Album Review: 311 "Uplifter"

311 and their lack of an actual genre (wiki lists them as alt rock, rap metal, rap rock, funk rock, ska punk and reggae) are back with their new album "Uplifter". I'm not a massive 311 fan but anything with an upbeat draws me in so I picked up this 13 track album off of I-tunes. The album as a whole is relatively mellow in feeling although they do have a few rocking songs ("India Ink," "Something Out of Nothing", and their single "Hey You"). The songs flow well from one to another but I can't say that anything really sticks out and grabs you which I feel hurts it a bit. Also its general mellow feel doesn't lend it to be in high rotation. It's one of those "I'm in the mood for this" albums. Hardcore 311 fans probably love it but for the casual listener it doesn't really provide any wow factor.

Grade: 72 (C-)

Album Review - White Lies for Dark Times

There are two types of people in this world. Those who understand the absolute power of Ben Harper's musical talent and those who have not heard him yet.

After the soul-powered "Lifeline" recorded in one week in Paris with the Innocent Criminals, the journeyman that is Ben Harper joins forces with new superheroes forming the Relentless7 (there are four of them I believe.) This album is much harder than Ben's previous work and chock full of hard rock mixed with Ben's slide guitar wizardry. If you are looking for an album to rock out to all summer, this is it. You can feel the heat of mid-summer off fuzzed tracks like "Shimmer and Shine" and "Why Must You Always Dress In Black." The slow jams that made him the underrated megastar he is today blossom in the middle of this rock fest of lying lovers and foolish faulters with songs like "Fly One Time" and the closer "Faithfully Remain." But it is the stupifying "Keep It Together" raises the album to a five-star status as Ben looks at his life and his wife Laura Dern's relationship in it asking for her to "Keep it together" so he can continue to spill his heart and emotion out in every song to feel alive. It starts loud, it crashes to a slow jam session, then comes back alive as we feel Ben's exhaustion from being a super human musician.

On the DVD (with deluxe edition) Ben says with such sincerity and not once comes off callous "I'm not ready to rest on any accomplishment whatsoever. There'll be no mellowing till the grave." That sums up the awe-inspiring and raw power of this album. Front to back full relentless energy from the Relentless7.

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

Album Review: Rancid "Let the Dominoes Fall"

6 years since their last album "Indestructible" came out Rancid finally returns with their 7th studio album "Let the Dominoes Fall." First things first. If you feel you're too old to listen to Rancid anymore then you're probably right. However if you're like me and you still act like a 15 year old punk then hop right in because Rancid recorded a sweet album. The glory of the album is that Rancid sticks with the sound that made them popular in the first place. Unlike Green Day which is trying to mature(suck) with their music Rancid shows that you can be in your late 30's and early 40's and still write a good punk album. The songs range from your classic 4 chord punk songs ("This Place", "Disconnected" and their single "Last One to Die") to their ska/reggae influenced sound ("Up To No Good", "I Ain't Worried") which I love and the more mellow songs with acoustic instruments ("Civilian Ways", "The Highway"). With 20 songs (1 bonus) available on the regular album and 32 tracks on the deluxe version there is plenty to listen to. If you're looking for a solid album from start to finish that lets you feel like a kid then this ones for you.

Grade: 85 (B)