Blue
by Third Eye Blind

Blue is 3EB branching into experimental territory via U2 influence through original guitarist Kevin Cadogan; the best the band has had. This album didn't have nearly the impact the debut did on 90's culture and so can't be held in the same regard. The music is here a less accessible but it pays off in the end. Unfortunately too many fans jumped off the bandwagon and never really returned. Which is a shame because this album is pretty good.

Anything and Wounded are a fantastic 1 2 punch to start the record off.

Anything is a short punk rock carthartic plea to do anything for someone to keep them around

Wounded sounds like previous 3EB rap sing songs. This one is one notch better for its epic scope, spacey guitar effects, and great drum fills.

10 Days Late and Deep Inside of You have all the sexual innuendos we have come to expect and enjoy from writer/singer Jenkins.

Never Let You Go, the single, doesn't really fit in here with the rest of the albums sound. It is a simple song with some melodic falsetto. Sounds like an album add on hoping for a single.

Red Summer Sun has some 80's hair band screaming influence which is alternative 3EB and also turns up the epic.

Camouflage hides and mixes Jenkins voice in wet effects around a hypnotic atmospheric sound which is different from anything else 3EB has done before or since.

Darkness is another highlight

This was quite a departure for a sophomore effort that doesn't seem to be shooting for the mainstream stars. It's a really good album though but everyone left after a few listens and now it lives in obscurity. Sadly.

3EB from here would get scared and return to their straight forward Pop Rock on Out of the Vein to follow in 2003

This is a Summer Record for sure. Its about being out with your friends in the warm weather and having a good time. Kevin Cadogans U2 influence can be found here.

From Keltron1 06/11/2017 03:18 | #192358

This is my favorite 3EB album. Back in the late '90s my daughter pleaded for me to drive her up the long road to get the debut album and on the way back home [we lived in a small town that had CD stores come and go] we listened to it non-stop. I fell in love with this intense album and was counting down the days until 'Blue' was released in 1999. It took a few listens to 'get it' but I became hooked and it's still my favorite 3EB album almost 20 years later. The album flows cohesively from song to song and the sonics are ethereal! Kevin Cardogan was the best guitarist of all and his work on this masterpiece is unmatched. Plus, the album of songs rock....hard!

Messier than their debut, but still fun and very ambitious. On tracks like Darwin and 10 Days Late, the band pairs Stephan Jenkins' wonderfully weird and streetwise lyrics with big sunny singalong hooks. Never Let You Go is a shameless radio-ready pop song done absolutely right. (Edited)

Sounds pretty messy stylistically reflecting a tumultuous period of the band's history however here are some great and essential Third Eye Blind songs on the first half of this album