311 “Universal Pulse” review (Press P to Play)

There’s a few things in life that are ubiquitous about summer. There’s ice cream, the hot sun, longer days, and 311. Throughout their 21 year history, 311 has struck the balance between fun-loving party goers and positive new agers in their music, finding themselves as the unofficial ambassadors of summer.

It’s only been two years since the band’s last album, Uplifer, and yet we’ve already got a new album from the band that finds time to record after touring all summer, every summer. Universal Pulse has been promised as a return to the band’s 90′s roots, full of heavier guitars and space imagery ( a quality that distinguished the band from their peers with their early albums). It turns out those promises were kept.

Uplifter producer Bob Rock returns for Universal Pulse, and furthers his ability to be able to bring each band member’s strengths to the surface. Also of note is that this is the first 311 album where every member laid the tracks down together in the studio, instead of recording parts seperatly. What results is a tighter, more cohesive sound that undoubtly stems from their years of playing live together every summmer. Similar to the Foo Fighter’s “Wasting Light” album from earlier this year, “Universal Pulse” is crafted for the fans. Almost every track could be a B-side from earlier albums like Transistor, Sound System, or the band’s self-titled breakthrough. SA Martinez is suddenly up front rapping in a lot more songs that he had last time around, and even Nick Hexum mixes up his smooth vocals with some rhymes.

Unfortuantly, there’s two major caveats that hinder Universal Pulse from becoming the best 311 album ever. The first is fairly obvious: Clocking in at only 8 tracks, this is the shortest 311 album, and one could argue ( rather correctly) that it’s barely longer than an EP in length. At a little over a half hour in length, be prepared to be starting back at track one a lot sooner than you’re accustomed to.

The other knock against the album can be traced back to the band trying to tap back into it’s aforementioned 90s roots: Every once in awhile, things just get cheesy. It was a problem that permeated their previous album, and it’s even more pronounced this time around. On the album’s capper, “A Ways to Go”, SA ackwardly raps just a little too long, and there’s a few instances of lyrics that’ll make you cringe ( be prepared for a very awkward and out of place “ooooooooooh” on a track that I won’t spoil). Having said that, 311 seems to get away with it, being at the top of their game and obviously comfortable in their own skin. They’re having a great time, they want you to have a great time, and who cares about anything else?

Just like the summer season, Universal Pulse is energetic, fun, light-hearted, and seems to end way too fast. Very few bands ( especially from the hip-hop/rock mix genre) can claim post-90′s stadium selling success, but 311 has found themselves culturally relevant by tightening the screws on their quality and keeping consistant. It’s officially summer everyone.

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