By Roman Soto
Have you ever pressed shuffle on your playlist, only to have the repetitive nature of the selected musical genre play continuously on your listening device? Well, my fellow music connoisseurs, you’ve just stumbled upon a place to expand your music taste. Welcome to Roman’s Empire, your new favorite music column. My job here is to persuade you to add the suggested artist or genre to your playlist. Here, we delve into some of music’s most captivating yet underrated artists from all over the world. It’s simple: find a comfortable chair and prepare to expand your musical knowledge. Today, we explore the brilliant elements that frame 311’s versatile sound.
If I asked you to listen to 311’s music and tell me where they originated, their ska-punk riffs would most likely draw you closer to guessing Southern California or at least somewhere close to the beach; I would then let you know that you’re wrong! 311 was formed in Nebraska and is known for its versatile riffs from chugging, heavy alternative rock to lighter, funkier melodies. Often, people overlook some of 311’s deep cuts, satisfied with hits like “Amber,” “I’ll be here a while,” “Down,” or “Lovesong.” However, some of their greatest tunes stem from their original album, characterized by what seems to sound like a raw garage jam session between guitarist Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, and Chad Sexton.
From a musical analysis standpoint, 311 uses the same minor keys consistently heard in reggae tracks. Below are some of 311’s best deep cuts.
- “Do You Right”
- “Taiyed”
- “Plain”
- “Whiskey and Wine”