The song sounds like the band was replaced by T-Pain’s autotune vocals and a DJ. Similar to slower tracks of the Third Eye Blind of old like “Motorcycle Drive By” or “Slow Motion”, this song features Jenkins’ storytelling tones while also allowing the singer to show off his vocal range.īy far the song that has received the most criticism, “2x Tigers” can only be described as a product of experimentation. About midway through the song, the drums begin to come on and Jenkins belt out some lines before slowing it down once again. Slowing it down once again, “Light it Up” features Jenkins’ vocals alongside keyboard and soft instrumentals. On what is otherwise a relatively upbeat album despite the political undertones, this track certainly has the listener sympathizing with the difficult feelings that can come with separation.
In discussing what appears to be a difficult split, Jenkins cries out “Who am I to you” and “I still want you to approve of me, Cause these days won’t be as good as the days you love me”. Though the sound is very different, the vibe of “Who am I” reminds me of the themes that were heavily present in “Out of the Vein”. The varying speeds keep the listener engaged as Jenkins drops clever rhymes. The song is a rollercoaster in terms of pacing, as it will begin to speed up before coming to a complete halt. Accented by the piano and some soft percussions, it starts out sounding like if Macklemore was performing an acoustic set in a coffee shop. Like much of the album, Jenkins seems to be having casual conversation with the listener. “Got So High” is extremely unique and relies on unconventional pacing, but I’m here for it. It’s exactly what you would expect a Third Eye Blind song to sound like in 2019. The riffs by Kryz Reid and the beat set by Brad Hargreaves on drums make this track upbeat and enjoyable. As the track progresses, Jenkins begins to effortlessly unleash his raspy vocals over the top of more instrumentals. Jenkins enters with a speaking voice at a pace unfamiliar to most Third Eye Blind loyalists. An instrumental intro similar to that of “Screamer” is quickly cut off with an edgy guitar riff and some drums to set the fast-paced beat. Keeping the energy high, “The Kids are Coming (To Take You Down)” is one of my favorite songs on the record.
The track is full of energy and empowerment, a common theme of the album. The verse carries the energy while the bridge and chorus slows it down to bring the listener in. Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells accents Jenkins’ well and is featured throughout the song. Jenkins then enters with his trademark vocals over top of the instrumental. The synth continues in the background for most of the piece. The song gets started with a catchy synthesizer that ascends and descends smoothly. The album kicks off with the powerful title track, “Screamer”.
However, “Screamer” certainly has a place at the table when discussing Third Eye Blind’s discography. Now, without a doubt, my favorite records from the band remain “Out of the Vein”, “Blue” (Platinum), and “Third Eye Blind” (6x Platinum). In a world where songs are released as individual stories rather than chapters part of a larger book, Third Eye Blind has many albums that tell a story when played through without skipping a track. One thing has remained steady through the years: Stephan Jenkins’ realism and attitude that he conveys brilliantly through music and lyrics. To this day, Third Eye Blind remains a staple on my playlists, despite the many changes musically and organizationally that the band has experienced during its twenty-six year history. After digging deeper into the band, I discovered more of their discography, including their deep cuts and radio unfriendly tracks. Like many, my first introduction to Third Eye Blind was the 90’s hits of “Semi-Charmed Life”, “Jumper”, and “Never Let You Go”.