311

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• Genre: Funk Rock
• Hometown: Omaha
• 311 Website

About

Unlike their angst-ridden, fist-pounding contemporaries, 311 manage to neatly combine elements of Funk, hip-hop, reggae and rock into a surprisingly catchy sound with -- get this -- a positive message. The Omaha, Nebraska band formed in 1990 out of a tight-knit group of friends. That close friendship comes through easily on record, partially explaining their uncanny ability to combine crunching guitars, steady rock beats and turntable scratching into a coherent whole. Though occasional overzealous forays into Dub territory falter slightly, the majority of 311's infectious melodies will keep you humming.

- Doug Russell