Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major thoughts?

[Aiml3ss]

Just picked up the new 3EB CD "Ursa Major" and I freakin love it! Sure it doesn't have the monster hits such as semi charmed life, jumper, etc but the songs are very consistent and they are all very catchy. I really think this is one of their best albums, up there with Out of the Vein.

Water Landing is SUCH a great song! I've never heard someone pull off a song about ending a relationship and mixing in a plane crash at the same time. Pretty awesome. Bonfire is also a very good song even though it puts me in a depressed mood!

What's funny is that you it seems from the reviews that you either hate it or love it.

Thoughts?

 

[chud]

Why Can't You Be doesn't need to be on there. It fit in just fine on the Red Star EP.

Also, it would have been nice if the entire Carnival Barker was on there, but I understand why they did it that way now that I have learned that it will be the opening track to Ursa Minor.

Otherwise, the album is solid. Abe is a quality stand in on bass for Arion. However, it doesn't seem like Brad and Tony are putting forth all that they can. As my brother said, "it's Jenkins' album" and I would have to agree...not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
Some great lyrics and plays on words, as always.

The album does take a few listen throughs to appreciate, but I would still put it towards the bottom of their four full length studio albums.

 

[Aiml3ss]

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Why Can't You Be doesn't need to be on there. It fit in just fine on the Red Star EP.

True, but I REALLY love this song. I do, however, think that the acoustic version was better.

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The album does take a few listen throughs to appreciate, but I would still put it towards the bottom of their four full length studio albums.

I agree with you on the first part. This album really grows on you with each play-through. It keeps on getting better and better. The second part, I have to disagree! Sure they don't have any singles or harder edge songs from Blue or Out of the Vein (Super underrated album IMO) but the songs all strike emotions with me and THAT to me is a how an album should be made. To make the listeners connect and feel what the song is really about.

But ya like you said, solid album. I'll totally agree with you on that!

 

[chud]

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Originally Posted by Aiml3ss /img/forum/go_quote.gif True, but I REALLY love this song. I do, however, think that the acoustic version was better.

did you hear the iTunes exclusive version? SO terrible.



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I agree with you on the first part. This album really grows on you with each play-through. It keeps on getting better and better. The second part, I have to disagree! Sure they don't have any singles or harder edge songs from Blue or Out of the Vein (Super underrated album IMO) but the songs all strike emotions with me and THAT to me is a how an album should be made. To make the listeners connect and feel what the song is really about. But ya like you said, solid album. I'll totally agree with you on that!

Yes, OOTV is VERY under rated.

I think MY "problem" with this one is I don't have anything going on in my life right now that I can connect this album to as I could with the others. The other 3 came out at specific times in my life where they struck very specific chords. This one, not so much. There are songs that hit me HARD, like Bonfire and Water Landing, but ten years from now, I will remember listening to this one while playing Xbox Live. Haha. The other ones are a different story.

Do you know about this site? The 3EB Archive - Third Eye Blind
Has a ton of B-sides and non-released material.

 

[crazzz]

3EB? really?

 

[chud]

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Originally Posted by crazzz /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3EB? really?

Yes.

Really.

Care to share your thoughts on them? And feel free to throw some other bands or groups out there. I'm always looking for new music.

 

[Aiml3ss]

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Originally Posted by chud /img/forum/go_quote.gif did you hear the iTunes exclusive version? SO terrible. Yes, OOTV is VERY under rated. I think MY "problem" with this one is I don't have anything going on in my life right now that I can connect this album to as I could with the others. The other 3 came out at specific times in my life where they struck very specific chords. This one, not so much. There are songs that hit me HARD, like Bonfire and Water Landing, but ten years from now, I will remember listening to this one while playing Xbox Live. Haha. The other ones are a different story. Do you know about this site? The 3EB Archive - Third Eye Blind Has a ton of B-sides and non-released material.

LOL! That exclusive was absolutely atrocious. That female singer was so bad.

Ya albums can be SOOO good if the album is on the same page as your life. Like this album, to me, most of the songs are about how he is ending a relationship or how he is still burning to love this girl but she doesn't want him or doesn't know what to think. That's exactly what I am kinda going through.

I'll take a look at that site. Thanks bra.

Whats your favorite 3EB song? There are so many but the one that I am spinning a lot lately is Crystal Baller. Something about that song..

 

[chud]

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Originally Posted by Aiml3ss /img/forum/go_quote.gif LOL! That exclusive was absolutely atrocious. That female singer was so bad.

