Home > Music > CD Review > Blind Melon, 'For My Friends'

Blind Melon, 'For My Friends'

'90s alt-rockers' comeback is not as bad as it could have been

By Scott Thill

Special to Metromix
April 21, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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Backstory: After the video for their jangly alt-rock single "No Rain" exploded across MTV and radio, Blind Lemon leapt from the underground to the mainstream with blinding speed. Coupled with lead singer Shannon Hoon's appearance on the Guns 'N Roses hit "Don't Cry," the maximum exposure threw the band into the spotlight and propelled their 1992 self-titled debut into quadruple-platinum territory. But just as fast as the band exploded, it imploded: after Hoon died of a cocaine overdose in 1995, everyone went their separate ways. That is, until guitarist Christopher Horn and bassist Brad Smith discovered a replacement for Hoon in Travis Warren, who had enlisted their production aid on his solo work. A star was reborn…maybe.

Why you should care: Because Hoon didn't. He cashed out, and left the band to his colleagues, who deserve another chance. After all, Blind Melon was more than one man, and Warren fills in ably where it counts. He can evoke Hoon's folksy delivery, as he does nicely on the lonesome title track, or he can go into full frontman mode on the more conventionally uninspired "Wishing Well." He can bring the Aerosmith boogie well enough, too, like on the angular thrash of "With the Right Set of Eyes." It's all in the details.

Verdict: Blind Melon's fandom and too-short legacy has kept it afloat, and "For My Friends" is a decent enough comeback. To expect Warren to carry Hoon's weight is asking too much, and judging him by his merits should result in some loosened slack. As far as radio-friendly rock goes, Blind Melon's delayed return fits in fine with standard classic rock fare. It just doesn't stand out.

X-Factor: In case Horn and Smith weren’t sure they’d found the right lead singer for the job, this must’ve sealed the deal (or seriously creeped them out): Travis Warren sports a large tattoo of Shannon Hoon on his back.