Search - Finger Eleven :: Tip

A Brave Debut

Andrew Estes | Maine | 09/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finger Eleven are one of those great bands who have made a career out of sounding nothing like anyone else and avoiding trends. Their debut album, "Tip," was hardly keeping with the times. In 1998, they didn't sound like rap-metal, nor did they fit in with typical alternative radio. I hear a lot of things on this album that have been copied by a lot of bands to follow, which makes Finger Eleven one of the most underrated groups of the past decade. They've obviously had a bit of influence, even though hardly anyone knows their name.



"Tip," while not being as dark as the ultimately superior "The Greyest Of Blues Skies" or as sharp and catchy as their 2003 self titled album, still sticks out for me. As a debut, Finger Eleven sure got their feet on the ground rather quick, establishing a sound all their own. Fans working backwards through the groups catalogue may find this album a little harder to swallow, because it's not an instant click. You must listen to this album a few times before you get it. There are songs, though, that definitely catch you from the beginning. "Quicksand" and "Above," two of the best known songs from this effort are great examples of this, and "Awake And Dreaming" remains one of my favorite Finger Eleven songs, also a sign of what their second album would sound like. But hands down, the best song the group has ever written, in my opinion, is the title track "Tip." This song is so addictive. My first listen to this song nearly unhinged my jaw. If this song doesn't get you going, you just might be dead!



Finger Eleven have come a long way from this album, and admittedly have made better music (although a lot of fans will strongly disagree with me), but "Tip" still stands as a stellar debut effort. Few bands find their sound this quick, and coming from a band who used to go by the moniker, Rainbow Butt Monkeys, it's rather impressive. "Tip" is just an album that all fans of rock music can appreciate. From the heavy stuff to the more tender side, it's got it all."

Finger Eleven shines above the rest

Andrew Estes | 05/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, perhaps I'm not one to judge since I'm not really a fan of them, but I don't understand the comparisons between Finger Eleven and Our Lady Peace. From hearing "Tip" and based on the OLP songs I've heard in the past, I can say that F-11 is definitely edgier and vocalist Scott Anderson doesn't do that irritating screech thing that Raine from OLP does. To me this sounds like a cross between the guitar crunch and superb musical proficiency of Tool and the emotive soul-searching lyrics and vocals of Live. Anyone who was starting to lose faith in rock music (like I was at one time) should definitely check this album out - if you liked "Quicksand" and "Above", you'll be pleased to know that the rest of the album is equally as intense and powerful as those two songs. I think you are going to be hearing a lot about Finger Eleven in the future. Get this album and beat your friends to the punch."

My favorite album of all time

Dougin | 10/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The moment I heard "Quicksand" for the first - and only - time on the radio, I turned my car around and drove, full speed, back to the CD store I had only minutes ago left to buy this CD, and I have never been happier with a spur of the moment decision than with that one. Hands down, this is my - as the title says - my favorite album of all time. For at least 3 months, it didn't leave my CD changer, and after that, only briefly. Regardless of my mood, this CD is almost always exactly what I want to hear. I don't mean to sound as though I'm blindly praising this album, but I've never heard anyone who listened to it start to finish say a single bad thing about it.



The only slight criticism I've heard is that they sound a bit like Our Lady Peace and/or Tool. At points they do, but is this such a bad thing? Scott Anderson has the range of both Raine Maida and Maynard, and all three bands construct beautifully aggressive songs with intelligent, complex lyrics that shift dramatically within the same song. Get this album. I guarantee that you'll be glad you did."