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311 Don't Tread on Me · Aug 29, 01:26 AM

Don’t Tread on Me, the newest installment of positive fusion ska and Osmondesque harmony by 311 wasn’t made in a day. This record spun around the studio for almost two years before it’s intended release. Perhaps this explains the conciseness of the final result. The original cut contained nearly 30 songs, only 11 of which survived the bottlenecking engineering process for one reason or another. This album, for lack of a better word, is short. Old fans will immediately recognize SA’s renewed involvement in the studio, as well as the drawing board. For once taking center stage, leaving Hexum in the backup vocale, not on a few songs, but most of the entire album, SA gets a moment of appreciation. The lyrics are poetic and concise alongside the simple and catchy rhythmic raggae and rock spanning multiple genres, as 311 tends to do. The obligatory anti-Busch doctorine in track #5 titled “Solar Flare” essentially spills on what would’ve been an enlightened work of art, turning it into something more “meh.” I don’t know about you, but I’m convinced 311’s down for the unity. This brief but tight album has more good songs in it than bad ones, which is something completely new for these guys, in fact you won’t need to touch the skip button until the end of the fourth song, which can save you an uncomfortable trip out of your seat. Furthormore, the first four tracks are wicked awesome and full of SA’s Wierd Al Yankovich impressions. This album is quality 311 multidirectional sound, and so soft you can use it for packaging and shipping!

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