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"Creatures(for a while)" : first single, great opener for the album. A little misleading, as this is probably the heaviest song on the album. Most energetic rockin' song i've heard from ANY band in a long time. 10/10

"Reconsider Everything" : straight up rocker, with some great guitar and a great message telling people to think for themselves. 7/10

"Crack the Code" : reggae-flavored love song, without being cheesy. "crack the code" being a metaphor for finding someone who's got you figured out (or "cracked your code"). Great song, likely to be a favorite if you get this album. Its definitely one of my favorites. 10/10

"Same Mistake Twice" : straight-forward rocker, probably the most forgettable song on the album, although it's still good. Some people may like it as it resembles music by "the Clash". 6/10

"Beyond the Gray Sky" : Seems to be the song getting the most attention off this album. Some people diss it saying its too depressing, as the subject of the song is suicide. I disagree and say its the exact opposite, it couldn't be a more positive, uplifting song. After the first chorus, i have tingles running up and down my spine for the rest of the song. Still, after hearing the song a hundred times. Beautiful, melodic, meaningful, and very personal to Nick Hexum himself, as it is about his best high school friend, who committed suicide in 2002. Probably the most beautiful, meaningful 311 song to date.
10/10 ( only because i cant give it any more stars than that)

"Seems uncertain" : soft, melodic, acoustic song. hard to grasp the first few listens, but it'll grow on you, and you'll be singing along before you know it. 8/10

"Still Dreaming" : rocker, for some reason reminds me of older 311, like from transistor or soundsystem. Good song, but not one my favorites on the album. 7/10

"Give Me a Call" : this song just feels good. its a very upbeat, happy song. Very catchy and fun to sing along to. This song grew on me and became a favorite. 9/10

"Dont Dwell" : i love this song so much that i wish it were a few minutes longer. Thats my only gripe about this song, its pretty short. Starts out with a rippin' bass-line from p-nut, turns into a great, fun, bouncy song. A favorite for sure. 9/10

"Other Side of Things" : The heaviest song on the album besides "Creatures". Probably the only song on the album that could be considered rap-rock, but its barely that. The chorus is melodic and pretty catchy, while the verses are rapped, first by SA and then by Hexum. Essential to this album, because without it, "Creatures" would be really out of place because, generally, the rest of the album is kinda 'happy'/soft. 7/10

"Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm" : This song embodies the title of the album, "Evolver". This song starts one way, and slowly (but surely) evolves. Starts out quietly, just Nick singing and a guitar. Kicks into a beautiful acoustic song with great arrangement and melody. And just when you think its over, it kicks back in with a great chorus and some cool electric guitar solos. Beautiful, melodic ending to 311's most beautiful and melodic album yet. 10/10

True 311 fans as well as people who know 311 for "Amber","I'll Be Here Awhile","Come Original", and/or "You Wouldn't Believe", pick this album up... right now. Get up and go get it now, it will not disappoint. If you know 311 for their albums "Grassroots" or the blue album, you might want to borrow it first or wait to hear the next single.

ALBUM OVERALL ::: 20 stars, out of 10. i love this album.


