DeViCom CD-Review: Blind Melon

The shadowy blue-black cover artwork (complete with sultry model) is an obvious homage to vintage cool jazz albums, but Spain's compositions are much more concerned with the dark and restless interiors of the psyche than those you'll find on any 1950s jazz record. Therefore, the could muddle any jazz fan. It's no secret that this quartet is trying to evoke a brooding, late-night atmosphere, and they succeed at doing this with their seductive drones (with lots of languorous guitar/bass lines and shuffle drums) and melancholy, pensive songs. It's a bit monotonous all at once, though, and Josh Haden's raspy, thin vocals don't bring out the potential expressive range of the material as well as another singer might. They might get tired of hearing this, but I'd recommend that the band shop for a lead vocalist if they want to realize their full potential; Haden ain't no Margo Timmins, Lou Reed, or even Mimi Goese (from the obscure, somewhat similar late '80s band, Hugo Largo). But at the same time, Haden's thin voice does have its good sides since it causes a low lingering atmosphere that can captivate any listener.