Blind Melon-Blind Melon (1992) EAC FLAC

At a time when popular rock music was dominated by Seattle grunge, Blind Melon expanded the envelope with a record that kept all of the same raw emotion, but blended in a package that was richly layered and relentlessly up-tempo. The first single from the album, No Rain, was a catchy tune, but it didn't do justice to the complexity and brilliant playing to be heard on the rest of the tracks. I listened to this record in heavy rotation for most of the decade, and it continued to give me new things to hear.

Shannon Hoon's star was extinguished too early, but it shone so brightly that the loss eclipses those of even Cobain, Staley, & Wood.

"I only wanted to be sixteen... and free..." Amazon Review