Blind Melon - Soup

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One of the greatest 'what ifs' of the 90s is Blind Melon.

Their first album, Blind Melon, was a wonder of down-home psychedelic southern rock in a time dominated by grunge. If you haven't heard their debut, you probably think they were nothing more than a one-hit wonder. If you had a TV in 1993 then you probably saw (repeatedly) "No Rain", or 'the bee girl song'.


But it's their second album, Soup, that proves this band was much more than a one-hit wonder and could have been one of the better bands that came out of the 90s. Their career was cut tragically short by the death of lead singer, Shannon Hoon, childhood friend of Axl Rose. (Why oh why couldn't they have changed places.)

Ignored by MTV and the press because there was no "No Rain" on this album, Soup, is definately a mixed bowl of great music.

There is plenty of their take on classic rock, from the Zep-esque "2x4", "Vernie" sounds like Black Sabbath-via-the swamps of Florida and "Wilt" is one of the best songs that the Black Crowes never wrote.

The second half of the album shows Blind Melon expanding their sound. "The Duke" with its underwater drone and "St Andrew's Fall" which descends into a hillbilly freak-out, topped with howling only to be saved by a cello at the end.

Songs like "Skinned" and "Walk" also show Blind Melon more than capable of unplugging and taking it to the porch. "Skinned" is one of the most disturbing songs, written from the point of view of notorious killer, Ed Gein, which opens with the line 'I'll make a shoehorn outta your shin/ I'll make a lampshade of durable skin.' Creepy indeed.

The album ends with the double shot of "Mouthful Of Cavities" and "Lemonade" a pair of songs about one of Hoon's favorite things, drugs. He had been in treatment when their tour for Soup began, but it lasted just a month and a half before the temptations of the road lead to Hoon overdosing on the tour bus.

An expanding palette, terrific musicians and one of the more unique voices in rock music, Blind Melon could have been one of the survivors of the grunge-era, but instead have become relegated to the scrap heap of just another 90s One-Hit Wonders. Do yourself a favor and get Soup, as well as their debut, and revel in what-might-have-been.


FYI Blind Melon is somewhere in my top 100, and Soup is slowly making its way into my top 200.

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