“They told us they wouldn ’t hassle us For the Record … In a Rational Alternative Digital interview, 311 bassist P-Nut told writer Wade Chamberlain why they signed with a smaller label. So, in 1991, they signed with Capricorn Records, a sub-label of Mercury. But they soon realized that their approach to stardom would have to be as unique as the music they made. “My life ’s goal was to get songs on the radio and be a popular singer, ” stated Hexum. When the Omaha-based group formed in 1991, they had all the ambition necessary to put them at the top of the charts. But 311 refused to conform with tradition, and the group sought more original means to achieve success. Traditionally, if radio cannot specifically identify a group ’s style of music, it is difficult for that band to receive airplay. “Hexum, singer and guitarist for the rock/reggae/hip-hop band 311, explained that his surprise stemmed from the fact that the group is a hybrid of different musical genres. Considine in Guitar World magazine, “I guess I ’m kind of surprised that we ’re getting as much play as we are. He is credited with writing or co-writing nine tracks on the album, and his percussion and production is one of the many aspects that gives 311 their distinct sound.Nick Hexum expressed his view of 311 ’s popularity to J.D.
“Jupiter” contains the very literal, yet affective lyrics: “Sometimes the only thing that saves you/Think of bad things luck never gave you/And although your true love has just left you/Well, at least your mother kept you/Yes she did.” The song also features the head-nodding snare drum of Chad Sexton, one of the best drummers in the business. They made the music they wanted to make, and if fans were with it or against it, so be it. 311 had already made it, and used that opportunity to make their own Sgt. At that time, radio and MTV were kings, and if you didn’t have airplay there, you would never make it. These are the songs that many bands create and never release because of timidness. The eerie “Light Years” and “Creature Feature”, the finger-plucking of bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Wills on “What Was I Thinking?”, or maybe just listening to the absolute mind-numbing guitar solo of guitarist Tim Mahoney on “Use Of Time”. It’s the deep cuts that you play over and over again, trying to catch the meaning. This song showed another side of the band and was perhaps the catalyst for the odd, dark, and mysterious lyricism found throughout the rest of the album.īut the singles aren’t what make Transistor great.
#311 TRANSISTOR ART FULL#
The honest song written by lead singer Nick Hexum is full of heavy riffs, dueling guitar solos, and, at the time, their heaviest lyrics, at least on a single. However, the third single, “Beautiful Disaster”, with one of the most recognizable intros of any song, may be 311’s greatest hit to date. The opening titular track, which would also be their lead single, did well on radio, and the video received MTV airplay (as did “Prisoner”).
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