Transistor (311 album)

Transistor is 67:59 in length, with twenty-one music tracks; it was originally intended to be a double album, but all songs were instead placed onto one disc.^[2] In a 1997 interview with Billboard, drummer Chad Sexton said that the band had recorded 29 songs for the album, but decided to cut the album's songs down to 21 to fit on a single CD instead of two (the vinyl release still featured two LPs) in order to make the release affordable to their fans.^[3] As 311 were only contracted for 11 songs, meaning they would not be paid for including any more songs, the band effectively gave away 10 of the album's songs for free.^[3] Nick Hexum admitted that doing too many songs in not enough time for Transistor was a mistake.^[4]

While still utilizing their alternative rock sound in many songs, Transistor saw 311 moving away from their hip hop-influenced sound of their previous albums^[5] for more of a reggae-influenced sound,^[6] as shown in songs such as "Prisoner", "Inner Light Spectrum", "Running", "Rub a Dub", and "Stealing Happy Hours". Although, their rap rock style is still present in some songs, such as "Galaxy", "No Control", "Tune In", "Starshines", and "Borders". Transistor also contains elements of dub,^[7] space rock and stoner rock.^[5]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
The A.V. Club	Unfavorable[1]
Entertainment Weekly	F[8]
Los Angeles Times	[9]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	[10]
Rolling Stone	[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]
Spin	2/10[12]
USA Today	[13]
Wall of Sound	64/100[14]

Transistor received a mixed review from Allmusic, who commented that "a project of this magnitude is almost doomed to fall on its face, and Transistor nearly does," and noted there were enough good songs for a 30 to 40 minute album, but had too much filler. They nominated the title track as the only Track Pick from the album.^[7] The album has received criticism from The A.V. Club, who says "With 21 songs spread out over 68 minutes, the record has taken plenty of critical punishment for its excessive length alone," and calls it a "joyless, tedious exercise in white-boy reggae, white-boy rap, white-boy dub and white-boy rock," concluding that the band could suffer a "Spin Doctors-style career combustion" in the future.^[1] Entertainment Weekly also panned the album, stating that it features "some of the weakest rhymes and derivative white-bread dub in recent memory" and concluded that the band did not know "the thin line between experimentation and self-indulgence".^[8] Rolling Stone criticized the album, saying it was "trying too hard to expand their sonic horizons", and commented how they seem to unwillingly change their musical style.^[6]

In contrast, the album was retrospectively received positively by Consequence of Sound, comparing it to The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Commenting that "the singles aren't what make Transistor great. It's the deep cuts that you play over and over again, trying to catch the meaning", they conclude that the album is "one of a kind".^[5] Over time, Transistor has developed a cult following and become a fan favorite, eventually leading to the band performing the album in its entirety on August 6, 2011, in front of over 10,000 fans. This was done at their very own Pow Wow Festival, created to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the album.^[15] In 2017, the Willamette Week ranked Transistor as 311's greatest album.^[16]

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.^[17]

311

• Nick Hexum – vocals (lead vocals on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–9, 11, 14, 17–21, "Gap", "Grifter", "Writer's Block Party","Lemming"), rhythm guitar, programming
• SA Martinez – vocals (lead vocals on tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 10–12, 15, 16, 18, 20, "Gap", "Grifter", "Everything", "The Quickening", "Writer's Block Party", "Earth People"), scratches
• Chad Sexton – drums, percussion, programming
• Tim Mahoney – lead guitar
• Aaron Wills – bass

Additional musicians

• Eric "Bobo" Correa – percussion (on tracks 12, 19, 21)

Production

• 311 – producer
• Scotch Ralston – producer, engineer, mixing
• John Ewing Jr. – assistant engineer
• Wade Norton – technical support
• Joe Gastwirt – mastering