Soundsystem

Artist: 311
Label: Volcano
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 614223664521
EAN: 0614223664521
ASIN: B00005ABI1

Release Date: 1999-10-12

Soundsystem

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General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

General

| Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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| Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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| Rock | Styles | Music

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Metal

| Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Freeze Time
Come Original
Large in the Margin
Flowing
Can't Fade Me
Life's Not a Race
Strong All Along
Sever
Eons
Evolution
Leaving Babylon
Mindspin
Livin' & Rockin'

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When "Down" shot up the singles charts in 1996, it was the culmination of eight years of hard work for Nebraska-bred, Los Angeles-based 311. Soundsystem ups the ante on the quintet's good-time, never-forced amalgam of hip-hop, rock, funk, and reggae. "Come Original" features Nick Hexum's identifiable talk-singing style, and the tune's lilting dancehall and reggae overtones make it perfect for convertible cruising. From the odd but compelling rhythms in "Freeze Time," to the Santana-influenced stylings and Tim Mahoney's intricate guitar work in "Life's Not a Race," to the almost metallic riffing of "Evolution," 311 have constructed a diverse yet cohesive collection. The band's crisp, edgy sound, well showcased by producer Hugh Padgam (XTC, the Police), is especially winning on the irresistible and rollicking "Mindspin" and the aggro closing cut, "Livin' & Rockin'." It's a good bet that this Soundsystem will find its way onto the sound systems of fans old and new. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews:

GREATEST Albums of the '90s.......2006-09-11

If I was stranded on a desert island and I could have one album to listen to, it would be SOUNDSYSTEM.

There are 13 songs on Soundsystem, each track has a diverse mix of styles and sounds. I love all the songs except for track 10.
Music is my life and I listen to everything but country. 311 is a band that mixes various musical genres effortlessly. Soundsystem offers a variety of styles including rock, reggae, funk, hip-hop, metal, and world. The songs are so catchy and fun, you will listen to them over and over.

I have been a 311 fan for over 10 years now and if I had to pick a favorite album, it would be this one. I have listened to Soundsystem a ridiculous amount of times and it never grows old.

311 have been going strong for 15 years now. This album came out in 1999, but it sounds as modern and amazing as the best contemporary music. Do not deny your ears and mind any longer, you need Soundsystem in your collection!

I have listened to SOUNDSYSTEM more times than any other album.

Awesome.......2006-05-13

I love this album. I think 3 of my top 10 favorite songs from this band are on here. Flowing is great, I absolutely love the harmonizing and sound. Sever has great lyrics and probably my favorite chours from the band. Plus, I love the little guitar solo outro at the end. And Mindspin, while a fairly average song for the first two minutes, finishes with maybe my favorite piece of music in the history of music. The ending of that song is absolutely brilliant. Add those songs with a bunch of other solid songs (Freeze Time, Come Original, Life's Not a Race, Large in the Margain) and it easily makes the album 5* to me. Plus, the other songs aren't all that bad either. In fact, the only song I really dislike on the album is Can't Fade Me. This is definitely in the upper echolon of 311 albums for me.

An All Time 311 Bestseller!.......2006-01-11

This is one of 311's top albums. If you are just getting to know them, or just haven't invested in this album yet, now is the time.

I estimate that the flowing rhythms and intricate musical themes of this CD have resonated through my many systems hundreds of times. Especially if I am going on a road trip or something, this CD plays -- all the way through! You can't stop it. That's how good it flows!

Breakdown:

"Freeze Time"
This track starts it all of in a grungy, hard, nod-your-head-to-this style that cant be beat. You will understand where this CD is going from this track alone.

"Come Original"
311 despizes non-originality. SA takes to the mic to deliver a lyrical reasoning of why you've got to make up your own sound. Hexum trades off nicely, continuing the 311 tradition. This one is not a crowd pleaser in the sense that it was made to rock! But the crowds sure go crazy over it!

"Large in the Margin"
A flowing nuance of sound that takes you into the more "hydroponic sound" 311 loves. Yeah, it's a homegrown sound, but it sure takes to the waves and pleases the ear. Trust me, you won't have to skip this track. (Nor will you want to.)

"Flowing"
Just take off. It doesn't matter where you go, 311 will find you. You won't lose where you are going, in other words. I like the intro to this song especially. It sets an interesting tone to the whole thing.

"Can't Fade Me"
'Nuff said!

"Life's Not a Race"
While other bands of the time were meddling in the wanna-be-punk rock to match the style of the '70s punk genre, 311 was messing around with the more musical, lyrical, psychadelia that made Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd masterworkers of music. The Transistor album of 311 makes that apparent. They bring some more with this album. Nice job 311.

"Strong All Along"
A head bobbin', smooth rockin' tune. Mix a bit of reggae and some "Omaha Stylee" of 311, and you get this track. It is an amazzing thing!

"Sever"
Traditional 311 jam you cant miss out on.

"Eons"
One of my big time favorites. Flowing. Nice guitar riffs, and chilled lyrics put this one in the top of their track listing for me. They could have made this one a single if they'd wanted...or something.

"Evolution"
Get up and jam to this funky riff about the evolution of technology. Isn't it great? 311 wants you to ensure that it continues. They made a breakthrough, whose next...exponentially?

"Leaving Babylon"
Reggae and psycadelia meet! Another of my all time favorites. This shows not only musical talent, but studio talent. These guys know their stuff, and their music history. If heard it live as well, and it rocks there too. This one seals the deal for me. 311 is at the top. This one will change music forever!

"Mindspin"
The title says it all. You want a little '90s punk. Here you go, served up on a silver platter (or is it platinum)?

"Livin & Rockin"
That's what you'll do as you let this CD go for another round. This one finishes it off niceley. But when you're talking about circles, there is no end, and no beginning. So does this track start it, or end it. I can't really say.

This album is one of their all time best. It is a must have for any R&R lover of this or any generation. Don't wait another minute to start yourself off on a whole nother revolution of music!

Perfection.......2005-12-15

Every single one of 311's albums is awesome. NOBODY has a smoother voice than Nick. Martinez spits out rad harmonies. They're music makes you get up out of your seat. You can feel the music, not just hear it. Of course, every album has my top three songs, but it by no means implicates the others aren't good. "Come Original"....Awesome, "Creatures" is my anthem. If you want a skin & mind tingling experience listen to "Beyond the Gray Sky" which is on one of the other albums. The Don't tread On Me album has more of a ska feel to it which is really cool, however I do wish Martinez was less prominent in the vocals. It seemed like he was pushing in on Nick's territory. Stick with what you do well, Martinez, which is backround harmonies; I like ya but you start to sound whiny the louder you get. Wanna go to the bestr concert of your life? Catch an outdoor show. Rock On!

I hate short albums but this one should have stopped at track 9.......2005-11-02

This record is great.

It's in your face, it can make you dance and jump, it can make you feel chill and it can even make your skin tingle...it has it all.

However, out of nowhere, unexpectedly the album falls off after track 9 - 'Eons.'

311 has never been known for ground-breaking lyrics but what they sing in songs like Evolution and Livin & Rockin is ridiculous and at times make little to no sense.

Plus, the addition of a cover song 'Leaving Babylon' is always welcome to stir things up, but this version is slow and draggy and not like the upbeat raggae sounds of 311 I really dig.

Overall, Tracks 1-9 are near flawless but the subpar tracks (10-13) leaves the listener not asking for more...but asking for better.

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