Draft:Creatures (For a While)




"Creatures (For a While)"
Single by 311
from the album Evolver
ReleasedJuly 2003[1]
RecordedJanuary–April 2003
StudioThe Hive
GenreRock
Length
  • 4:27 (album version)
  • 4:13 (radio edit)
LabelVolcano Entertainment
Producer(s)
311 singles chronology
"Amber"
(2002)
"Creatures (For a While)"
(2003)
"Beyond the Grey Skies"
(2003)
Music video
"Creatures (For a While)" on YouTube

"Creatures (For a While)" is a song by the American rock band 311 from their 2003 album Evolver.

Background

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The song had started out with a guitar riff that Hexum had played into a mini recorder he had owned. He asked Tim Mahoney to write a second part, so he gave him a Pro Tools file to see what he was working on. He sent back a funky, bouncy riff that was the bass line. He used the same effects that he used on Champagne. Hexum then proceeded to finish the song during a seven-hour session in his home studio. Martinez wrote some raps that fit with the lyrics of the song, Hexum wanted the bridge to go into a different direction with some swirling synths that were reminiscent of early Pink Floyd music.[2]

Lyrics

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The lyric "It's been a wild ride, I wouldn't change a minute" talks about the band's long time making music.[3]

Reception

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AllMusic said it was Evolver's "Come Original".[4] Punknews said it had a fun chorus with a great bass line in the verses.[5] IGN said it “proves to be a strong start to the album”[3] Sputnik Music said it was “really catchy on this song, as are the lyrics”[6] Dan Weiss of Billboard ranked the song number five in the band's discography, stating that the song was a "rare aggro moment for this band where all clocks are in sync and the riffs and chorus legitimately bangs."[7]

Music video

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The music video, directed by the Malloy Brothers, who previously directed the music video for Amber, shows the band playing the song.

Live performances

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Nick Hexum stated during an interview with Songfacts that he loved to close 311 concerts with the song.[8]

Personnel

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  • Nick Hexum – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Doug "S.A." Martinez – vocals (rapping), turntables
  • Chad Sexton – drums
  • Tim Mahoney – lead guitar
  • Aaron "P-Nut" Wills – bass

Charts

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Chart Peak

performance

US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] 3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[10] 18

References

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  1. ^ "311 Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF.
  2. ^ "EVOLVER Biography". 311 Archive. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  3. ^ a b Moriarty, Colin (2003-12-02). "Evolver". IGN. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  4. ^ 311 - Evolver Album Reviews, Songs & More, AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-03
  5. ^ Punknews.org (2003-08-01). "311 - Evolver". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  6. ^ "311 - Evolver (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  7. ^ "311's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  8. ^ Prato, Greg (June 29, 2015). "Nick Hexum of 311 : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "311 | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  10. ^ "311 | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-25.