For Week Ending:
20 April 2024

Blind Melon - Blind Melon (1992)

[Alternative Rock]

Blind Melon were a band that got caught in the wave of new rock music that crashed onto the shores in the early 90s, and although they did get a bit of mainstream attention, they were not destined to be a band that would become a household name. It is hard to nail the style of their debut, with songs passing between traditional rock and the heavier alternative rock that was on the rise at the time. Regardless, it is a unique experience, with songs like the opener 'Soak The Sin' incorporating some funk groove, and 'Seeds To A Tree' even giving the listener a bit of blues guitarwork. 'Tones Of Home' could be mistaken for an early Jane's Addiction track, and songs like the mellow 'Sleepyhouse' set up a mood perfectly. The centrepiece of the album is the mega-single 'No Rain', which is nicely placed, as it gives a bit of breathing room midway. Shannon Hoon's voice isn't for everyone, and his nasally drawl can get a bit on the nose at times (no pun intended), but his voice is unique, and an asset that proved irreplaceable we he passed in 1995. It is a debut that shows a lot of promise, but for some reason that promise was not really delivered on with the follow up.

Arist Information
Blind Melon is an American alternative rock band formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. They enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock. The band has sold over 3.2 million albums in the United States as of 2008. The group has been nominated for four Grammy Awards.