It's the same girl from Self Righteous off of OOTV. She was actually a welcome addition to that song. I don't know what happened on Why Can't You Be.



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Whats your favorite 3EB song? There are so many but the one that I am spinning a lot lately is Crystal Baller. Something about that song..

I'll do one from each album...

Narcolepsy
Wounded
Palm Reader
Bonfire

Crystal Baller is a big one for me, but I didn't want to copy

 

[Aiml3ss]

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Originally Posted by chud /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's the same girl from Self Righteous off of OOTV. She was actually a welcome addition to that song. I don't know what happened on Why Can't You Be. I'll do one from each album... Narcolepsy Wounded Palm Reader Bonfire Crystal Baller is a big one for me, but I didn't want to copy

Boy, do we think alike! Wounded and Bonfire are BOTH on my top 5. Bonfire is by far the best song on Ursa Major. It kinda reminds me of Motorcycle Drive By in a sense that Jenkins lyrics are kinda about the same thing.

 

[Coltrane]

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Originally Posted by crazzz /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3EB? really?

It takes all kinds.

 

[Aiml3ss]

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Originally Posted by Coltrane /img/forum/go_quote.gif It takes all kinds.

I'm confused.

Are you guys not fans or is something else going on?

 

[yeahx]

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Originally Posted by Aiml3ss /img/forum/go_quote.gif LOL! That exclusive was absolutely atrocious. That female singer was so bad. Ya albums can be SOOO good if the album is on the same page as your life. Like this album, to me, most of the songs are about how he is ending a relationship or how he is still burning to love this girl but she doesn't want him or doesn't know what to think. That's exactly what I am kinda going through.

Oh really? Me too and I wanted to get this for her. Maybe not so much now. I have had enough of her playlist about everything as it is. I found Good For You to be a great song to sing along to when I went and listened to the older stuff after seeing this thread.

 

[RedSky0]

Huhwhat, I thought everyone universally agreed that Out of the Vein was terrible and full of generic radio songs, while Blue and their self-titled album were unanimously better?

Anyway, gave Ursa Major an e-spin, couple of decent songs but seems pretty stock standard mainstream pop-rock to me. Nothing Motorcycle Drive By/Slow Motion-like good. Seems very 3-3.5/5 to me ...

 

[Aiml3ss]

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Originally Posted by RedSky0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Huhwhat, I thought everyone universally agreed that Out of the Vein was terrible and full of generic radio songs, while Blue and their self-titled album were unanimously better? Anyway, gave Ursa Major an e-spin, couple of decent songs but seems pretty stock standard mainstream pop-rock to me. Nothing Motorcycle Drive By/Slow Motion-like good. Seems very 3-3.5/5 to me ...

I've heard so many different views on their albums its hard to keep them straight. I personally think their self titled album and Out of the Vein are excellent. Blue on the other hand, was a bit of a let down for me IMO. Ursa Major is alright the first spin but you really gotta listen to it a couple time to really understand it and have it grow on you. Trust me!

 

[122743]

Quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSky0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Huhwhat, I thought everyone universally agreed that Out of the Vein was terrible and full of generic radio songs, while Blue and their self-titled album were unanimously better? Anyway, gave Ursa Major an e-spin, couple of decent songs but seems pretty stock standard mainstream pop-rock to me. Nothing Motorcycle Drive By/Slow Motion-like good. Seems very 3-3.5/5 to me ...

I've heard so many different views on their albums its hard to keep them straight. I personally think their self titled album and Out of the Vein are excellent. Blue on the other hand, was a bit of a let down for me IMO. Ursa Major is alright the first spin but you really gotta listen to it a couple time to really understand it and have it grow on you. Trust me!

Sorry to drag this thread up from the past, but am a big 3EB fan here and have all of the albums. To be honest, my opinion is exactly the same as Aiml3ss. Here are my rankings and favourite songs;
 
#1 - Third Eye Blind - Graduate (Basically I love this whole album and think it is by far their best effort. Would have been very interesting to see how the band developed if Kevin Cadogan had stayed. I love his guitar work.)
#2 - Out of the Vein - Palm Reader (I also enjoy every song on this album.)
#3 - Blue - Darkness (This album is a bit hit and miss for me. I don't generally listen to the whole thing song after song, like I do with both of the two above.)
#4 - Ursa Major - Can You Take Me (Still working on this album, but this track sounds very OOV to me)
 
Overall the Third Eye Blind album is the most played in my entire library.