Customer Reviews

Soup

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Blind Melon is the number-one underappreciated band of the 1990s. It is a crime that the Bee Girl from the "No Rain" video is the image most think of when asked about Blind Melon. The truth is, this band was one of the most talented of their generation; nowhere else is this evidenced as well as on Soup, the band's 2nd full length album. The band trades in some jam elements from their debut in favor of concise, well written songs that act as a perfect representation of what this band was capable of. Unfortunately, Shannon Hoon's death left us to only imagine what could have come next.

Soup is opened with an offbeat horn and vocal intro that segues into the outstanding "Galaxie". This song is fast paced but with melodies to die for. Another highlight is "Vernie", a touching tribute to Shannon Hoon's grandmother set to a mellow, almost psychadelic musical backdrop. "Toes Across the Floor" is probably my favorite song from Soup, if not my favorite Blind Melon song of all time. Dark, brooding verses explode into a screaming chorus that perfectly represents the hopelessness of Hoon's addictions. "St. Andrew's Fall" is another benchmark in quality and it's probably the most complicated Blind Melon song, consisting of three very distinct sections that stir up many emotions, good and bad. "New Life" is the album's most heart-wrenching song, with Shannon singing the line "when I'm looking into the eyes of our own baby will it bring new life into me?". Shannon was a great person, someone hopelessly addicted. He wanted badly to be a father, but the grip of addiction was too strong and he is missed. "Mouthful of Cavities" is the album's last highlight, the song that sparked my love for the music of Blind Melon with its acoustic guitar and vocal interplay between Shannon and a girl named Jena Kraus.

In truth, I could rave about every song contained within this disc; there is no filler and every song is well written and well performed. Sometimes when listening to Soup I shudder when I think of what Blind Melon could have accomplished. To the few Blind Melon die-hards, this album is a classic. To those who know of Blind Melon only through the "No Rain" video: there is much more to this band. This is a classic album of the 1990s and should be in every self respecting alternative/rock fans collection.

Not only is this one of the best albums I have ever heard but there exists a VERY hidden track on it. This doesn't seem to work on my computer's CD-ROM drive or my new CD player so you may need to find someone with an older player but it is very much worth it. Put the disk in and press play. As the first track starts to play press and hold down the rewind button. If you have a clock that counts backwards stop around -2:09 (or on my old player it jumped to the start of track one). They have the music from one of the tracks playing forwards but the vocals are playing in reverse. It seems that the new players are 'smarter' and know not to read before the begining of the disk. If you don't believe me or it doesn't work just look at the shiney side of your disk. The first track is located on the outside edge. If you look closely you can see a ring of no data. Enjoy.

CanuckChuck

"Soup" is the type of record that's both an exhilarating and disturbing listen. It starts out harmless enough with the rocking "Galaxy," a song that proves Blind Melon has a talent for writing catchy riffs and down-to-earth lyrics. When I say harmless, I mean this sugary sweet morsel of pop evokes memories of driving with the top down en route to no particular destination. However, the album grows more solemn with tunes like Vernie, San Andreas Fault, Mouthful of Cavities, and The Duke. Each song is a beautiful blend of Shannon Hoon's unique croon, which seems too gentle and sympathetic for one plagued by so many inner demons, and the band's ability to provide the ideal mood with visceral instrumentation that is both genuine and complex in its simplicity.

This is not an easy first listen. Blind Melon's pop sensibility flows throughout the album, but they are more subtle and buried deeper than those found on their first, self-titled record. There is "No Rain" to be found in this collection, but there are several songs that will evoke wonder and amazement. The final number, "Lemonade," is strange in that it seems to break from the theme of the other songs and sound more like "Galaxy," the album's first song. Both have a high energy, optimistic quality about them that encourages you to think, "Hey, these are fun songs. These guys aren't all moody and gloomy. They have a sunny side." Perhaps, that's the illusion they hoped to create. On the outside (the first and last song) everything seemed fine and dandy. But inside (songs 2-13) festers feelings of self-deprecation, disdain, and sorrow. Just like the band itself, "Soup" is pretty on the outside but tortured, albeit beautiful, on the inside.

so i recently read that blind melon was "one of the worst bands of all time" according to blender magazine. i couldn't believe that there is someone out there that has the balls to say something like that. i guess these days if music is too creative, different, or has any type of real emotion, then it's too much for the average listener to handle. this album is one of the most creative records i have ever heard! there are so many different sounds, ideas, and emotions present. everything about this band was unique. everything. if you actually like music. actually like to sit and listen to music. if you understand the magic an album can hold, then this is the album for you. if you are looking for something quick easy and to the point, i know this site sells creed records too.

