Success came fast for 311 four years ago. With the release of its self-titled studio album, 311 quickly went from playing 2,500 seat clubs to playing sold-out amphitheaters and packaged rock-fests. The band had a very unique sound, mixing punk, funk, rap and reggae, and was embraced by nearly everyone from major radio to MTV. The future seemed very bright for the Omaha band.

Four years later however, 311 has yet to recapture any of the energy and sound that made them so popular. Its fourth album, Transistor, was mediocre at best, and its live album was quite possibly one of the worst albums ever recorded. It did a terrible job of capturing both the live energy and sound of a band that was once fun to see in concert.

After two years of recording and a light tour schedule, 311 is back on the scene with its highly anticipated sixth studio release, Soundsystem. Unfortunately, the album leaves much to be desired. In fact, it probably rates as the worst release from the once great band.

Once upon a time 311 was able to produce an album with original lyrics, bass lines and guitars. The vocal stylings of Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez fit the music perfectly.

Yet the band has degraded into writing songs about buying a new computer and downloading software for it from the Internet ("Evolution"). So much for the idea that long term pot use is not bad for you. This album is nothing more than a complete rehash of different parts of old 311 albums, with some beats and lyrics changed to protect the innocent. No songs on the album jump out and grab your attention like "Down," "Do You Right," "Homebrew" or "Freak Out" did on the first three 311 albums.

The hard edge that made 311 unique has instead been replaced with long, slowly developing songs such as "Freeze Time," "Evolution" and "Leaving Babylon." Instead of making listeners want to jump around and dance, these songs leave them with the sudden urge to fall asleep. On an album of 13 songs, there are only two songs that bear resemblance to any of 311's old music. The songs "Mindspin" and "Living' & Rockin' " are decent, but nothing more.

Other than that, the album is miserable at best, and downright horrible at worst. It will appeal to 311 fans who liked Transistor or enjoy the lighter side of 311 found on songs like "Nix Hex" and "All Mixed Up." However, it is doubtful that people who liked the harder-edged 311 found on Music, Grassroots or 311 would find Sound-system enjoyable at all. If new to 311, this is definitely not the record to buy; instead consider purchasing an earlier album. This is a two-star album only because it evokes a feeling of pity for a band that was once good. Otherwise, it would have received fewer stars.

And yes, it is that bad.

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