Universal Pulse by 311

3.1.1. In the past 23 years, these three little numbers signifying a law enforcement code for indecent exposure have rooted themselves in the music scene via a band with an upbeat rock/reggae/punk/rap style that produces the urge to jump up and down, lounge in the sun and dance uninhibitedly, all during one 3 minute 30 second-long song. The undeniable success of tracks like “Down,” “Beautiful Disaster” and “Come Original” secured top spots on Billboard charts, proving that 311 represent much more than a simple set of numbers and giving evidence to the durability of the Omaha group’s trademark sound.

As part of this 23-year-long body of work, 311’s 10^th album, Universal Pulse, continues to build upon the foundation laid by albums like their self-titled sensation 311 from 1995 and their 1999 release Soundsystem. With only eight tracks, the album seems to lack the self-identity of previous albums like 1997’s Transistor, for example. However, though it reads more like a handful of songs and less like a unified composition, if you’re already a fan, Universal Pulse offers more of what you love. If you’re experiencing the band for the first time, it’s not a bad place to start.

Listeners will appreciate Universal Pulse for being straightforward and not straying from 311’s eclectic recipe of rock, reggae, punk and rap chopped up and thrown into the same palate-pleasing dish. The new album projects a sense of 311 familiarities that are not repetitive, monotonous or mundane, but that fans will find comfort in. The opening track, “Time Bomb,” welcomes the listener with a combination of fast-paced, heavy, guitar-grounded melodies backed by futuristic, otherworldly sounds that seem to float effortlessly atop reggae-like beats. The concurrence of front man Nick Hexum’s consistent vocals and turntablist Doug “SA” Martinez’s rap interludes also breeds association and represents a staple in 311’s musical niche. With two years passed since the release of their last album Uplifter, long-time listeners will find that Universal Pulse is not necessarily an introduction to something completely new; it's more like revisiting a friend that has been absent for a period of time.

A chunk of songs on the album reminisce upon the innocent times of youth, when feeling invincible in the world led to sometimes shameful anecdotes, side-splitting stories and strings of “Wild Nights,” as track number two’s title indicates. In track four’s “Trouble,” for example, Hexum admits, “I was always lookin’ for trouble, trouble it always followed me,” and “Wild Nights” asks us, “Where would we be/without the wild nights/Without the lows and highs/Failing to get it right.” The lyrical themes are representative of maturation and acquired wisdom, but this is not at the expense of providing fans something fun and entertaining to listen to. One of 311’s talents represented well on the album is their ability to perfectly pair the lyrical message with the sound that accompanies it. For example, the instrumentals in number seven, “Weightless,” come across as ethereal while, as the title implies, the lyrical content has to do with feeling lighter than air.

The closing track “And A Ways to Go” reminds us, as per usual for 311, that, “Yeah, it’ll be alright.” And Universal Pulse is more than alright. While it may by no means be the epic 311 album of all time, at this point, why should anyone expect it to be? The fact that 311 continue to steadily hold their own after 23 years is impressive enough.

The album may not completely blow you away, but Universal Pulse gets the job done by being a vehicle for the positivity and unharnessed energy that 311 thrive on. Being utterly disgusted or disappointed is a sign that perhaps expectations were set too high. Universal Pulse is simply another chapter to add to the 311 story, a continuation or addendum to a tale that has not yet concluded, is not superfluous and that does not show any signs of being a flop.