Customer Reviews

Hootie & The Blowfish

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Back to their roots, Hootie & The Blowfish are back with a self titled release. Most likely their way of saying that this latest effort represents where they band is at this point of their lives and careers. This latest CD is a more mature, soulful and rock and roll effort than their past studio release "Musical Chairs." Producer Don Was worked his magic again (much like he injected some life into the Black Crowes last effort "Lions") and Hootie sounds better than they have in years. More in the vein of Cracked Rear View or the highlights of Fairweather Johnson this self titled disk boasts some potential hits.

The disk kicks off with "Deeper Side" -- a simple rocker. Turn up the amps and get busy.

"Little Brother" is pure soul. Don Was drops some Rhodes Organ and trumpet in this bluesy piece. Sing along chorus and a welcomed departure from the norm.

"Innocence" is the typical first single, ballad-esque cut to recapture old listeners while reminding other's why they dug Hootie in the first place. A great reintroduction to the band, but nowhere near the best cut on the disk.

"Space" sounds like it could've been on Cracked Rear View. Similar vibe and song structure to a few cuts on there. There are a few transition chords that remind me of "Drowning" off the first disk. This song could be released as a single.

"I'll Come Runnin'" starts with a smooth bass line and Darius' voice carries it until the chorus. Again, has that classic Hootie sound but with a mature twist.

"Tears Fall Down" is another smooth cut where Darius lets his voice take the front seat while Mark, Dean and Soni provide the perfect backdrop for his words.

"The Rain Song" is another classic Hootie rocker with some good female back up vocals. Adds a new dimension to their songs.

"Show Me Your Heart" has a classic southern rock ballad drawl to is. Somewhat reminicent of "So Strange" from Fairweather Johnson but different in its own right.

"When She's Gone" is back to that classic Hootie acoustic driven style. Could wind up as a single. Has that "special" something about it.

"Little Darlin'" -- a cover tune that Hootie has put their own special stamp on. Great rendition. Darius holds his own and the boys sing great back up.

"Woody" is piano driven and will be one that fans of "Goodbye" will appreciate. Darius' voice has come a long way. He has found his true soul. Smooth guitar solo. Mark knows when to fill in and when to bow out. Well done.

Final track is "Go And Tell Him." A rocker where everyone gets involved. Back up vocals, percussion instruments and a great sing along. Sounds like the boys had fun with this one.

All and all a welcome effort that was five years in the making. With the current state of music, the world needed a strong effort from Hootie and the boys from South Carolina delivered.

After a four year hiatus, and shaking off the relative disappointment of "Musical Chairs," Hootie re-collected themselves, dusted off their writing skills and have returned with what should be the album of the summer.

And maybe it isn't "cool" to be a Hootie fan anymore, but I maintain that if you keep making great music, your real fans will stick around. And I think it's true that Hootie is the best bar band in the world.

There's not a weak track on this terrific collection of songs; if I have anything negative to say about this album, it does lean toward ballads and slower-tempo tunes, but with songs of this quality, ("I'll Come Running," "Show Me Your Heart," "Woody") this is certainly a minor offense.

That's not to say the band ignores good ol' rock and roll. The free-spirited "Space," and especially "Go and Tell Him (Soup Song)" and the funky "Little Brother" are instant sing-alongs. The rock-a-billy "Little Darlin'" intentionally dances around Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou" and sounds like it was a blast to record. It is this kind of variety that makes this band, and this album, so enjoyable.

By the way, don't forget to keep listening after track 12--the hidden track, (I guess it's called "Alright") is one of the best on the album. This would have been a great opener for the album!

The first single "Innocence" is one of the best songs written by the band, and I dare say it is worth the price of purchase alone. The song reflects intelligent, heartfelt lyrics, terrific vocals (Darius Rucker continues to prove why he has so many imitators) and an undeniably infectious chorus, but I've yet to see the video for "Innocence" played once on VH1, VH1 Megahits, MTV or MTV Hits. Did they even make a video for it?

It is a shame that we are in an age where an artist's success relies so heavily on television. You are dead in the water if you are viewed as yesterday's news by program directors. This is a travesty to music.

But true fans of music can make themselves very happy by picking up a copy of this fantastic release.

As other reviewers have suggested, this IS the perfect album to roll down the car windows and blast this summer. It's Hootie at their best. And that's not bad. Not bad at all...

Hootie & The Blowfish have been on a roller coaster ride their entire career. From playing at frat parties and dive bars in South Carolina, to having their debut album, "Cracked Rear View," sell over 16 million copies just in the United States, to being ridiculed for making music that was too "middle of the road." This album is perhaps the best collection of songs that nobody has heard. From the catchy pop rock opener "Deeper Side," to the raw sounding rock anthem "Go And Tell Him (Soup Song)," this album is sold from top to bottom. The only real disappointing song on the album would have to be the goofy, country flavored "Little Darlin'." Standouts on this album are the rock ballad "Innocence," the R&B groove "Little Brother," and the lyrical masterpiece "Tears Fall Down," Darius Rucker's voice never sounded so good. There are a couple average songs, "Show Me Your Heart" in particular, but they are spread out enough that you don't notice. Is this album groundbreaking? No. But if you're looking for a CD that you can play in your stereo over and over and over again, this is a MUST have. Just like every Hootie & The Blowfish album before, this album is the kind of music Hootie & The Blowfish want to make. Music that is....UNCOMPROMISED!!!!

