2 - www.billboard.com  "Blue" first week debut at #40.  Not bad.  Did better than that Enrique queer guy.  YES!

3 - STEPHAN SIGHTING! "Semi Charmed Life"  will be on vh1's Pop Up Video at 9:30 am EST.

4 - From ???:
BLUE-Third Eye Blind
Although not quite on the mark, Third Eye Blind's new release Blue is actually a relief from the co-called "rock" bands Limp Bizkit and Korn and their imitation bands that follow closely behind. And, get this, Third Eye Blind ACTUALLY plays instruments and writes their own songs. So, though they may not be considered a "true rock band" because they are played all over pop stations, they are at least a relief from Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and the millions of other nameless, faceless boy bands and female groups to that effect. 
As for the actual sound of Blue, it is listenable all the way through and has smooth, catchy hooks that get annoying after a few listens, but keep you addicted. The album is slightly over-produced with a few too many effects on 
tracks such as 'The Red Summer Sun' and 'An Ode To Maybe', and, ok, ok, the astro-effect in the pop-punkish 'Anything' was ripped from U2, but otherwise it does distinguish itself slightly from the rest of today's post-grunge 
rockers. Kevin Cadogan maintains his signature guitar style, and the album could show it off a bit more, but the musicianship is impressive. The grunge-bass from Arion Salazar on the eerie, haunted 'Camouflage' is... well... ORIGINAL. Very uncharacteristic of Third Eye Blind, yes, but refreshing. The most impressive part of Third Eye Blind on this record, however, is drummer Brad Hargreaves. On their self-titled debut, he was more jazz-oriented but his unbelievable fast and crisp beats on this album are noticed, for the most part, right off. Now onto Stephen Jenkins. He's not exactly a charismatic frontman, but his pensive, original lyrics on this album, are, indeed impressive. Too bad every now and then he gets caught up in stomach wrenching cliché lines, making his lyrical abilities seem very inconsistent. Hence, "I'll never let you go" and "We're missing you" etc etc etc. Still, the lyrics are provocative and catchy. They have their more inventive moments as well. For example, the mitosis theme of the laid back track "Darwin" and the mile-a minute words in "Camouflage". With the exception of Camouflage, Jenkins does not show off his hip-hop influence nearly as much as on their debut. He does some spoken word at the end of the popiest song on the album, "Never Let You Go", but it can't quite be categorized as rap. Never Let You Go will most likely be this album's 'Semi Charmed Life', but the radio stations won't have to edit this one's lyrics. 
The song could be considered pop trash, but it shows that Third Eye Blind actually has the guts not to shy away from a pop label. Third Eye Blind actually gets a harsher rap than they deserve. After all, these guys can play, and their songs aren't half-bad. The album is a fairly good listen if you are expecting pop-rock (it's a relief from the Counting Crows-style jangle pop). I mean, Third Eye Blind DOES have the chops to put out more 
albums. With this in mind, some musical highlights on the album are the mix of the boys choir in "Ten Days Late" and the kick-ass feeling the yelling parts in 'Wounded' have the ability to give the listener. And 1000 Julys actually proves that 3eb can "rawk" as Jenkins once put it. Peaking of which, and you can believe this or not, Jenkins' Cali accent is actually FITTING on '1000 Julys' and the overly-produced and overly-sugary 'Farther'. And, yes, his laughable falsetto, of course included on almost every track, sounds like Peter Gabriel getting kicked in the nuts, and the out-of-tune whine hasn't left dear Stephen by any means, but in songs like "10 Days Late" and "Wounded" he actually manages to show more emotion than a Backstreet Boy. Third Eye Blind even included a hysterical AC/DC-ish vocal from Jenkins on 'The Red Summer Sun', but they over-do that track by playing it's outro as a 
bonus track instead of giving their fans another song to listen to, and the instrumental version of the song Slow Motion that was pulled from the album due to its controversial lyrics could have been left off as well. If you play 
the album straight through, it's best to skip this track. It might put you to sleep and give you nightmares about Stephan Jenkins and his scary-as-hell expression on the back of the CD box. As to why Third Eye Blind didn't stick 
to their guns about leaving the original 'Slow Motion" on the album... well... we'll leave that to the smart-assed Jenkins to stutter about.