Simply the best band most have forgotten. I, like most, discovered the band with the release of the single No Rain off of the first release. There is truly not a bad track on the first album and it remains one of my favorites but this album is better and I expect years from now it will be recognized as one of the seminal works of the 90's and the album for which Shannon Hoon will be forever revered.

Well, I have to start off by saying that I was never a huge fan of Blind Melon, but after seeing their Behind the Music on VHI, I was hooked. I went to NRM to buy Blind Melon and they only had one copy left and nothing else. So I went on line to get Soup and Nico. I am addicted to Soup. I think it is one of the best cd's I have ever heard. Shannon's voice is so amazing and the music....where to begin? I couldn't even narrow one song down as my favorite. "Skinned", "Car Seat, God's Presence" and "Galaxie" have go to be my favorites. The one that makes me sad is "New Life" about Shannon finding out that he was going to be a father and how excited and scared that he was. No song sounds like the next and everyone has it's own destinctive sound and vibe to it. To qoute Shannon: "I find myself singing the same songs everyday" that is exactly how I feel about this cd. I listed to it all the time and I don't think that I will ever get sick of it. So if you are a Blind Melon fan or if you are not, I would suggest getting all three of their cd's and just listen. The lyrics and the music is all that matters and trust me, once you listen to any one of their cd's you too will be hooked.

a record like this comes around once every three or four years - it enters your cd player one day and never seems to leave. as great as their self-titled debut effort was - soup sees this band reaching a higher ground. "i'm entering a frame bombarded by indecision..." opens the intro track "hello", and shannon hoon couldn't describe the mood any better. "indecision" never sounded so good. ranging from black sabbath to csn&y influence-wise, and yet sounding like nothing you've ever heard before - this is truly one of the most overlooked records in recent memory. to "single" out any one or two tracks would be a waste of time. soup plays like the best records of the seventies - a true "album" from beginning to end, and it never gets old...

I bought the album the day it came out in 1995 and listened to it once in 5 years. I revisited it again in 2000 and it became my favorite album of the 1990s. A true example of an artistic Masterpiece.

This album just shatters what pop music is supposed to sound like and merely sounds like "Soup" by Blind Melon. Shannon Hoon's lyrics are the most challenging and heartfelt I have ever heard and the band brings those thoughts to life wonderfully. An amazing feat. This album is a MUST for any music fan. No need to review individual songs because each is fantastic.

Seconds, please...this album is absolutely amazing and one that was extremely overlooked at the time of its release.

In Soup you see Blind Melon building off what they had started with their self-titled debut album. This was only their 2nd album written and you can already see them expanding their sound and still trying to find themselves individually and as a band.

Soup exemplifies the beauty of what Blind Melon was and could have been. It is a glimpse of the greatness they could have possibly achieved. Not a greatness measured by the number of albums sold, but a greatness measured by the depth, complexity and passon in the writting rarely seen in music.

Hoon's lyrics were dark, complex, heart felt and sung with such passion there was no way Blind Melon would have attempted to replace him, which his why they went their seperate ways. Not that Hoon is a martyr or hero by any means, he was just a guy that was extremely good at what he did and the fire that drove him to think and feel as he did was the same that forced it to go out so quickly.

As for the album itself it is much, much to darker than their self titled and couldn't have possibly seen equal success. This is by no means a judge of the quality of this album as you can see by previous and soon to be later reviews.

Buy it, don't just hear it, listen to it, it is a unique piece of art that isn't easy to digest, but one that has you constantly examining it and always listening to it in new ways. Enjoy and I hope you feel the same.

Soup could have been legendary and celebrated in its time. It could have become a landmark in music history if only played live in concerts and radio stations around the world. However, the death of Blind Melon's vocalist kept the release anonymous in its time.

But Soup excels in musical quality and will always remain fresh as if stored in a time capsule. The album will be rediscovered, recognized and acclaimed by future generations. Soup makes me think of the time when I started going back in time, looking for masterpieces. I found many that were huge during their time (The Beatles' "Rubber Soul", "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper"; the Stones' "Between the Buttons", "Let it Bleed", "Beggar's Banquet', "Exile on Main Street"; same thing with releases by the Doors, Hendrix, The Who, Zeppelin, The Clash... and so on). However, I found masterpieces that remained unnoticed during their time such as Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" or Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" only to be critically renowned thirty years or more later.

The same thing will happen with Blind Melon and "Soup". They will be critically acclaimed. No doubt. Probably be recognized by critics when selecting the top records from the 90's or from all times. Do you think I'm exaggerating? There's only one way to find out: get this album and have a taste of Blind Melon's Soup.