(Mercury)
Several years after Hootie and the Blowfish garnered international headlines, another band from the Carolina region is getting their chance at national recognition. And while both bands have taken a similar path to their major label debuts - long, arduous touring combined with hot selling independent releases (Hootie's Kootchypop, Cravin Melon's 20,000+ seller, Where I Wanna Be) - the trail blazed by Hootie has left some charred ashes for any future wanna-be Southern rock stars.
Differences between the two bands surface at the microphone; Darius Rucker has a more soulful, and variant vocal range than does Cravin Melon's Doug Jones. The similarities reside in the rhythmic hooks of both bands - not withstanding 9 zillion airplays for each of Hootie's singles.
"Come Undone", the first single from Red Clay Harvest, has an instant familiarity to the listener that will leave them yearning for more. "Nobody's Prize", a potential future single, is also carried by a hummable refrain and solid musicianship. At times, parts of Red Clay Harvest carry over into a more Southern version of John Mellencamp (circa Big Daddy) or if the Eagles had grown up in the Southeast - and hadn't gotten older.
Five songs from Where I Wanna Be have emerged in re-recorded form on Cravin' Melon's national debut. Tracks such as "Pretend" and "Blossom" fit together more as a cohesive package on Red Clay Harvest, which (to this Yankee who has never crossed the Mason-Dixon line on the East Coast) conjure up images of a relaxed atmosphere with a "good ol' hometown band" just playing for the fun of it. Even though "Pretend" draws into a longer-than-expected guitar solo, all the tracks retain that feel-good sound.
The likely second single, "Sweet Tea", has already received significant airplay at radio stations in the Southeast when released independently. Although slowed down from the indie version (with a slight change of harmonies), it's hopeful that the regional flavor - no pun intended - of this song on a favorite Southern drink won't deter the nation from taking a good listen at this cut.
And, it's hopeful that Hootie's success (and eventual overexposure) won't stop people from taking a look at another Carolina band. They're not some faceless label's product of the month, but a hard-working band that has paid its dues over the past several years. The guitar playing isn't complex - it's just catchy. The vocals aren't wide ranging - they just fit the music. And the lyrics aren't some metaphorical look at the universe, but they stay stuck in your head long after the song has finished.
Rather than saying what Cravin' Melon isn't, the focus should be on what Cravin' Melon is - a band that has a knack for recording well-crafted, radio-friendly songs. With records like Red Clay Harvest, Cravin' Melon could bring a whole new meaning to the term Southern rock.
For more information, check out the band's web site at http://www.melonpatch.com
