Better Late than Never on Blind Melon

During the pandemic and my running I have been rediscovering bands, or giving bands I liked, but never gave a real shot, a chance. One such band that I have recently found myself getting into heavily is Blind Melon. Lets discuss.

My older brother Seth has been telling me for years that I need to really listen to Blind Melon. Like most people I know the song "No Rain". I also really enjoyed their take on "Three is the Magic Number". I knew the big hits. But I never really gave them much of a thought outside of those songs. Seth tried and tried for years too. He would give me multiple albums. He would play songs he thought I would like, but it never hit me right at the time. I remember him wanting me to listen to their record called "Soup" so badly that he would play it in my car constantly when he would come home for a visit. Back then, to me, they sounded too jammy. I liked jam bands too, but there was just something in the way they played that felt a little different. I actually lumped them in with Phish, and spoiler alert, I have tried time and again with Phish and I do not like them at all. That was unfair of me to do that.

I have been in a music rut lately, which helped push me towards Blind Melon. I was listening to RTJ, Bo Burnham, Talking Heads, Lorde and Tyler, the Creator a little too much. Those are all great, wonderful, some of my favorite artists of all time, but you need a break every now and then. It makes you appreciate them even more when you go back. So when I was running yesterday I decided I was going to give Blind Melon a real shot. This was their time to shine for me. And I was totally blown away by how much I was vibing and grooving to their music. The singer has this incredibly distinct voice, and you know it is him the moment he opens his mouth to sing the words he wrote. He has long since passed away, a drug overdose I believe, but this dude was so far ahead of his time. Listening to him now, if Blind Melon came out today, they would be headlining folk festivals and touring with big acts. He is a better singer, in my opinion, than someone like Nathaniel Rateliff, who I adore. He has this cool, scratchy, growly voice that is so fun to listen to. I love hearing him sing the songs. The band is top notch. I cannot believe that I ever lumped them into the jam band category. That is not to say that jam bands are not good, they are great, but Blind Melon is so much better. Jam bands tend to meander and try to find a way out when performing a song. That is why the songs clock in at over six minutes for every one.

Blind Melon was, technically speaking, a great band. The guitarist was/is a phenom. I do not know if he is still alive, but I sure hope so. I was listening to some of their early work and the way he plucks an acoustic guitar is virtuosic. When the band would go electric he sounded just as clean, which is a feat that not a lot of very talented musicians can accomplish. The drummer was always on time, had great fills, did some cool solo stuff and fit in nicely. The bassist provided that clean bass tone that I have come to really love in folk/rock music. The band was so well put together and played like the pros they were. It is such a shame that drugs tore this band apart and cost the lead singer his life. They could still be out there doing it, and doing it well. They clearly had the chops. They all knew what they excelled at, and they ran with it. Blind Melon made great music, but there could have been so much more. I think that is what bums me out the most. I think they only made three records with the original crew, but those three records are dynamite.

I am done doubting Seth and his musical taste. He has always been there for me, and now that I am actually listening to Blind Melon, this is another debate that he wins. Blind Melon is great you guys. Go listen to all their other music besides the two hits I mentioned and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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