Review Summary: No substance, no style. Hopefully, they'll take my copy back with a receipt.
311. Those of us who know revere their live show. We have all the albums, journey to New Orleans every other year, and accept that we will be made fun of for our bumper stickers, usually including some variations on "Namaste" as well as the 311 logo. We are loyal, happy, and frequently altered.
I proudly consider myself a member of this sub-culture, but I can't join in on the love-fest for Uplifter. The 311 forums are filled with otherwise smart people who feel that 311 outdid themselves this time. I think they are very mistaken.
Everyone knows that Nick Hexum can't write lyrics; no-one is shocked by a few terrible lines. On this album however, he contributes nothing of value. His vocal style and general positive nature let him skate through on earlier releases, but Uplifter seems to have cut out all the "OK" lines. Furthermore, the only saving grace of Don't Tread On Me, the immediate prior album, was SA Martinez stepping up as a vocalist and songwriter. His virtual absence on this travesty only highlights Nick's poor lyrical choices.
Musically, well, it's 311. The tracks are written and performed solidly, although the flat production and heavy use of overdubs make them sound like any other radio fixture. Bob Rock is known for sucking out the uniqueness, and he does no less here. I can only hope that this is what the band wanted. A side note, I loved the production of "St. Anger" in spite of the terrible songwriting, and I wish that this album sounded more raw and live. 311 is a live band first and foremost, so why resort to studio trickery and overdubs so much?
I can't listen to Hey You again. It's too terrible. The saving graces, such as they are, on this album come on the Blue Album sounding Jackpot, the happy cheese-reggae of Daisy Cutter, and the SA heavy Something Out of Nothing. Somehow, the only real SA track on the album sounds like the only one they mean, even with the cheesy lyrics. That was always the trick to 311; they were heartfelt about feeling good and being in love with life. On this album, they sound in love with a radio playlist and their pitch correction software.
