311 is the third studio album by Americanrock band 311. The album, often referred to as "The Blue Album", was released July 11, 1995. The album contained three successful singles, "Don't Stay Home", "All Mixed Up", and "Down", resulting in the band's mainstream breakthrough. It has been certified triple platinum with sales over three million albums. The album, unlike the first two, was recorded live, with no instrumental over-dubs.
Allmusic gave the album a positive review, commenting that Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez lends the band an edge not found in most rock bands that feature rapping.[1]Rolling Stone says the album has "ear candy with good beats" and "remarkably adept at genre juggling". They also describe the album as "Beasties-cum-Chili Peppers traits has a potent reggae undertow".[2]
"Misdirected Hostility" was written in reference to the violence between the Phunk Junkeez and their back-up vocalist K-Tel Disco.
The initial pressing of the album was distributed by "RED" and later re-pressed and distributed by Mercury Records in 1996 (note the tray card and disk updated with Mercury contact information and slightly washed out color on the disk front).
Outtakes
"Tribute", "Let the Cards Fall", "Gap" and "Firewater (Slo-mo)" (available on the "Enlarged to Show Detail" EP)
"Who's Got the Herb?" (studio version available on the "Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML" compilation, live version available on the "Live" album)
"Outside" (available on the "National Lampoon's Senior Trip" soundtrack)
"Juan Bond", "Next (Instrumental)", "Sweet (Demo)" without SA's vocal and "Firewater" at its normal speed leaked on the internet around '96)
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