Hootie & the Blowfish

Hootie & The Blowfish

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 4, 2003)
• Original Release Date: March 4, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00008A7QI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,165 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Deeper Side

2. Little Brother

3. Innocence

4. Space

5. I'll Come Running

6. Tears Fall Down

7. The Rain Song

8. Show Me Your Heart

9. When She's Gone

10. Little Darlin'

11. Woody

12. Go And Tell Him (Soup Song)

13. Alright

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It took Hootie and the Blowfish more than four years to lick their wounds and get back into the studio after sales for 1998's Musical Chairs tanked--at least when measured again their 1994 debut, Cracked Rear View, which sold over 16 million copies. To prevent another commercial misstep, ?ber-producer Don Was was recruited to give their rootsy pop rock a tune-up and, to Was's credit, that's all he did. Was has cleaned up their folksy rock, turned up the guitars, and encouraged singer Darius Rucker to unleash his inner soulfulness. On songs like the simple but engaging "Little Brother," Rucker sounds like a modern-day Brenton Wood as he twists his elastic vocals around lyrics that impart a homespun tale about making one’s own luck. On "Little Darlin'," the band wades into country rock. A cover of the Continental Drifters features Drifters vocalists Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description

One of 2003s most eagerly anticipated musical events. This self-titled collection is the first new album in more than four years. Recorded in Venice CA with renowned producer Don Was. Atlantic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hootie is back & hopefully someone is still listening..., March 4, 2003

By A Customer

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.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Set, They Shoot, THEY SCORE!!, March 12, 2003

By	Samuel K. Branstner "branstner" (Baxter, MN USA) - See all my reviews

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...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Did They Ever Go??????, November 16, 2003

By	Brian Baisden (Mooresville, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!