you dont like it. Because I was you once. I didn't like it. Listen carefully to every one of 311's cd's and think about how much their sound evolves from cd to cd. You can't slap a stupid genre on these guys (which always annoys me) because they don't follow one. What are they? Rap? Rock? Alternative? Reggae? Punk? Funk? There is no one word to describe the music they put together.

The Hexum/Martinez combination on vocals is unrivaled. The high snare sound on Sexton's drumming is signature 311. The versatility of Mahoney's guitar is beautiful. And of course we can't forget P-nut, he speaks for himself.

One other thing to mention, Any band who can put together a live dvd of a 5 hour concert (311 day 2004) and leave out about 30 or so good songs, deserves some kind of merit. But don't leave your 311 live experience to that dvd, experience for yourself, you wont regret it. They were the first concert I saw, and I've seen many many others since, and they still stand as the best live band I've seen. Yes, they were even better than the Backstreet Boys.

I can honestly say that anyone who says 311 is the worst band ever has not really listened to them and is musically ignorant. This greatest hits CD is composed pretty much of all their singles, which are good, but if I could compose a 311 greatest hits CD, it would be entirely different. Actually, it would have to be a 311 greatest hits box set, it's that hard to single out 311 songs.

So, if you never liked 311, give them an honest try, I personally think they are a band that has to grow on you, from experience. If you end up not liking them, that's fine, but if you come to realize the greatness of 311, you will never look back. Go for it, I dare you, look past your ignorance and reach out.

Standing "O" for 311 from a diehard fan...I know there are many onthers out there...