I was blind,now I can see... (Blind Melon - Blind Melon)

Member Name: mrbibbly

Product:	Blind Melon - Blind Melon
Date:	11/03/01 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ambient,beautiful and different

Disadvantages: None

I bought this album initially on import about a year before it was released here before anyone had heard of them.I was privelleged to have seen them supporting Guns n' Roses on tour.For anyone not familiar with the band or their album,it is a heady blend of folk,rock and blues.They were fronted by an extremely charismatic singer named Shannon Hoon who died of an OD a few years back.They released one other album while he was alive (Soup) and one since his death (called "Nico" in tribute to his daughter.)These strayed from this original album and are weaker in places.

Anyway back to this album;the theme running through the tracks on this album is one of rebellion and heady summer days.Essentially it is about growing up in a Redneck community when you and your family are hippies, and the predujices associated with being different.Most of the tracks deal with this issue,but their most succesful hit,"No Rain" is a blissful little ditty dealing with a simple life and contentment.Songs such as Sleepyhouse are true masterpieces, evoking images of long summer days hanging out with friends.Songs such as Dear ol'Dad (about child abuse),Seed to a tree (about people judging you when you're growing up) and Soak the Sin (about what's right and wrong) add a more serious note to the otherwise hazy and blissed collection of songs.

The whole album is permeated with Shannons' ethereal singing voice and folky guitar playing which are incredible.During their career or since I have never heard an album which is so well executed and played.

(Heres a bit of an aside,the "bee girl" on the front cover is the drummers younger sister when she was little)

What can I say,a beautiful album punctuated by an incredible singer (now sadly not with us),and extremely competent musicians evoking some laid back and beautiful summer music.An incredible album that still hasn't aged.

Summary: