With so many acts crowding the funk-rap-metal combo that 311 has been working for the past decade, now is the time for the band to crack the mold and take the genre in a new direction. Unfortunately, on From Chaos, 311 doesn't break any new ground, instead hammering the same old riffs and beats into the ground. The band blends tepid reggae, repetitive rock, and breezy mainstream pop into a mix that tanks from a lack of interesting hooks. Even the lyrics swim in mediocrity. Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez's vocal tone and songwriting ability ("Woah, amber is the color of your energy / Woah, shades of gold displayed naturally") both fall flat throughout the album. While other genre-crossing bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt continually increase their mainstream following by working with new artists and developing their sound, the same does not seem to be true for 311. On From Chaos, the Nebraskan band just sound stuck in their own rut. --Jennifer Maerz
