Soundsystem

Infobox Album |
Name = Soundsystem
Type = studio
Artist = 311


Released = October 12, 1999
Recorded = March - June 1999
Genre = Alternative rock
Hard rock
Rapcore
Length = 48:44
Label = Capricorn Records
Producer = 311 Hugh Padgham Scotch Ralston
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:65820r1au48p~T1 link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/311/albums/album/118850/review/6068129/soundsystem link] |
Last album = "Live" (1998)
This album = "Soundsystem" (1999)
Next album = "From Chaos" (2001)

"Soundsystem" is the fifth studio album by 311, released on October 12, 1999. "Soundsystem", which was certified Gold by the RIAA, was the last 311 album on Capricorn Records before the band switched to Volcano Records in 2000.

Track listing

# "Freeze Time" (Music: Hexum; Lyrics: Hexum/Martinez) - 3:21
# "Come Original" (Hexum/Wills; Hexum/Martinez) - 3:42
# "Large in the Margin" (Sexton; Hexum) - 3:28
# "Flowing" (Hexum) - 3:13
# "Can't Fade Me" (Hexum; Hexum/Martinez) - 2:10
# "Life's Not a Race" (Hexum/Mahoney; Hexum/Martinez) - 4:26
# "Strong All Along" (Hexum; Hexum/Martinez) - 3:28
# "Sever" (Hexum/Wills; Hexum/Martinez) - 4:42
# "Eons" (Sexton; Hexum) - 3:13
# "Evolution" (Hexum/Sexton; Hexum/Martinez) - 4:17
# "Leaving Babylon" (Miller/Jenifer/Hudson/Hudson) - 3:59
# "Mindspin" (Sexton; Hexum/Martinez) - 4:00
# "Livin' & Rockin'" (Mahoney; Hexum/Martinez) - 2:42

B-Sides & Outtakes

*"Blizza" (Hexum) - 1:16 - (Available via 311' website) [http://www.311.com]
*"Cali Soca" (??) - 3:36 - (Available via 311' website)
*"Dancehall" - (??; Hexum/Martinez) - 2:51 (Appears on the Enlarged to Show Detail 2 bonus EP)
*"Seal the Deal" (??; Hexum) - 3:22 - (Available via 311' website)

Unreleased

*"Forward"
*"Hazy"
*"The 90's"

Charts

Album

Singles

Miscellanea

* 311 is usually known for their very positive-oriented lyrics. Yet Nick Hexum has claimed at the time of this album's release that "I have never written more personally deep songs than "Eons," "Flowing," or "Large in the Margin." I was dealing with serious lack of direction and self doubt at that time."

* "Leaving Babylon" is a cover of a Bad Brains song. It was the only cover 311 had ever done that made a 311 studio album until Love Song was released on their Greatest Hits Album in 2005.

* While the band has consistently put out a new album every-two-years since 1997, "Soundsystem" had the longest in-studio time of any 311 album (over a year). Members of the band have pointed to "Life's Not a Race" as being connected to the time spent on this album [http://launch.yahoo.com/read/interview/12028306] .

* Before the release of this album, 311 held a contest asking fans to submit artwork for the album cover. The winning fan's work "was" used on the finished product.