5 - From Mtv.com:

From sonicnet.com:

Channeling Hits
The label asked the band to alter the original lyrics of "Slow Motion."  According to the band's management, the label found the lyrics too violent.
SonicNet.com - December.2.1999
by Bud Scoppa

SonicNet reviewer - 4 out of 5
SonicNet readers - 5 out of 5 (!)

In the aptly titled "Camouflage," which makes up a chunk of the meaty second half of Third Eye Blind's second album, guitarist Kevin Cadogan fires off a torrent of 16th notes as if he's the new sheriff of Joshua Tree.
Simultaneously, the wily tenor of Stephan Jenkins appears/ appears/ appears, enlivened by extreme delay a la the New Radicals' po-mo anthem "You Get What You Give." These two hyper-rhythmic elements lock together into a shimmering mass, and Jenkins (who up to this point didn't seem to have an earnest bone in his body) launches into a poignant falsetto, signaling the band's shape-shift into Radiohead. As the music approaches its climax, punctuated by a Keith Richards guitar lick and a "Kashmir"-like orchestral figure, Jenkins lets his falsetto float just out of pitch into the surrounding din, humanizing the sonic explosion. Thievery doesn't get much more creative than this.
Like so much of Blue, "Camouflage" is such a smart and stirring effort that we have to remind ourselves who it is we're listening to here. To be frank, I regarded Third Eye Blind's 1997 smash Semi-Charmed Life as a guilty pleasure, a record to enjoy in the privacy of my Mazda but not to venerate, not hardly.  
Imagine my surprise, then, as I encountered in Blue what is consciously a Big Rock Album in the manner of the Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin. The disc reverberates with windmill chords, lofty themes and grand gestures. All this sound and fury from a band that, like fellow alt-pop darlings Matchbox 20, previously seemed clever but inconsequential.
On the first album's "Graduate," Jenkins was content to mimic Perry Farrell's helium vocal sound. Here, he has bigger fish to fry, going so far as to nail Robert Plant's "Been a long time" shriek from "Rock and Roll" on "The Red Summer Sun." Generally, though, the references on Blue are less overt; indeed, they tend to be tantalizingly subliminal. The skill with which these appropriations are fitted together confirms that Jenkins is neither a pop guy nor a rocker at heart 97 he's a cunning aural architect who constructs bite-sized hooks and towering epics with equal aplomb.
With the exception of "Ten Days Late," a grittier thematic prequel to Ben Folds Five's "Brick," the songs derive their emotional power not from linear exposition but through the poetry of sculpted noise, and the result is as consistently thrilling as any album I've heard this year. I keep going back
to the record to make sure I'm not deluding myself, and it captivates me every time I do. The last time through I got hooked on "An Ode to Maybe," with its Houses of the Holy guitar, Stevie Wonder groove, and an airy vocal touch I can't quite place.
If Blue's formal message is that there's nothing new under the sun, the album also shows that an infinite variety of appealing new inventions can be made out of recycled parts.

7 - Third Eye Blind was a NO SHOW for the internet chat on www.twec.com on 11/26.   To make it up to the fans who attended (myself included) they sent out this coupon offer...

Dear Third Eye Blind Fan:
Thank you for your recent visit to twec.com for the Third Eye Blind Chat on Friday, November 26.
Please accept our sincerest apologies for the cancellation of the chat.  We are still working with the band's management to re-schedule the chat and will contact you when a date and time have been set.
As a token of our appreciation, we are sending you a $5 coupon* to use on our website, http://www.twec.com.  You may use this coupon any time between now and January 31, 2000.  The coupon code is TEB99 and should be entered in the coupon field on the order form when you are checking out.  We are also offering FREE USPS** shipping between now and December 31, 1999.
Once again, we are very sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  We hope you will join us for another chat in the future.  Thank you for visiting twec.com - The Web's Entertainment Center.
Sincerely, Jennifer CustomerService@TWEC.com   http://www.twec.com
Rules for Coupon Use
* Coupon is valid only at http://www.twec.com. This coupon is intended solely for one-time use.  Multiple use of this coupon is prohibited. Must use coupon code to receive offer. Not valid with any other coupon offer. Not valid on custom CDs or Digital Downloads. Limit one per household. Offer void where prohibited by law. No cash value. Offer is valid from 12/1/99 through midnight on 1/31/00.
** Discounts also available on Second Day and Next Day shipping.  Visit http://www.twec.com/TW/SpecialPromos/FreeShipping2NewYear.asp?Mode=1 for details.

