Classic Masters - Blind Melon

With only a pair of studio albums released during their brief and ultimately tragic career (in addition to a posthumously issued odds-and-ends collection), the appearance of a Blind Melon best of, 2002's Classic Masters, may understandably raise a few eyebrows. But the bottom line is that the quintet issued some truly great music during their short tenure together, and just about every selection from this 12-track overview is a gem. For reasons unknown, many wrongly dismiss Blind Melon as a one-hit wonder (yes, their mega-hit "No Rain" is included here), and Classic Masters shows that the group had an abundance of material that was every bit as good as their lone hit -- mixing up hard rockers ("Galaxie," "Paper Scratcher," "2x4," "Tones of Home") with more tranquil fare ("Change," "Walk," "Soul One"), and compositions that lay somewhere in the middle ("Soup," "Pull," "Mouthful of Cavities"). If you're a newcomer to the woefully underrated Blind Melon, Classic Masters will serve as a fine introduction. Just be prepared to quickly follow up that purchase with their three previous albums. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide