Many critics say Transistor is one of 311 worst albums however; this is 311 best album ever including the new album Don't Tread On Me. Filled with many effects and tons of totally different music the album journeys through many forms of music also combing ones not usually seen together. Almost every song is great and it is completely off the norm yet it is amazing.
1. Transistor- 4/5 Good song. The title song gives you a taste of what the album is going to be starting with the rock intro and falling into the reggae ending. Very characteristic of the album
2. Prisoner- 5/5 Another song away form the norm. Many different styles blended into one known as 311. The reggae mixed with the rock blends perfectly and gives a psychedelic feel ominous of 311.
3. Galaxy- 4/5 One of the hardest rocking songs on the album yet as the hard intro comes in immediately SA comes in rapping giving the song another meaning and feel. Short but good
4. Beautiful Disaster- 5/5 Great song with a hard rock intro sliding into the reggae hinting guitar solo and sliding back into the rock riff with distant almost distorted voice giving the song a far away feel. One of the best songs on the album and probably the best 311 single to date.
5. Inner Light Spectrum- 5/5 An amazing song and one of the first that SA sings and he does and amazing job. This song definitely gives a far away psychedelic feeling. One of the many songs to just sit back and chill to.
6. Electricity- 4/5 It took me several listens to begin to like this song, mainly because the intro is so rock and the lyrics don’t match it. However, after the listens this song is very good definitely and rock song with a driving guitar line. The chorus is amazing and driving.
7. What Was I Thinking- 4/5 Many people love this song and it is definitely a good song with the amazing slap bass intro leading into the anger filled, distorted lyrics. Very short yet really good
8. Jupiter- 4.5/5 The drum beat begins everything and it flows right into the driving guitar almost immediately followed by Nick. After that were brought into a hard chorus mixed with SA's smooth lyrics giving off a rock feel. The outro also adds ending as if the chords had been pulled out of the amplifiers.
9. Use of Time- 5/5 -AMAZING! Probably the best 311 song of all time. Starting with the mellow chords off Tim's guitar followed by the distant vocals of Nick. The vocals just seem to melt into the guitar riff pulling off an amazing mellow sound. But as always, the chorus begins and gives a very different feel as the bass kicks in with a busy line. Yet Nick still sings the same giving a very distant feel. Strangely, the song picks up with a loud verse right into the first of two amazing solos ending right into the chorus and finally descending back into the original melodic riff. Finally culminating with an even superior solo slowing climaxing and ending abruptly
10. The Continuous Life- 4.5/5 With a hard act to follow this song does a great job pushing the sound of the album further with the mellow guitar line with SA signing then into the loud pushing chorus. Ending on the same chorus once again leaving off at the climax of the song giving no time for the listener to come down forcing them to move to the next song
11. No Control- 4/5 A strange song to follow the two previous tracks, It doesn’t seem to fit and almost seems out of place. Nevertheless not a let down the intro continuous with the mellow feel but that soon fades into a rapping SA to a hard guitar line then falling right back into the busy funky guitar line. The song ends abruptly, yet again, at a climatic part with SA rapping to the same hard line followed by Nick singing, "take that one further"
12. Running- 5/5 Another amazing song!!! Starting with a both guitars playing mixing perfectly together then into SA singing one of his best behind a guitar line heavily "wawa"ed. Then into a very wordy chorus, yet it mixes perfectly. Never stopping the song goes immediately back into the verse. Finally taking a break from the words with a guitar line giving anyone singing along a chance to catch their breathe. Just as you’re ready the goes back into the breathless lyrics of the verse and chorus and ending on one of the few slowly descending notes. Definitely one of the best songs on the album.
13. Color- 3/5 The only song I don’t really like but I think it’s almost and intermission. An instrumental loaded with effects and strange sounds and rarely played live, it gives the listener a break. Acting as the bridge between almost two different “albums.”
14. Light Years- 4/5 A fan favorite and it kicks of the psychedelic version of the album with the almost alien sounds guitar line. Heading into the reggae verse yet again loaded with affects and turn table affects this songs definitely starts the group of songs off well.
15. Creature Feature- 4.5/5 Continuing with the psychedelic feeling the strange bass intro pushes the listener further into a strange world. Still loaded with effects the song ends on the high note reminiscent of the other half of the record.
16. Tune In- 3.5/5- Not a huge fan of this song but it fits with the record bushing the listener further into the psychedelic world created with the second half of album. More rock than the two previous songs but hinting at the songs to come at the end of the album
17. Rub A Dub- 5/5- Bringing us right back into the psychedelic feeling yet extremely reggae. Probably one of the most reggae 311 songs and giving the feeling of being on a beach on a secluded island. Loaded with many effects, almost becoming a trademark of the second part of the record. Extremely unique and an amazing song.
18. Starshines- 4/5- Starting with a normal rock intro the song quickly diverts to a reggae chorus still blending many styles together yet sounding amazing while doing it. The sound completely changes when SA starts rapping with a driving guitar line the stopping into nothing except a pulsing noise pushing right into the end of the song.
19. Strangers- 4.5/5 I love the intro to this song. I can't even describe what genre of music that is. This song fits perfectly with the other songs on album and starts to bring the listener out of the psychedelic world yet the song is filled with effects. Yet again, just like Starshines the song completely changes into Nick raping but flowing right back into the chorus.
20. Borders- 4/5- The song basically ends the psychedelic part of the album and it seems out of place to me. Starting with the driving guitar line and the rapping by both Nick and SA. Never really coming down this song continues driving throughout
.
21. Stealing Happy Hours- 5/5 Reminiscent of Use of Time. A strange placement for this song just after Borders it seems isolated. Definitely a mellowed out song a filled with effects this song blends the mellow songs with the psychedelic songs. The only problem I have with this song although it’s not anything big it just seems to all run together. However, the guitar solos are awesome and the record cutting is amazing mixing perfectly with the song. Several breaks in the song the by the time you’ve realized it the verse has come back. By the time, you realize that the song is on its last guitar solo and it’s over along with the album. If you listen to the silence that follows, there are some eerie sounds at around five minutes.
And so the album ends. After journeying through 21 songs, almost 2 distinct parts and many strange sounds you come out thinking "What the **** was that" however after a few listens your attitude turns towards "Holy **** I still don’t know what that is but it sounds ****ing awesome"
-Tom Pusateri
