Yesterday, my sister came to pick me up from work. We hopped into the car, and she was listening to a CD she had borrowed from me, Villains, by the Verve Pipe. The CD was skipping badly, which isn’t a surprise since it’s old. I asked her if we could just listen to the radio, and instead she popped in another CD she had borrowed, the self-titled album by Third Eye Blind.
This album came out in 1997, when I was a Freshman / Sophomore in high school. I don’t know what it is, but this album is just one that I (and my sister) have to have in our collection. I can sing every song without thinking about it. You used to quote song lyrics from the album, and I could finish off the song. It’s very strange that their second album never even touched the greatness that this first one did.
K and I were talking about the album, and how her favorite songs are 11, 12 & 13, while my favorites are 2, 3, 6 & 10. And the fact that we know the track numbers is amazing, because we don’t know track numbers on most CDs. Also, it turns out that both of our first websites were Third Eye Blind fan sites. I will admit that my fan site was a 3EB slash Everclear site, but that’s because I loved them both at 15.
I used to sing “Semi-Charmed Life” to myself when I did dishes at Taco Bell. I still sing it to myself when I’m walking home from the bus stop. I can sing “Jumper” with out any prompting, and “How’s it Going to Be” is the best break-up song, ever. Period.
I know everyone has a short list of CDs they can’t live without, and this one is definitely at the top of mine. If you haven’t heard it (and how could you not have, if you listen to alternative? They released practically every song as a single), you should definitely check it out.
Listening to this album just takes me back to high school, and that time in my life when I didn’t really have anything to worry about. But every time I listen to it, it still feels new and relevant and important. And I find another reason to love it all over again.
Just so you know. And Villains by The Verve Pipe is up there on the list. I suppose one day, I should actually write the list out…
— “Thanks a Lot,” Third Eye Blind: Third Eye Blind
I’m totally cracking up over here because I feel pretty similar about this album… except that I graduated in ‘94 so there are other songs which have a similar significance. It’s just that this album has this ability to suck you in. It’s not overly complicated but the lyrics are fantastic and, when it’s playing, no one can talk to me because I’m singing at the top of my lungs.