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By Kayceman
It's hard to believe it's been ten years since Shannon Hoon overdosed in his tour bus bunk. For many, his death was a crippling blow, one that not only stole a beautiful artist, but destroyed one of the most underrated bands of the early '90s. While it's true that Blind Melon was wildly successful, the world knew them as the "No Rain" band with that funny bumble-bee girl. Had Hoon been able to hang on a bit longer, perhaps the more meaningful, emotional, songs could have received the glory they so rightfully deserve; furthermore, we likely would have found one of the most original voices of the day develop into a force.
For those who dug deeper than the self-titled release, it's clear that Shannon had the gift. Perhaps after ten years of wondering "Why?" and with the release of this greatest hits collection, we can finally let our troubled minds rest. He's gone, but his music will live, there's no question. While Tones Of Home - The Best Of Blind Melon is no substitute for the band's two main releases (Blind Melon - 1992, Soup - 1995) or the posthumous NICO (1996), it's a very successful "best of" compilation, and it should make 2002's Classic Masters obsolete. As is the case with almost every "best of," there are wonderful songs that get clipped and obscure greats that don't fit, but such is the nature of compilations.
In addition to the staples from the first album such as "Tones of Home," "Change," "No Rain," and "I Wonder," we find a few of the lesser-known gems (which arguably show Hoon coming into his own) from Soup ("Mouthful Of Cavities," "St. Andrew's Fall," "Walk," "Pull") getting their place next to the "hits." In addition to the studio work, the folks in charge were wise enough to include "No Rain (Ripped-Away Version)" from NICO, giving the band's most popular song a much-needed demented twist. Rounding out this fine selection of Melon are a few live tracks that show a band, which at times was sloppy, at their peak destroying the stage. For those who know and love Blind Melon, Tones Of Home - The Best Of Blind Melon puts a bunch of great songs in one place for easy consumption. For those who have yet to discover their genius, this a great place to start.
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