Third Eye Blind (album) explained

Third Eye Blind
Type:studio
Artist:Third Eye Blind
Cover:Third eye blind self titled.jpg
Studio:Toast, Skywalker Ranch, H.O.S. (San Francisco)
Genre:
Label:Elektra
Next Title:Blue
Next Year:1999

Third Eye Blind is the debut studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on April 8, 1997, by Elektra Records. The album was collectively written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan, while production was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. Recorded in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S., the album incorporates elements of alternative rock, post-grunge, and power pop. Thematically, the album focuses on topics such as relationships, drug addiction, suicide prevention, and the band's experience of being signed to a major record label. Third Eye Blind was promoted with five singles: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Graduate", "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Jumper".

Music and lyrics

The central theme of Third Eye Blind is loss, with the album exploring subjects such as suicide, crystal methamphetamine addiction, and sexual abuse.[1] [2] "Semi-Charmed Life", an alternative rock song composed with a rap-influenced singing style, was one of the first songs recorded for the album. The song focuses on a crystal methamphetamine addiction, although Jenkins contends that it more broadly relates to changing periods in one's life.[3]

Title and artwork

When developing a band name and a title for their debut record, Jenkins sought a name with "wit and a sense of punk-rock irony".[4] The name "Third Eye Blind" is meant to refer to a metaphysical third eye; however, the band also intended to satirize the concept.[4] Alli and Ro-Starr were responsible for the album's art direction, with the latter also crafting the band's "falling man" logo. Kate Garner was responsible for the album's photography, with the exclusion of the album cover which was shot by Christine Alicino on December 16, 1996, in San Francisco, California.[5] The shot features model Shandra Boatwright, eyes closed with her mouth wide open, as her and Jenkins' hands are placed on her forehead. Alicino commented that she was hired to "photograph a young woman with an expressive mouth in my edgy polaroid style".[5] In order to achieve this expressive appearance, Boatwright wore bright red lipstick and dark eyeliner.[5]

The first pressing of Third Eye Blind in the United States featured a sepia-toned album cover with a red band logo. This pressing was limited to approximately 500,000 copies in the country. However, it was still employed in the United Kingdom and other European nations. The second pressing of the album featured these colors reverted, with a red-toned cover and yellow band logo. In Japan, the album was released with a cyan, negative photo cover.[6] The 20th anniversary edition of the album features a black-toned version of the cover.[7]

In April 2022, Jenkins stated on Twitter that the sepia-toned cover is "how [the artwork is] supposed to be," although the artwork was changed to a red-tone due to Elektra Records finding the latter to be "more flashy."[8]

Documentary

In December 2019, a 22-minute documentary short film titled Motorcycle Drive By was announced on Third Eye Blind's Twitter page.[9] The documentary is directed by David Wexler and focuses on the backstory of the song of same name.[10] The documentary was originally planned to premiere on April 17, 2020, at the 19th Tribeca Film Festival, although the film festival was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] The documentary was then released on May 29, 2020, on YouTube as part of the .[12]

Touring

Third Eye Blind performed across the United States alongside Eve 6 on MTV's Campus Invasion tour.[13] The band also performed as an opening act for the Rolling Stones and U2 on their respective tours.[14] The band performed the album in its entirety during the first Summer Gods Tour in 2017.[15]

Reception

Critical reception to Third Eye Blind was generally positive. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described Third Eye Blind as "easy on the ears," stating that "its straight-ahead professionalism makes it a pleasurable listen for post-grungers". David Grad of Entertainment Weekly described the album as "balancing a cheery ear for harmonies with a finely honed sense of despair".

Third Eye Blind was a sleeper hit, entering the Billboard album charts at number 135 and then peaking at number 25 nearly a year after release.[16] The album spent a total of 106 weeks on the chart, and was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA in August 2001.[17] [18] As of April 2017, Third Eye Blind has sold over 6 million units in the U.S., selling approximately 84,000 units in its best week.[19] [20] The album remains as Third Eye Blind's most successful release, accounting for the plurality of their career sales.[21]

Legacy

In 2017, the band reissued the album to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which includes three rerecorded versions of their initial unreleased songs "Alright Caroline", "Scattered", and "Tattoo Of The Sun", and five demos.[22]

In 2022, Avril Lavigne cited the album as one of the biggest influences in her music career.[23]

Track listing

20th Anniversary edition

Personnel

Third Eye Blind

Additional musicians

Production

Design

Charts

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Third Eye Blind!Chart (1997)!Position
US Billboard 200[25] 101
Chart (1998)Position
US Billboard 200[26] 35
Chart (1999)Position
US Billboard 200[27] 138

