In Brief

311 wasn’t the first to mix funk with punk, but this quintet of L.A.-based Nebraskans long ago made the sound its own. “From Chaos” is mostly a repeat of proven 311 formulas (even with strange new flashes of prog-rock flavor), but singers Nicholas Hexum and S.A. are earnest, energetic MCs, crooning, rapping, shouting across a thundering blend of rock, reggae, hip-hop and psychedelia. Still fresh and funky.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.