REVIEWS:
(reviewed by Craig Singkofer)
HIGH POINTS: Unity, Hydroponic, My Stoney Baby, Plain, Feels So Good. LOW POINTS: Welcome, Visit, Paradise.
For about half of 1997, Music and Grassroots were about all I listened to. How in the hell does an oldies/classic rock/hair metal junkie like me become so enthralled with a band like 311? Easy. They offered things that bands like Motley Crue once had, like musical style and ingenuity. They also had something that groups like Limp Bizkit and Korn never hoped to have, namely talent. Too little, too late from the old, and as for the new, a .38 slug in my skull is a more appealing option than anything Fred Durst could offer.
Let’s get one thing straight, though. There are four guys with original ideas and adequate talent, and S.A. Martinez is there, too. He offers nothing more than some inner-city punk bitch rapping that is better served anywhere but with this band. He’s nothing more than a sidekick, and it is apparent nearly anytime he opens his mouth. On the other hand, Nick Hexum has the goods. He can croon a bit, then bust into a little funk thing. Pretty cool. P-Nut gets a good groove going on the bass, Tim Mahoney brings the metal with his guitar and Chad Sexton is quite capable on the drums. So what’s the deal with SA? Just like the crack house in your neighborhood, he brings down the value of everything around him.
Regardless, Music is just plain fun, bubbly, energetic rap/metal/reggae/ska/pop fusion done well. It’s a little slow to build momentum though. “Welcome” has potential but is pretty blah. “Freak Out” and “Visit” pick up the pace a little, but it’s clear 311 is playing it safe. “Paradise” is mellow and just sucks. Finally “Unity” gets the flow moving a bit and sets up quite well to “Hydroponic”, an otherwise great tune with a weak chorus. “My Stoney Baby” has a great pop to it; I challenge you not to enjoy it. “Nix Hex” is full-out reggae in the tradition of Urban Dance Squad’s “Deeper Shade of Soul”.
“Plain”, “Feels So Good” and “Fat Chance” are the cream of the album by far. These songs are what Fred Durst and Jonathan Davis wake up with sticky pants dreaming about. This is what their idiot bands would sound like if they didn’t suck. Enough said. Enjoy Music for what it is: a fine effort by a decent group. Nothing more, nothing less.
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