I hadn't been into Hootie in awhile, but recently went to see them live. Let me just say, they were incredible. At the time, I didn't have the new CD , but after hearing them do several songs from it live, I made sure I got it soon after. It's rare that when you hear new songs that you are unfamiliar with by any band live in concert, that they grab ahold of you, but this was an exception. After they performed each new song from their new CD, I was thinking, "Wow, that was a killer song!!". Anyway, I went and got the CD, and was blown away. The songwriting is amazing. What a great album. It is easily their best since their debut. If you were into Hootie, even in the least little bit at all, in your life, you will LOVE this CD.

OK so i'm reading these reviews on hootie, and all of them good or bad say essentially one thing. OH, HOOTIE IS BACK! Which leads me to ask one question? Are all you people tone deaf? Hootie and the Blowfish have released three stellar albums since Cracked rear view, and everyone has passed on them. Quite frankly I can't say i blame you considering Cracked rear view has been played so many that its now named cracked cd!!! But before you pass on this newest offering let me tell you that this album is just as solid as cracked rear view ever was! Innocence is the stand out track here, soft, melodic and hypnotising, also Litte Brother is also a great track as well exploring hooties reggae stylings. And after you listen to this album do us a favor give the other 3 cd's its fair shot!

For the 15 million individuals (you know who you are) that abandoned Hootie and the Blowfish after the mammoth sales of 1994's Cracked Rear View, this record marks a return to the sound that made the band a household name in 1995 and a national punchline only a year later. After 1996's Fairweather Johnson went for a slightly darker, less-polished sound and 1998's Musical Chairs covered every genre, Hootie and the Blowfish is a good old fashioned rock n roll record, and probably the best you'll hear this year. From the up-tempo opener "Deeper Side" to the get-out-of-your-seat rocking of "Go and Tell Him (Soup Song)," this record bursts out of the speakers. On the song "Space," Hootie reach a new musical peak, crafting one of the finest songs ever to be recorded (if you think I am over-exaggerating, just give it a listen.) Even the ballads are great, especially the solemn "Tears Fall Down," but they are overshadowed by Hootie's fantastic rock songs. "I'll Come Runnin'" and "The Rain Song" are destined to be stuck in your head for weeks, as well as the power-ballad first single, "Innocence." So, for anyone who jumped on the bandwagon 8 years ago, I would encourage you to jump back on. I've never heard a bandwagon that sounds this good.

Don Was was brought in to produce because of "disappointing" sales for the last CD "Musical Chairs". Largely he makes good decisions that take Hootie closest to the sound on their biggest-seller, debut "Cracked Rear View" (major label anyway..I don't want nitpicks from those who have the self-released demo "Kootchypop" and others...).

How great this is to you depends on whether you think "Cracked Rear View" is their best CD or not (I happen to think that honour goes to the sophomore CD "Fairweather Johnson".) The songs are pretty consistently tuneful, but there's not much artistic innovation.

Probably the biggest "stretch" is the reggae-ish tinge on "Little Brother" which works pretty well (despite an ill-advised use of ghetto slang. "flossin'"? C'mon guys..you're too old for that crap..) The rest are trademark Hootie with "Deeper Side", "Innocence" (were Hootie now passe, this would have been the big hit ballad from the disc), crumbing love affair anthem "Space" and the lovely (and modern sounding) "Tears Fall Down", which is probably the other experimental tune because of the loops used on it.

Low points are "The Rain Song", not so much because it's a bad song, but because of the use of backing vocalists Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill. I realize it's a cover of a song the pair wrote, but they just don't "mesh" well with Darius' voice. (The songs Darius did with Nancy Griffith worked better..) "Little Darlin'" never finds a compelling hook. Stratchy funk ain't what Hootie does best.."Go and Tell Him (Soup Song)" is another miss.

Bottom Line: It's not their finest work, but it's a good outing. Hootie fans will need it. Those who like melodic pop-rock will probably enjoy it.

A lot of people bailed out on Hootie & the Blowfish after their huge success with the debut album Cracked Rear View. Well, those bandwagon jumpers need to hop back on!! This album is full of incredible and unique music. Upbeat rockers like Deeper Side are just perfect to blare out of your car with the windows down. Innocence takes the power ballad to another level, I guarantee it'll send you fishing in your pocket for a lighter. I'll Come Runnin and When She's Gone slow things down too, but everyone will still be singing along! And when Hootie rocks on with Space and Go And Tell Him (the Soup Song), you'll forget why you ever left this band in the first place. And if you (like me) are someone who's stuck with Hootie through it all, this album is all the reward you need.

I own four other albums and all of them are great. When I pop in a Hootie CD I expect to be relaxed by the soothing voice and the familiar sound that accompany one of my all time favorite bands. I buy CD's and keep those CD's on the premise that the entire CD is worth keeping. I am not buying a CD for one or two songs, but the CD as a whole. I just bought this album the other day. Half of the songs had the familiar feel but the rest could go to waste. I am giving it a 2.5, because half the album is great.

I have been a H&TB fan ever since cracked rear view. I can admit that there have been some sub-par albums put out. I was very excited the day in 2003 when the self titled CD came out, but I was quite dissapointed when I finally got the chance to listen to it. Musical Chairs had some good hits, but I couldnt listen to it cover-to-cover.

Last week when this CD came out I was hoping for the best and this time I think I got what I wanted. This album is definately more along the lines of Cracked Rear View and Fairweather Johnson.

There are only a few tracks I skip--Free to Everyone and Waltz Into Me. The rest is classic H&TB in my opinion. Hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I do!