Review of 311's New Album Uplifter

Many fans seemed disappointed in 311's previous studio release, Don't Tread On Me. Therefore, to please their long-time die-hard fanbase, the band needed to create a solid album for 2009. Frontman Nick Hexum vowed in a Gibson.com interview that the band was "taking a big step forward." So they brough in big-shot producer Bob Rock, who has produced for Metallica. The result: Uplifter.

There were a lot of great things about the album. There were many strong tracks. "Two Drops in the Ocean" is a chill reggae jam with an incredibly smooth guitar solo from Tim Mahoney. "Mix It Up" has a flow like late-1990s 311. "Never Ending Summer" is another solid jam with a somewhat new element to the 311 sound: a subtle high-pitched synth (similar to George Clinton funk). The song also features arguably the greatest Tim Mahoney guitar solo ever made.

"My Heart Sings" is another nicely done song. It features an acoustic guitar, which 311 usually doesn't use too often in their recordings. "Get Down," the album's final track, is a rollercoaster ride of awesome beats and chill vibes.