Third Eye Blind Album: “Out of the Vein [Clean]”

Probably one of the most powerful lyrical phrases I've ever heard. I have had this CD since it's (agonizingly long awaited) release date nearly two years ago, and it's still in my CD-changer and playing right now. For no particular reaaon (as I feel I am "preaching tot he choir" here) I felt compelled to put up a quick review for my fellow music afficionados. On a scale of 1 to 5 this one warrants a solid 24. Of the over 600 record/CD's I've been amassing for some 20 years, "Out of the Vein" has definitely lodged itself solidly in my own personal "Hall of Fame". Third Eye Blind is a tremendous musical powerhouse, one that I can only hope goes on to a decades-spanning career the likes of which exemplified by a few of my other personal favorites: Rush, Yes, U2, and the hopefully not much longer to be dormant Van Halen. At the risk of grandiosity... I see Stephan Jenkins coming into the same circle of songwriting geniuses as Neil Peart and Bruce Hornsby. On a more personal note, I can identify with the emotional suffering of a "messy breakup", and a few years back during the personal devastation of my own divorce, it was 3EB's "Blue" that - for reasons I can't explain - played a BIG part in my ability to move on and begin healing. When I hear lines like "I kept your sweater until the scent was gone / Wrapped up in my hands when the days were long." I can FEEL in a very real and visceral way exactly what Stephan is communicating. [[The only other "sonic therapy" to ever get into me as directly is Bruce Hornsby's live rendition of Jerry Garcia's "Lady With A Fan" found on his "Here Comes The Noisemakers" double CD from 2000 -- check it out]] Maybe it's the fusion of such powerful personal feelings set against a backdrop of energetic, upbeat and (most importantly) refeshingly original musical arrangements that gives 3EB's creations their power, if not a life of their own. Get this CD, Get all three Third Eye Blind releases -- You will be anything but disappointed. --Bob

Third Eye has achieved a following and fan base through their ability to connect with the common listener. Relationships, fights, sex, death, and self doubt are just some of the topics they tend to touch on, but lead singer Stephan Jenkins has the ability to make you step into his life.

With the release of their third effort, Out Of Vein, things have not changed. The lyrics are just as dark, the sex is just as raw, and the tones have an uplifting but negative vibe at the same time. For a true Third Eye fan, this is a Third Eye CD. If your someone who is looking for Semi-Charmed Kinda Life, that was 5 years ago, times change, and so does music. All in all, it's the same band, and they continue to evolve their sound.

In my first listen to "Out of the Vein" I wasn't sure what to think of this new album of 3eb. It seemed different than "Blue", but it wasn't the Self-Titled very much either.

That is, basically, because it's neither. It has some elements from Blue, where Stephan Jenkins and the gang decided to use very "pop"-ish sounds, and had maybe two or three songs that stood out. But it also reminds various songs off the self-titled CD, which was definitely the better out of the two.

"Out of the Vein" is a great mix of the Self-Titled and "Blue". It has the perkyness and vividness of "Blue" (in songs like "Forget Myself", "Faster" and "Blinded") but some of the 'blueness' and sadness of the Self-Titled (heard in "Crystal Baller", "Misfits" and "Self Righetous").

This album has a much better flow than the previous (the tiresome "Blue" was very bunched up in genres of songs), and a much more evolved musical sense from the Self-Titled.

Jenkins wrote or co-wrote every single song in this album, and you can feel it. His incredible voice (for my opinion) fits every song, and you know he sings with feeling.

Kudos to Stephan Jenkins, Arion Salazar, Tony Fredianelli and Brad Hargreaves for a great third album, a gift to all 3eb fans.

Praise: From the drudgery of the past six years of pop music hell, this phoenix, Third Eye Blind, rises with their third cd, "Out Of The Vein", which is arguably their best. There are definite hits like "Faster", "Crystal Baller" and "Can't Get Away" with unbeatable hooks. There are secondary hits like "Wake For Young Souls", "Palm Reader" and "Company" and there is some strong songwriting from Jenkins. In fact, with repeated listens, the words are just as thoughtful as the music is invigorating. The dvd "The Making of" is an amusing 21 minute expose of the band behind the scenes. They all seem like good guys on the surface at least! The dvd is not a waste, but not necessarily worth viewing repeatedly.

Criticism: The band slightly alters their signature sound still playing it safe musically. What was Jenkins thinking with "Self Righteous" and "Misfits"? Both disrupt the vibe and flow of the cd with their discordant sounds. Sure, maybe the lyrics are decent, but the songs are speedbumps on an otherwise perfect disc.

Conclusion: A definite must for 3EB fans. Could this band be the next U2? Thoughtful and charsimatic Jenkins and a strong band with individual personalities could lead to superstardom, who knows?

This is 3eb's third album. Here u can find this band at their punkiest prime. Not so lyrically forced as their first 2 albums but still not a dissapointment. I think "hit and run" is one of ther best songs and u also get a hidden track "another life" and "time in exile"<---only in bonus dvd. Overall a good cd, dvd is good to making my money worth while. If your a fan of softer and gentle 3eb there blue and dubut album will give u a rise so pick em all up and have a fun time being lost in jenkins words. hes a genius.