311
Blue Album (1995)
It happened upon a summer night that my dad handed me the Blue Album. I opened it up and there they were: these alien guys next to a bright Venus disc. I placed the CD gently into my 6-disc carousel and put on my headphones.
The first song on the album is Down - a song I heard previously on the radio and was not really captured by. In its entirety, Down is a fun, high energy song...but then Random played next. Then Loco, All Mixed Up...by the end of the album I thought WTF did I just listen to?!
Like all of 311's albums, the Blue Album is a conflation of styles melded seamlessly together to create the unique 311 sound. It's crunchy funk, rap reggae, groovy alternative reggae, heavy-guitar-dancehall, and something else. The album was actually recorded in haste - they were just beginning to blow up and had an obligation to Capricorn to record this, so the Blue Album has a unique short-and-sweet vibe compared to their other albums. Some songs are mainstays in their concert setlists, while others are deep track gems.
My favorite songs:
Purpose
Dont Stay Home
Sweet
Guns (Are for Pussies)
*311's music is not for the casual listener. Their music is nuanced and layered. Also, a huge part of what makes this band special is in the lyrics. Please ask a 311 fan to curate a playlist before attempting to listen to their catalogue.