Blind Melon (album)

Blind Melon
Studio album by Blind Melon
Released	September 14, 1992
Recorded	February - June 1992 at London Bridge Studios, Seattle, Washington
Genre	Alternative rock, psychedelic rock
Length	55:22
Label	Capitol
Producer	Rick Parashar, Blind Melon
Blind Melon chronology
Blind Melon (1992) Soup (1995)
Singles from Blind Melon
"Tones of Home" Released: September 22, 1992 "No Rain" Released: September 22, 1992 "I Wonder" Released: 1992 "Change" Released: 1992

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Blind Melon is the eponymous debut album by the rock band Blind Melon, released on September 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Fronted by singer Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon had a distinctive traditional rock sound, influenced by southern rock and psychedelic music. The aggressive leads and shouted vocals of "Soak The Sin" and "Tones of Home" evoked heavy metal; "Time's" spacious bridge and ambient, winding outro shared commonalities with Grateful Dead-style improvisational music; while heavily acoustic songs "Change" and "No Rain" hinted at pop and folk influences. "No Rain" became Blind Melon's breakthrough single.

Background

In 1990, lead singer Shannon Hoon moved from Indiana to Los Angeles, California. Soon afterwards he met guitarist Roger Stevens and bassist Brad Smith, both Mississippi natives who had came to Los Angeles a year earlier. They began playing together and soon recruited a second guitarist, Christopher Thorn. The foursome then looked for a drummer in the local area, but months past and their search was unsuccessful. Stevens and Smith eventually persuaded drummer Glen Graham from Mississippi to come to Los Angeles and join the band.

After Blind Melon recorded a four song demo called The Goodfoot Workshop, Capital Records became interested and signed them in 1991 although they never released the band's demo as an EP.^[2] Blind Melon then collaborated with producer David Briggs to put together their first EP titled The Sippin' Time Sessions. However, the record was not released due to "slick and doctored" results that were unanticipated.^[3] It was during this time Hoon met up with fellow Indiana native and Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. Rose had given Hoon the opportunity to sing backup vocals on several songs on Use Your Illusion I, most notably "Don't Cry".^[3]

In late 1991, Blind Melon decided to leave Los Angeles to record its debut album since they felt the city did not reflect their music style. A Capital Records music manager had suggested they retreat to North Carolina.^[4] Chapel Hill, North Carolina was attractive to the band because of its "good music scene", however they could not find an affordable house big enough there for them and their equipment.^[4] The band eventually rented a house in Durham, North Carolina.^[5]

Production

Nicknamed the 'Sleepyhouse', some recording sessions for the album took place at their Durham, North Carolina residence. Thorn stated, "We rehearsed in the house and recorded in the house. We became a much better band in the house, and that's where we really developed our sound."^[4] However, Blind Melon recorded the bulk of the album with producer Rick Parashar (who had produced Pearl Jam's Ten) at London Bridge Studio in Seattle, Washington. The recording sessions for Blind Melon were completed in the spring of 1992.^[3]

Blind Melon's production is marked by the use of outdated amplifiers and other antiquated studio technology.^[6] Modern studio effects were not used in its production as the band wanted to create a pure and "intimate" sounding record.^[5] Hoon stated, "We all kind of liked the production that was on a lot of early Stones records, (where) whatever it is you're playing is what it's going to sound like."^[5]

Composition

The album's music style has been described as alternative, southern rock with a 70's retro-rock feel.^[7][5] Hoon's vocals on the record are high-pitched, and "scratchy" sounding.^[7] A couple of the songs on Blind Melon criticize religion. "Holyman" slams people who maintain that only their religious views are right, and "Dear Ol' Dad" is about Hoon's ex-girlfriend who left him because of religion.^[5] The song "Sleepyhouse" is a recollection of a time the band spent at their Durham, North Carolina residence, and with friends at a Yellow House in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.^[4]

Artwork

Blind Melon's cover art is based on a 1975 photograph of Georgia Graham, Graham's younger sister, in a bee costume.^[8][9] The cover art further inspired the concept of the 'Bee Girl' character in the band's video for "No Rain". Samuel Bayer, the video's director, selected Heather DeLoach for the 'Bee Girl' role because she looked similar to Graham's sister in the photograph and on the subsequent album cover.^[8]

Track listing

All tracks by Blind Melon unless listed.

1. "Soak the Sin" - 4:01
2. "Tones of Home" - 4:26
3. "I Wonder" - 5:31
4. "Paper Scratcher" - 3:14
5. "Dear Ol' Dad" - 3:02
6. "Change" (Hoon) - 3:41
7. "No Rain" - 3:37
8. "Deserted" - 4:20
9. "Sleepyhouse" - 4:29
10. "Holyman" - 4:47
11. "Seed to a Tree" - 3:29
12. "Drive" - 4:39
13. "Time" - 6:02

Notes

• Rogers Stevens' guitar playing is predominantly heard in the right channel, while Chris Thorn's is in the left.
• The lyrics to "Tones of Home" are collaborative.

Personnel

• Blind Melon - Producer, Art Direction, Mixing

• Shannon Hoon - Vocals
• Brad Smith - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Rogers Stevens - Lead Guitar
• Christopher Thorn - Rhythm Guitar
• Glenn Graham - Percussion, Drums

• George Marino - Mastering
• Rick Parashar - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Jon Plum - Assistant Engineer
• Tommy Steele - Art Direction
• Heather Devlin - Photography

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1993)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200[10]	3

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak position
1992	"Tones of Home"	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	20
1993	"No Rain"	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
1993	"No Rain"	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	1
1993	"No Rain"	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	20
1993	"No Rain"	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40	4
1993	"Tones of Home"	U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	10

References

Footnotes

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Chapman (2008), p. 109
3. ^ ^{a b c} Prato, Greg. "Blind Melon Biography". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/artist/blind-melon/bio/18827#/artist/blind-melon/bio/18827. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Currin, Grayson (2007-11-28). "A reunited Blind Melon reminisces about its time in Durham". Independent Weekly. http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/a-reunited-blind-melon-reminisces-about-its-time-in-durham/Content?oid=1205400. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} Billik, Kira (1993-08-01). "Blind Melon plays in mellow tone". Associated Press. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b2oyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=puYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5375,236352&dq. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
6. ^ Reynolds, Simon (1993-12-05). "POP VIEW; The Perils of Loving Old Records Too Much". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/05/arts/pop-view-the-perils-of-loving-old-records-too-much.html. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Love, Andrew (1993-01-04). "Blind Melon presents mixed musical bag". Ocala Star-Banner. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Td80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=XgcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5006,2270263&dq. Retrieved 2011-05-12. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Kaufman, Gil (2008-12-10). "Blind Melon 'Bee Girl' Grows Up, Has Eye On Acting Career". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601055/blind-melon-bee-girl-grows-up-has-eye-on-acting-career.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
9. ^ "To Bee or Not to Bee". Entertainment Weekly. 1993-09-24. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308100,00.html. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
10. ^ "Blind Melon: Album Info". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/blind%20melon/blind%20melon/45595. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 

Bibliography

• Chapman, Andrew; Silber, Lee (2008). Rock to Riches: Build Your Business the Rock & Roll Way. Herndon, Virginia: Capital Books. ISBN 1933102659. http://books.google.com/books?id=nKKRhGBs-xcC&dq.