Album Review: 311 – Full Bloom

“My friend, this is not the end.”

While that is sung as a message of hope on what can only be considered 311‘s take on an 80’s power ballad, “Friend”, it should be considered a message to the 30+ year old band’s die-hard fans. Full Bloom is another fine addition to the long-running alternative, reggae/rock/hip hop fusion band’s catalog, at once sounding distinctly like a 311 album, while also keeping the formula fresh with new elements thrown in for flavor and spice.

The title of Full Bloom, paired with the cover art, is an apt name for the album. The collection of songs bloom out, showcasing the different shades of the band. Book-ending the collection are the tracks that would feel the closest to the band’s earliest albums, leaning into agro-rock and hip-hop. Opener and first single “You’re Gonna Get It” sounds as dark and menacing as anything the band has ever written. The plucked guitar line, paired with frontman Nick Hexum’s haunting vocals gives the song an atmosphere, like a fog in the night, until the track unleashes its crashing chorus. In similar fashion, closer “Braver” also brings the heavier drums and riffs, but acts as a showcase for SA Martinez’s unstoppable lyrical flow. It feels like a tribute to the band’s hip-hop influences, yet retains an anthemic chorus, with Martinez pushing his vocals into more emotive places than he usually goes.

With those rough outer layers of Full Bloom opened, each new ring goes further down the 311 influence rabbit hole. Second single “Need Somebody” has one of the funkiest breaks on the album, mashing it up with hazy, layered vocals and an uplifting message about keeping your head above water. This is another consistent of the band – hopeful, positive lyrics that lean into good vibes and better times.

And both the title track and “All You’ve Seen” exemplify this sunniness. The former brings in the “wah wah” guitars and island melodies that made “Amber” a global smash, with lyrics that drift into nostalgia (“Hey do you want to come over. I’ve got a record to play us, like back in the day”) and a chorus that pulls you back into the party happening around you. “Welcome to the moment” Hexum sings, and you’ll be glad you’re staying present. “All You’ve Seen” returns to the nostalgia, with the band looking back at their journey over a pure reggae melody.

The center of the album is where things get juicier and more experimental. One of the most fun songs on the album is the dance-rock “Mountain Top”, which is filled with rap delivery, afropop licks, and the Jack Johnson-cribbing questioning “Where did all the good people go?” Things get psychedelic on “New Heights”, with Hexum spinning trippy lines like “plant a flower in the sun. Let it grow into the blue sky” over a bright melody that will make you feel high even if you’re completely sober. Bassist P-Nut owns “Days Go By”, laying down hypnotic rhythms for Hexum to deliver his brand of poetry over. And while never overt, the song slowly crests into something grander, like a lost Jack Nitzche surf-lounge composition.

Nothing on Full Bloom sounds out of place for a 311 album, but that’s likely because the band has long established themselves as a polyglot of influences and styles. While both the average and die-hard listeners will likely say it sounds like 311, the band aren’t repeating themselves. They’ve learned how to let certain moments breathe, toning down the production when needed so as to avoid the noise cacophony that hurt the band on past albums like Uplifter. The band still sound creatively engaged, hungry and happy. So yes my friends, this is not the end. 311 are still going strong.

The album is out this Friday, October 25th, everywhere. Listen to the first two singles here.