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Third Eye Blind-Blue
by Spencer Ross

Perhaps I'm a little bit biased when I write this view, but I think this is one of the best albums I listen to. Why I say biased is because my own troubles in life are exactly what lead singer Stephen Jenkins sings about on this album. Despite mediocre reviews in other publications, i would have to give Third Eye Blind's Blue 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

Musically, this is one of the best rock albums I've heard and is a big step up from their multimillion selling, self-titled first album. The members of the band have certainly stepped up their roles in the band with monster bass parts from Arion Salazar on such songs as "Darwin" or "Farther." Lead guitarist Kevin Cadogan (who was recently fired from the band and replaced by former guitarist Tony Fredianelli) is excellent on songs like "Camouflage" or "1000 Julys" Stephen Jenkins can't sing in concert, but he's much better on the album. He goes a little crazy on "The Red Summer Sun" and the voice is smudged (onpurpose) on Camouflage, but his voice is still unique to the rock scene. The best thing on this album though is the drumming of Brad Hargreaves. Many sources prior to this album cited the songs as having a "jungle, chopper music beat." I don't know that I'd call it that, but his varying drum beats are never the same and it's quite apparent that he isn't using a drum loop like most bands today. Having seen them guys play the new material on letterman and leno, i must say that Hargreaves stands out as the best in the band during the live performances as well.

As a whole, i think this album is well worth the money (as i practically burned a whole in it during the first weekend out). There are some songs that I'm not particularly fond of such as "Ode to Maybe," the controversial "Slow Motion" with its pulled lyrics, and the current single "Never Let You Go." People who have listened to "Slow Motion" may argue that even with the lyrics the song is good, but i disagree. The music isn't bad, and the lyrics make the statement they're intended to do(while also sounding funny- "My sister's eating paint chips again/Maybe that's why she's insane...") but as a song, I can't say it's one of my favorites. I find that my favorite songs are the ones co-written by Jenkins and Salazar. As songwriters, I think the band has progressed and I find that the lyrics are not necessarily inspiring to me, but relative to the feelings in my own life, particularly the song "Darkness." If you don't own this album already, you should.