Review Summary: "Is that the best you can give me?"
Uplifter is a confusing album. I bought it several weeks ago on its day of release, and still I struggle to summarize my feelings for it. After two complete listens I was feeling more than a little pissed off and preparing to write a ranting “WTF happened to 311?” review. But then I woke up the next morning with “Mix It Up” stuck in my head. The following day “Daisy Cutter” was bouncing around my cavernous dome. I listened to album in its entirety countless times over the next few weeks. My anger began to dissipate, replaced by déj* vu harkening back to the band’s 2005 release Don’t Tread On Me. As with that slab of mediocrity, I can’t say if I actually began to enjoy these songs, or if I was merely entering a state of radical acceptance; “So this is where the band is now…” I fear Nostalgia and a strong desire to like the material may have lead to an inflated rating.
Let me say that the songs contained in Uplifter are rock-solid and well developed. Musicianship is top-notch, as it always has been throughout 311’s nineteen-year journey as a band. Every member is given ample opportunity to shine while the band effortlessly transitions between their distinct blend of hip-hop/rock/reggae and all things in between. Most listeners (particularly those unfamiliar with the band) will find very little to dislike here. So why then does this effort feel soulless?
Enter Bob Rock. For the first time in their history 311 make a conscious decision to bring a producer on board to help fine tune song arrangements. After considerable deliberation they choose Bob Rock, whose recent work includes such gems as Metallica’s St. Anger; The Offspring’s Rise & Fall, Rage & Grace; and Gavin Rossdale’s Wanderlust. Tim Mahoney recently stated in an interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com that “I think he tried to make it as palatable as possible, especially as people who may have never heard us before”. Mission accomplished. 311 have never sounded so subdued. The soft to loud dynamic that has so successfully been employed on previous releases is nowhere to be found. The volume seems to be fixed regardless of instrumentation and song section. Also, the vocals and low end are pushed to the front of the mix. This might not be a sore spot if Uplifter didn’t contain the worst lyrics in 311 history. Yes, that is really saying something.
Nick Hexum proclaimed years ago on 311’s self-titled album “I reserve the right to be as trite as I want”. I won’t contest that, be he’s really pushing his luck at this point. The choruses of “Hey You”, “It’s Alright”, and “Never Ending Summer” are simplistic and lazy, almost to the point of being offensive. All basically repeat the song title over and over while adding a word or two here and there. Some lines are just moronic:
India Ink - I write your name on my arm with India ink
I told you once before it’s not what you think
I drink it in with a sip
But I really want to chug
You know I take what I can get
Give me a dub, now
Golden Sunlight - I cannot erase
But you helped me face
The songs and the flowers
At last perception
Of my self deception
The songs and the flowers, oh
I could provide more examples, but I prefer to pretend I don’t know what they’re saying. Come on guys. Seriously.
The overall feel of Uplifter is very mellow, and it contains approximately twice the amount of love songs of any prior release. Some props should be given, as 311 attempt to cover some new ground here. “Too Much Too Fast” seems to be the band’s take on 70’s style Billy Joel piano rock. Perhaps ill-advised, but largely successful. The song is well-performed, but its placement (dead center) disrupts an album that otherwise has an excellent flow. “My Heart Sings” is also a bit of a departure for 311. It finds them stooping ridiculously low with a love song so saccharine it will send diabetics into a coma before the first chorus. This may be the worst song 311 have ever released, and is without question the worst closer in their catalog.
Although I have strong feelings about Uplifter’s shortcomings, it contains some very strong material. “Mix It Up”, “India Ink”, “Daisy Cutter”, and “Something Out Of Nothing” should all be welcome additions to any fan’s library. Nothing stands out as particularly amazing, but the album as a whole is quite listenable. Consider yourself warned, as you “bob your head to this” you may find yourself longing for a time when 311 was special and stood out amongst their peers, where they now seem content to merely blend in.
Deluxe Edition Note: The two bonus tracks on this are about as interesting as the rest of album combined. Combined with the live DVD the bonus materials really save this release.
P.S. – *** Bob Rock
