May 29, 2001 07:16 AM
2103 Views
This is one album which is characterised by great lyrics, amazing strings. It's no surprising matter that this relatively new 'Frisco band has managed to notch up an impressive number of sales and a formidable fan following with their debut album ''3eb''.
For the uninitiated, Third Eye Blind consists of : Stephan Jenkins (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars,
drums, percussion, programming); Kevin Cadogan (vocals, guitar, auto harp); Arion Salazar (vocals, piano, bass); Brad Hargreaves (drums).
The album kicks off with ''Losing a Whole Year '', followed with ''Narcolepsy''. If one's observant he'll notice that more or less all the songs flag off with a soothing accoustic tune and then the gradual transition to tuneful electric guitaring and shades of grunge is made extremely effectively and so the end result is a balanced mix of is a study in contradictions, presenting heavy, often melancholy, themes in the guise of catchy, tuneful power pop.
The irresistible single ''Semi-Charmed Life'' is just one example of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins' agile lyrical stylings. The delirious tempo aptly reflects both a high feeling and a sense of desperation, of things spinning out of control.
The album is chock full of searching lyrics set against a background of lush, rhythmic music. ''How's It Going To Be'' has a palpable sense of nostalgia and loss. The funky ''I Want You'' expresses a yearning for
connection:
''Children love to sing but then their voices Slowly fade away
People always take a step away
From what is true
That's why I like you around
I want you.''
My personal favourite song in this album is ''God of Wine'', the vocals are so amazing, complimented by great strings and bass, I possibly cannot do justice to it by writing by a generic review with an objective of grading.