"Evolver" evolved this old school fan   August 27, 2003
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Upon hearing the first single, "Creatures(For Awhile)", I couldn't help but scratch my head and wonder where 311 were headed with "Evolver". After an initial listening, and a second, and a third, my head progessively nodded harder and harder as my appreciation for their current musical direction, well, just evolved. My following of all things 311 runs 8 years deep, hence making me somewhat biased and a bit of a harder sell to new ideas, but I think "Evolver" contains a good mix of old school flavor as well as the new ideas to give it a fresh taste on my musical palate.
The album contains everything you'd expect from the signature blend of 311, but in a different way - for example, "Same Mistake Twice" and "Reconsider Everything" are straight 311 rockers, but in between there's "Crack the Code", which is a mixture of a melodic jam and a rock riff with a dancehall beat. With "Beyond the Grey Sky" you get a nice laid back verse followed by a heavy chorus, and thankfully a beautiful guitar solo from Tim Mahoney that literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it.
The use of the acoustic guitar, which has not emerged since "Use of Time" on "Transistor", makes an appearance on the tracks "It Seems Uncertain" and "Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm", a couple of downtempo songs that will stir your emotions. These two songs along with "Give Me A Call" may sound pop-heavy on an old school listener's ears, but they can still impress. It's almost impossible to ignore SA's unique vocal line in "Give Me A Call" despite the catchy chorus, and "It Seems Uncertain" contains too important a message to be overlooked. I don't think 311 could never forget their positive tip, but their ability to present it in different ways is a feat well accomplished, made most quite apparent with the songs "Other Side of Things" and "Beyond the Grey Sky."
311's ability to push forward their own limitations has never failed to amaze me. The way in which they present the material in a new way makes this album a 311 masterpiece.


311 is still 311! Evolver a 311 Jem!   July 30, 2003
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This CD has been out for over a week, and it is really growing on people. I loved it from the get go, and believe it will become the most popular 311 album yet, surpassing grassroots, though that is one of my all time favorite CD's. Let's break Evolver down:

Creatures (for a while)
Starts with a freaky rhythm that holds though the funky cadence changes of the song (which 311 is known for). The sound is remenicent to the "Music" album, in my opinion, which shows that 311 is holding to their roots.

Reconsider Everything
This is a pulsing, high guitar riff, rocker with some good effects that keep it going. The lyrics are cool and 311 style, thoughtful lyrics, not just filler.

Crack the Code
Sick. Starts out with a music box / scratching effects, a tight sound for the track. This is a "relaxer" but still holds energy, which it draws from the bass guitar and ever changing drum rhythms that don't repeat through new cadences. A newer sound overall for 311, but evolved from "Transistor".

Same Mistake Twice
Just another 311 bomb track. Hard hopping beats rock the tempo of this one. Song has 4 different sounding sections (cadences) A classic 311 sound.

Beyond the Gray Sky
Phsychadellic! Reggae strums and a soft beat with wah-wah guitar melodies and a more subtle change between Hexom and Martinez. The song moves into a more electric chorus and backs off once again to the reggae sound. Who says 311 doesn't do a reggae sound in this album! This song definately has 311 roots, and uses similar techniques to "Leaving Babylon", but moves differently than all other 311 works, so I would say it is a "new sound."

Seems Uncertain
Different. Flute like sounds in melody are not new to 311, but accoustic guitar is. This is awesome! 311's chill sound mixes well with the accoustic guitar. The song uses chord progressions forgotten by most of todyas bands. The jazz 7ths and 9ths along with blues chords and moog synth sounds are rooted in this song. The whole style though, is new!

Still Dreaming
Starts out with "spacelike" blips and echo effects, and jumps right in to heavy guitar rock. 311 keeps the hard sound fresh with arpegiating lead guitar of Mahoney, and again by changing rhythm and the key. A headbanger for all!

Give Me a Call
Starts with an intro of echoes and scratches, mixed with a rock steady beat and Hexom lyrics. Can you say 311! Takes you back to the early 90's sound of the genre. This track doesn't have a lot of rhythm change but breaks into this jazz/blues organ thing. Nice! Mixing the old with the new! I like it!

Don't Dwell
P-Nut shake it up! P-Nut's awesome slap bass gets the song moving. In this track all of the musicians shine with harmonic sound from all instuments and voices, even the effects are matched nicely! Keep it up 311!

Other Side of Things
Changed up rhythm from sounds of Soundsystem. Cadence changes often, lyrics keep you interested, new vocal harmonies goin' on here. Need I say more? Another "new sound" for 311.

