311s place in rock n roll history seems secure. Unfortunately, so does its sound. Unlike other funk-inflected acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, and even Incubus, 311s never fully expanded on the promise of its initial musical vision. On Dont Tread On Me, the bands eighth studio release, P-Nut and the gang seem intent on mining the same familiar terrain they have since their 1995 self-titled classic. Fans of albums such as 2001s From Chaos and 2003s promising Evolver will likely find Tread familiar and perhaps even comforting, but its unlikely to invite a new horde of fans as the album often sounds like an imitation of the bands 311 helped inspire in its decade-plus career. There are some nice touches. "Speak Easy," "Waiting" and many of the other tracks evoke images of sandy beaches and warm summer breezes, but none are strong enough to help Dont Tread On Me stands out from the herd. --Jedd Beaudoin