It is the seamless way the songs on the eponymously titled
311 combine the band's influences into a potent blend of
rap,
funk, and
rock that renders this album a cut above those of their competitors. These riff-heavy and radio-ready songs are underscored by a tight drum sound (often with a piccolo snare), the scratching of turntables, and the crunch of heavy guitars: a formidable backdrop for this surprisingly melodic effort. The rhythms of
reggae and
ska percolate through this mix, and the harmonies of
Nick Hexum and
S.A. Martinez lend the band an edge not found in the majority of bands that feature rapping over
rock beats. ~ Peter Stepek