Sometimes Jack's Rule The Realm
Take everthyng 311 is now and then, throw it into a music blender, and hear the music blend together into the awesome sounds of this track. Like one big 311 smoothie! Rigid instrumentals, and the new harmonies, jazz chords, "out there" lyrics of 311, and cool effects, with a complete change in style at 3:11 in the track, make this one of the best tracks from the boys I've ever heard! Plus you get a little extra from the boys at the end of the track. (like they did on Grassroots twice) Keep up the great music 311!

Need I say more? The albums this year from other bands (as others have said in reviews as well) just haven't shined through. Evolver shines like a 311 Jem, and that shine will last decades like their other albums are already doing. This, as I've said is one of the best releases of 2003. Now, get the CD, and get ready for the 311 TOUR!

I stated previously in a review for this cd:
311 is still 311!
They're back. They've got a new album. They've got a newer sound. But they're still 311! In this album they used a new soundboard for effects and downmixing, and you can hear the difference. The effects are much more recognizable and more complex. The songs are balanced, but they still shift modes thoughout the song like they always have, so the Omaha Stylee thrives and lives on! Evolver is a great name for the album not because they have 'changed' in any way, but more because their sound has a new paradigm with the new mixing techniques, and has grown from all of it's predecessors. The sounds and ideas of the Transistor and Soundsystem albums are apparent in this album, and the instrumental tracks rock as they always have. I don't agree however, that they are in any way following the Chili Peppers or any of that, because the bands have completely different styles. 311 is more geared toward a polished jazz sound coming from their jazz playing roots. This album is the best 311 album yet, and is a must have for any music collection. It is exciting, chill, and will get you to groove for another year or two! Track 1 "Creatures"(For A While) opens the CD with a pumped up style and 311 never looks back! It definately tops most of the releases this year, and though 311 delayed it's release, 311 always makes sure their albums are the way they want them. The album will definately take you "beyond the gray realm" of today's popular music!


311 is not trying to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers   December 23, 2005
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Evolver is a solid 311 effort. The jabbing rap-rock has definitely given way to some milder, more lyrical tunes, but 311 can still hit hard. On this album, they seem to pull out the stops at just the right time in each cut. This album is indeed an evolution of their musical style, and we 311 fans are sitting back with Don't Tread on Me -- their latest pop-infested release -- waiting for another more experimental album that will expand on Evolver in 2007. All in all, it looks like 311 have contented themselves to release some really innovative stuff every other album, and just have fun in between.

Having said that, I am tired of writers comparing bands saying that one is trying to be just like another. 311 has gotten a lot of bad publicity in reviews when writers can't see past the bandwagon music business favorites like the Chili Peppers, and make such ridiculous remarks about 311 trying to be as innovative as those "gods" the Peppers.

Now, in a head to head comparison, I have to give a lot of credit to the Peppers, especially in raw musical talent. But, 311 is a band I have listened to for years, and not just occasionally.

When I feel like good music, I put in 311. I don't listen to the Peppers more than once in a while. After all, 311 use their powers for good instead of evil, as it were; their message is always positive and their music shows it. 311 just makes me feel better as a soundtrack to my day in - day out activity than bands like No Doubt, the Peppers, and a handful of others.

As for this effort, and 311's oeuvre in general, I quote countless musicians and music critics when I say: nothing ventured, nothing gained. 311 is not worried about critics, or it would have tried to make a couple of duplicates of their Grassroots and Blue Albums and garner the same kind of commercial success. Instead, we have a body of work and a powerful touring band that has developed a loyal fan base and continues to experiment, inspire, and have a lot of fun.

Too many listeners, and not a few critics hear 311 radio hits, give one or two tracks a go on any one album, and then make sweeping judgements about how 311 are repeating themselves. My response is: I own the entire 311 catalog, and when I listen to any one of their albums, I always find a new and surprising twist or bit of musical invention or uplifting lyric that I overlooked before.

And that, in my opinion, makes 311 a great band.

One last word of advice to any readers that are scoping out bands - don't listen to critics. They have to listen to way too many albums to enjoy any of them.