Much of the album From Chaos was written by the band while on tour in 2000 promoting their fifth studio album 'Soundsystem.' The album name 'From Chaos' was inspired by the band’s situation with their previous record label of seven years, Capricorn Records. According to singer Nick Hexum, they "had a lot of disagreements with Capricorn over the years and it was just time to end our relationship." The band sued Capricorn, voided their contract and signed with Volcano records. The band was going through stress of legal trouble, which brought a negativity environment where albums do not get made; they did not want to make an album surrounding that subject, so most of the album is born out of "relationships and appreciating life" according to Hexum, who takes pride in being up-beat and positive.[1] "Bomb the Town," "Will the World," "We Do It Like This," and "Dreamland" are b-sides from this CD. They can be heard on the bonus disc included with band video documentary Enlarged to Show Detail 2.[citation needed]
The album received positive reviews from various music critics. Steve Appleford of Los Angeles Times writes "[the album] "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. Martinez are earnest, energetic MC's, crooning, rapping, shouting across a thundering blend of rock, reggae, hip-hop and psychedelia. Still fresh and funky."[6] Angelique Campbell from Dayton Daily News in Ohio writes, "311 stays with its formula of combining funk, rock and reggae with a dash of catchy pop sensibility on From Chaos."[7] Jacob Lunders, a contributor for AllMusic writes, "From Chaos astonishes and impresses with considerable energy and focus, proving itself as the album 311 has always been capable of making."[8]
However, Paul Massari of The Boston Globe criticized the album, writing "311 tries to demonstrate that it is still relevant in the era of the loud, angry rap-metal band. The death-rock power chords on tracks like "Full Ride" are plodding, and the tone of the gangsta raps is absurdly inflated."[8] Kathryn McGuire of Rolling Stone adds, "311 slings melodramatic metal riffs and whiny verses every which way, and their once-novel fusion seems unfocused and flat."[9] Kristen Koba, founder of PopMatters wrote, "The whiny white boy rap, almost funky bass lines, and grinding guitar riffs just couldn't hold up in a city that offers so much innovative hip-hop and truly vital rock."[10]
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