8 - From CDNOW.com:

Swift success, saturation, and a good-looking singer made Third Eye Blind an easy target for detractors. What naysayers want to forget is that, for several months in 1997, even the most fervent of their lot couldn't walk into a 7-Eleven in Peoria without leaving with the chorus of 'do-do-do's from "Semi-Charmed Life" on their lips.
Not much on their sophomore Blue has the instant sing-along appeal that their aforementioned breakout hit had, but not for lack of endeavor. The first single, "Anything," hints at Soul Asylum back when they still played abrasive and punk-y. "Deep Inside of You" has a sweet, jangly melody and wounded vocals that deliver the kind of honest beauty one hopes for in good conversation.
What doesn't work are songs like the banal "10 Days Late." With lines like, "Give me a minute now to figure out my state/She's 10 days late," the lyrics sound like the strained mental overexertions of a Big East linebacker forced to take Poetry 101 to graduate.
"Never Let You Go" combines under-appreciated early '80s guitar pop (think Rick Springfield) with Stephan Jenkins' sing-speak at the end -- a formula that only half works. The AC/DC-inspired "The Red Summer Sun," is a two-for-one: half the song is guitar sludge à la Pearl Jam, the other half showcases Jenkins' ability to scream like Brian Johnson. And judging from these, it seems like the band can’t make up their mind as to whether they are cocksure '80s revisionists or sensitive '90s pop-churners.
Michelle Kleinsak

From RollingStone.com:

Third Eye Blind's second album will go a long in helping the San Francisco-based band to shed their corporate-rock label. Less grandiose and obvious than their 1997 debut, the elegantly flawed Blue crackles with energy and dark humor, but doesn't wade in the same pools of gloom and despair as its self-titled predecessor. Frontman Stephan Jenkins has exchanged his intricate stream-of-consciousness musings for more streamlined soulful wordplay. The assertive, inventive guitars recall such big bruisers
of yesteryear as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, but without the heavy-handedness. "Never Let You Go," the album's standout, is as catchy as Rick Springfield's "Jesse's Girl," but with a raw edge and a snarling Jaggeresque rap by Jenkins. Smart, poppy, and ironic, Blue more than solidifies Third Eye Blind's standing as a band on the rise. --Jaan Uhelszki

From kissrocks.com:

Third Eye Blind:  Blue    by Steven Landry, U-Wire

Just when the "doot, doo, doo" of Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life" began to escape everyone's heads, the band has returned with their second major label album, Blue.
3EB made Blue everything a sequel should be, exploring new musical sounds while not forgetting to write a few songs bound to appeal to a mass audience.
Look for "Never Let You Go," "Anything" and "1000 Julys" to be those songs.
"Never Let You Go" sounds straight from the '70s, musically with its thick guitar sounds and lyrically with "I remember the stupid things/The mood rings/The bracelets and the beads." Lead singer Stephan Jenkins' falsetto in the song's chorus just begs listeners to sing along.
The two-minute punk rock "Anything," fueled by Brad Hargreaves' drumming works well as the album's first track, despite the music's resemblance to Pearl Jam's "Corduroy." Guitarists Kevin Cadogan and Arion Salazar's riffs make "1000 Julys" one of the catchier songs on the album.
Widespread success came unexpectedly for the band in 1997 with its quadruple-platinum self-titled album. Featuring a plethora of hit singles including "Semi-Charmed Life," "How's It Going to Be," "Jumper" and "Graduate," Third Eye Blind became a tough album to follow.
With the exception of "Never Let You Go," it's unlikely that many of Blue's tracks will end up on Top 40 radio or on MTV (maybe a name change to the Third Eye Boys would help them get some air time).
"Deep Inside of You" hits the mark as the album''s best ballad. Its contradictory lyrics sounds like the thoughts of a nervous teenage boy ("And I would say that I'm sorry to you/I'm sorry to you/But I don't want to call you/But then I want to call you/Cause I don't want to crush you/But I feel like crushing you"), but it blends well enough with the music to sound heartfelt and will likely connect well with the band's fan base.
However, the band sounds the best when it plays what it knows best, fast and driving guitar rock anthems, that are perhaps better suited for live shows than studio albums. Blue's ballads fall way short of its predecessors on Third Eye Blind. The random lyrics of "Darkness," "Darwin" and "Camouflage" act only to disjoint what could be a few decent songs.
Yet the album still satisfies. A few hits could arise from Blue, and Third Eye Blind fans will take interest in the band's exploration beyond itself with new sounds.
3EB's energy-infused songs will carry over well during their tour for the album, which will probably begin early next year.
Although the band takes a major chance by creating a new sound on a highly anticipated follow-up album, Third Eye Blind's risk could help the band establish itself as a permanent rock 'n' roll fixture.