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateEdition(s)Format(s)Label
United StatesApril 8, 1997StandardElektra[28]
JapanMay 25, 1997CD
United KingdomJuly 14, 1997
WorldwideJune 9, 201720th AnniversaryRhino[29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Third Eye Blind Is Breaking Through. Chicago Tribune. October 17, 1997. June 17, 2021.
  2. Web site: 'There Was No Overnight Success': An Oral History of Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Debut. Billboard. April 6, 2017. June 17, 2021.
  3. News: How I Wrote Semi-Charmed Life, By Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins. Pearlman. Mischa. October 18, 2020. Kerrang!. June 24, 2020.
  4. Web site: Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind. Rolling Stone. Bozza. Anthony. April 30, 1998. June 17, 2021.
  5. News: Born in Shadow: Self-Titled, Behind the Photograph. September 15, 2017. Third Eye Blind Lifestyle. July 14, 2020.
  6. https://archive.today/20081123030749/http://www.andrew-turnbull.net/3eb/st.html "Third Eye Blind"
  7. https://store.3eb.com/collections/merchandise/products/third-eye-blind-self-titled-20th-anniversary-edition "Third Eye Blind - Self-Titled - 20th Anniversary Edition -IN STOCK - Third Eye Blind"
  8. Web site: Jenkins . Stephan (@stephanjenkins) . The record label thought it was more flashy or something . . May 20, 2022.
  9. Web site: Third Eye Blind (@ThirdEyeBlind) . A documentary is being made about our song Motorcycle Drive By. We would love to see your design for a poster! Submit them on socials with #3ebMDB . . August 30, 2020.
  10. Web site: Third Eye Blind Documentary to Premiere at 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Rolling Stone. Martoccio. Angie. March 5, 2020. July 9, 2020.
  11. Web site: Tribeca Film Festival postponed due to coronavirus. CNN. Garvey. Marianne. March 12, 2020. July 9, 2020.
  12. Web site: YouTube, Tribeca Unveil Lineup for Free 'We Are One: A Global Film Festival'. Variety. McNary. Dave. May 26, 2020. July 9, 2020.
  13. News: Third Eye Blind, Eve 6 Head Back to School for Campus Invasion Tour. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713012028/http://www.mtv.com/news/1428733/third-eye-blind-eve-6-head-back-to-school-for-campus-invasion-tour/. dead. July 13, 2020. September 25, 1998. MTV News. July 9, 2020.
  14. News: News Flash: Third Eye Blind Opening for U2, Stones. https://web.archive.org/web/20180504124807/http://www.mtv.com/news/1276/news-flash-third-eye-blind-opening-for-u2-stones/. dead. May 4, 2018. September 19, 1997. MTV News. July 3, 2020.
  15. Web site: THIRD EYE BLIND CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SUMMER GODS TOUR. Live Nation Entertainment. January 23, 2017.
  16. Top 200 Albums | Billboard 200 chart. Billboard.
  17. Third Eye Blind Chart History. Billboard.
  18. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA.
  19. Web site: Stephan Jenkins on 'Third Eye Blind' 20 Years Later. Observer. Joffe. Justin. April 7, 2017. June 25, 2020.
  20. https://books.google.com/books?id=vQ0EAAAAMBAJ "Manson Bids to Be 'Golden' Boy"
  21. Web site: Third Eye Blind Set Fall Tour To Showcase New Album. Forbes. Espinoza. Russ. August 17, 2019. July 9, 2020.
  22. Web site: Now Available: Third Eye Blind, THIRD EYE BLIND: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. Rhino. June 9, 2017.
  23. Web site: 5 Albums I Can't Live Without: Avril Lavigne. Spin. Lentini. Liza. February 18, 2022. February 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220219085113/https://www.spin.com/2022/02/5-albums-i-cant-live-without-avril-lavigne/. February 19, 2022. live.
  24. 278.
  25. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997. Billboard. September 22, 2021.
  26. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998. Billboard. January 10, 2021.
  27. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999. Billboard. January 10, 2021.
  28. Third Eye Blind Shines. Reece. Doug. Billboard. 109. 22. 17. May 31, 1997. October 17, 2020.
  29. Web site: Third Eye Blind Unveil Never-Before-Heard Track 'Alright Caroline' From Self-Titled Debut: Exclusive Premiere. Billboard. Weatherby. Taylor. May 11, 2017. January 25, 2022.