Blind Melon… one hit wonders who never really got the chance they deserved. Really, "No Rain" was good, but so was the rest of their debut album. Same goes with their sophomore release… then… bam, lead singer Shannon Hoon dies in 1995 before he could even reach his peak.

But the music he left behind is some fine work. Somewhat psychedelic, very diverse, encompassing a multitude of moods throughout. Starting from the funk of "Soak Up the Sun" all the way through. Speaking of which, "Soak Up the Sun" is funky, and shows the skill of their guitarists toward the end with some blistering solos.

Following right up, "Tones of Home." Good song, good song. It's Hoon's life story to this point, and a little bit of his life credo. Hoon was gifted with a unique voice that had an excellent range. Depressing how it all ended, really.

Blind Melon never had much of a dark sound on this record, and, despite their wishes, they were sometimes categorized as "hippie rock." Even if they don't think they are, they have the sound, and Hoon definitely sang of its ideals, like on the ballad, "Change," a somewhat sad song that was a definite contender for the best song here.

Also here is, of course, their only hit "No Rain," an uplifting ballad that had a cool video to accompany it. Other highlights are "Time," "I Wonder," "Holy Man" and "Drive," plus more.

Blind Melon's debut came out in 1992 and was quite the contrast to other bands of that time, namely, the Seattle scene. Hoon and the gang carried themselves with less seriousness than their contemporaries and were nearly the opposite of Nirvana, while still remaining as down-to-earth as Cobain and HIS gang were. Just like Nevermind, Blind Melon (the album) is a clear contender for best album of the early 90's, despite not having as much of an impact.