Third Eye Blind, "Third Eye Blind" (Elektra 1997)

Third Eye Blind, “Third Eye Blind,” (Elektra 1997)

Imagine stumbling across Pandora’s box filled with all the heartache and evils of the world. Pandora couldn’t resist opening it, and Third Eye Blind’s eponymous album has that same appeal. The album is filled with pain, despair, and even hope. It also comes wrapped in an attractive yet deceiving shell that would fool anyone into releasing the harsh realities inside. “Third Eye Blind” is filled with heart-breaking accounts where we find pieces of ourselves scattered throughout. Its catchy songs cloak the darkness that lies beneath, and we are taken on a torment-ridden experience.

Songs of one-sided relationships and romantic half-truths are abundant throughout the album. “Losing A Whole Year” and “Good For You” recount stories of old flames being blown out. The fear of unrequited love haunts the listener as Stephan Jenkins sings “I kind of get the feeling like I'm being used” in “Losing A Whole Year.” “Good For You” bubbles with the pain from a relationship growing apart, “Everything is fine/but I'm lonely all the time.” Neither lover is happy in the condemned relationship, but they don’t have the strength to break it off.

Complete with horrifying stories of narcoleptic episodes, the pleasures of oral sex, and the anxiety of the uncertainties of the future, Jenkins demonstrates that likeable guitar rifts and catchy choruses can distract even an ardent listener. “Semi-Charmed Life” is a head-bopping tune that is reminiscent of Hanson’s “MmmBop,” and to the casual listener it feels like a song you can roll down you car windows and let your kids sing along to. When in all truth, “She comes round and she goes down on me/ Slide up around the belly face down on the mattress” is all about our favorite pastime.  

“Jumper” is a particularly interesting track because of its dark yet hopeful message. The tension is unbearable in the anti-suicide anthem, not knowing whether or not he or she may jump. The melody tells the story of friend pleading to friend to “step back from that ledge” understanding that ties my have to be cut to save a life.

The only small qualm with the album is that it ends on a sour note. After an uplifting song like “Motorcycle Drive By” where “I’ve never been so alone/I’ve never been so alive” proclaims that you can find true happiness inside yourself. “God of Wine” feels like a bit of a relapse from the strength found in the previous song. Screaming, “I know I can’t keep it all together” and finding refuge in alcohol it is truly painful because it’s like watching a close pal fall back into destructive habits.

From living on the edge and feeling alive, to feeling dejected and unloved “Third Eye Blind” has something to offer everyone. It’s tempting to get sucked into the stories the album paints for us. This album is conversational and it feels like you’re catching up with an old friend over a couple of beers. So even though Pandora’s box contains some hellish elements, there is also hope. These are substances that make up the good and the bad in life.