311 -- Don't Tread On Me

For this their eighth album, the guys of 311 don't sound like they used to, they sound older, more calmed down, and they add a tinge of raggae and calipso to their sound as well. I actually like this album, it's very much on the lighter side, not really any hard tunes, the rapping section has pretty much gone away, now it's 2 singers and a band. It feels almost as if they've grown up had kids and yet still play in a band, making music cause they like to. This added to the song titled "It's Getting OK Now" gives you the sense that their settling down and making music for the heck of it. I got the album because I've been a long time 311 fan and I really like the catchy upbeat title track Don't Tread On Me. The rest of the album has some upbeat stuff like Speak Easy and Long For The Fowers. Overall it's a fine album.

I'd say only pick this up if you have nothing better to buy or if you need all of 311's albums in your collection. Not really any reason besides that to own, but if you do already own it, listen to it now and again for it's nice and breezy tones.

3/4 stars