Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blind Melon's masterpiece..., June 28, 2003
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden Track, March 13, 2001
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
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible album that sadly foreshadowed Hoon's death, August 23, 1998
"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.
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