REVIEW: Unified Theory, Unified Theory (3:33)
- Chris Hill
Unified Theory unites Dave Krusen, drummer on Pearl Jam's landmark Ten cd, Christopher Thorn (guitars) and Brad Smith (bass) from Blind Melon, and vocalist Chris Shinn. A praiseworthy combination of rock punch and radio-friendly glossiness, though its shelf life is questionable. Frankly, if I played this album another dozen times, I'd enjoy the album each time, but once the cd left my player, I'd move on to other music without a backwards glance.
Damning with faint praise, for an album wearing its good intentions on its sleeve. Earnest and upbeat, even the darker tracks like "Keep On" and "Bloodlet" have a sunny, unthreatening presence thanks to Shinn's soaring voice and the supporting music. Barring the heavy power chord riffs of "California", the album's guitars are highly polished on each of the twelve tracks, with a definite lack of edge. The elevating intent is inescapable, which means this album should do well on alternative radio, and please fans of the members' previous bands.
Shinn says, "We miss that there's so few bands anymore that when you leave their concert you feel as if you've been to church or had a spiritual experience; where the music and vibe changed your life." "Fin", written in, and influenced by, the Bahamas, describes just such a epiphany. "We paddle through the waves/All solutions find their ways/...The healing is over/We have discovered/Where we stand." Given the untimely demise of Blind Melon's Shannon Moon and vocalist Shinn losing his house and possessions years ago in a fire, there's more substance here than one might suspect.
So perhaps a backwards glance or three is merited, after all.
