Universal Pulse

Universal Pulse
Studio album by
311
ReleasedJuly 19, 2011
Recorded2010–2011
StudioThe Hive (North Hollywood, California)
GenreReggae rock[1]
Length28:55
Label311, ATO
ProducerBob Rock
311 chronology
Uplifter
(2009) 		Universal Pulse
(2011) 		Stereolithic
(2014)
Singles from Universal Pulse
  1. "Sunset in July"
    Released: June 3, 2011
  2. "Time Bomb"
    Released: July 11, 2011
  3. "Count Me In"
    Released: October 4, 2011

Universal Pulse is a mini-LP and the tenth studio album by American rock band 311, released on July 19, 2011[2] on 311 Records/ATO Records. It clocks in at just under 29 minutes, making it the shortest album 311 ever released, as well as their first release on their own independent record company. It has a 57 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[3]

Album information

Like its predecessor, Uplifter, this album was produced by Bob Rock, who has produced or engineered albums by numerous notable acts, such as Metallica, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, The Cult, Our Lady Peace and The Offspring. Unlike previous albums where their record label requested that the drums be recorded at an alternate location, all tracks, including the drums, were recorded at the Hive Studio. To support the album, 311 invited Sublime with Rome to co-headline the 2011 Unity Tour,[4] with special guests DJ Soulman and DJ Trichrome. The artwork was done by Sonny Kay. With only eight songs and clocking within less than thirty minutes, it's their shortest album to date.

The album's first single "Sunset in July" was released on June 3, 2011.[5] The album's second single "Count Me In" was released on October 4, 2011.[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic57/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Consequence of Sound[8]
Entertainment Weekly(B–)[9]
IGN[1]
PopMatters[10]
Rolling Stone[11]

Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave Universal Pulse a 2.5/5, commenting "Within the sharp relief of Bob Rock’s immaculate production, this can mean that the fuzz-toned guitars and crunching riffs are strenuously underlined: they are the foundation of this unusually rock-oriented 311 album yet in this crystal-clear atmosphere they drill, not pummel." and concludes that "Universal Pulse can be wearying even at its half-hour length."[12] Consequence of Sound gave the album a 3.5/5 and declares that it's the band's best album since From Chaos, saying "Once this album has completed its first full rotation, there’s an immediate urge to play it again. It’s short, sweet, and a perfect follow-up to where the band was in 2009."[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Time Bomb"Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, SA Martinez, Aaron "P-Nut" WillsSA Martinez, Nick Hexum3:16
2."Wild Nights"Hexum, Martinez, Chad SextonHexum, Martinez3:38
3."Sunset in July"Hexum, Martinez, WillsHexum, Martinez3:56
4."Trouble" Hexum3:32
5."Count Me In"Hexum, MartinezHexum, Martinez3:27
6."Rock On" Hexum, Martinez3:29
7."Weightless"Hexum, MartinezHexum, Martinez3:19
8."And a Ways to Go"Hexum, Martinez, WillsMartinez, Hexum4:18
Total length:28:55

Charts

Charts Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 7
U.S. Billboard Rock Albums 2
U.S. Billboard Digital Albums 4
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums 1
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums 2
U.S. Billboard Tastemaker Albums 1

Personnel

Credits adapted from album’s liner notes.[13]

311
Production
  • Bob Rock – producer, engineer
  • Giff Tripp – engineer
  • Joe Gastwirt – mastering
  • Jason Walters – studio manager

References

  1. ^ a b "IGN review". Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
  2. ^ "New 311 album title". 311 Official Web Site. May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  3. ^ a b "Universal Pulse Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  4. ^ "311 / Sublime with Rome". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  5. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: 311 Debut Funky New Single". SPIN.com. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  6. ^ MusicRemedy.com /. "311 - Count Me In - Listen/Watch Now". Musicremedy.com. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  7. ^ a b "Allmusic review".
  8. ^ "CoS review".
  9. ^ Anderson, Kyle (2011-07-29). "Albums: July 29, 2011 (311, Universal Pulse)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  10. ^ Rausch, Will. "311: Universal Pulse". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  11. ^ "Rolling Stone review".
  12. ^ Thomas, Stephen (2011-07-19). "Universal Pulse - 311". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  13. ^ Universal Pulse (booklet). ATO. 2011.