The Omaha band’s third album, this 1995 self-titled record, often nicknamed the Blue Album, marks their breakthrough. 311 blends alternative rock, reggae, funk and rap with rare ease, carried by the vocal tandem of Nick Hexum and SA Martinez. The single Down exploded on radio, while All Mixed Up set a sunlit looseness that became their signature.
The record’s strength lies in its balance between energy and groove, between nervy riffs and radiant choruses. The clean production lets every instrument breathe, and P-Nut’s bass anchors the whole with steady precision. A few late tracks admittedly sag, but the album remains the truest definition of the 311 sound. A major achievement of nineties fusion.