From the Daily Texan:

CD REVIEW: Third Eye Blind's 'Blue'      ( University Wire )

(Daily Texan) (U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas -- A interesting phenomenon for our generation to witness is the way modern bands inject themselves with the spirit of a group we grew up loving. Semisonic wants to be The Replacements. Live would like to be R.E.M. Then there's Third Eye Blind, who try as hard as they can to emulate U2.
The San Fran quartet did one better and actually opened for the rock gods during their PopMart tour. But that doesn't seem to have been enough. On their sophomore disc, Blue, Third Eye Blind goes all the way and makes the album U2 would make if they were 15 years younger (see "Camouflage" and "Darkness").
A polished, pretty and edgy album, Blue shows how much this up-and-coming band has grown up since finding success with hits like "Semi-Charmed Life" and "Jumper." The band relies on production tricks to create and alter melody. "Wounded" and "10 Days Late" are two such songs. The former uses a violin loop to wonderfully accentuate Stephan Jenkins's voice, which gets the royal treatment. It sounds like the music this band has traditionally been known for, but with a scope that has an epic scale.
What's beautiful about "Wounded" is what is beautiful about many of their songs. It's anthemic, soaring and rocks but very much rooted in a bombastic lyrical style. In other words, it almost sounds like hip-hop. A sample from "Wounded:" "Let me break it down 'till I force the issue/ You never come around, and you know we miss you...Back down the bully to the back of the bus/ Cause it's time for them to be scared of us." It would be better presented if you could actually hear it, but the delivery and the alliteration chosen make for a catchy, rhythmic outcome.
Each song could be the band's next hit single. "Never Let You Go" has an eerie resemblance to "Semi-Charmed Life." "Deep Inside of You" has the potential to become the official pop love song for the winter. It's effortless and effective, full of subtle keyboards that make it rest inside your head.
"The Red Summer Sun," even with it's odd Axl Rose/Robert Plant-screeching bridge, is an epic rock song if this band ever wrote one. It kicks and punches from its slow beginning to its explosive climax. The same can be said, for different reasons, about the controversial "Slow Motion," a slow, acoustic piece that sounds like Oasis in the days when they were remarkable.
Epic rock records. They come and go and lately, thanks to a lack of patience on the consumers' part, fail to be made. This is Third Eye Blind's attempt at creating their Joshua Tree. With more records improving on the great status of Blue, Third Eye Blind might just become the younger counterpart of their Irish idols.

9 - From http://www.cnnsi.com:

10 Questions
Third Eye Blind bassist Arion Salazar
Posted: Thursday November 25, 1999 12:08 PM
The Fiend was wandering around on the field before the game looking for someone to chat with, but all of the players seemed too busy to give me two minutes of their time. Lions kicker Jason Hanson blew me off to "stretch" and then proceeded to gab with his fellow kickers for the next 15 minutes or so. May his hamstring be tighter than a turkey's giblets, and may he shank the potential game-winner for blowing off The Fiend. That I would be thankful for. So after Third Eye Blind finished their pregame sound check at about 10:45 a.m., I caught up with bassist Arion Salazar on the field on the Silverdome for a turkey of a question-and-answer session.
1. Have you guys played at a football game before?
Never. I've never even been to a football game. But I have been to plenty of baseball games.
2. Who is your favorite baseball team?
The Oakland A's, my hometown team. In the golden age though, the Billy-ball era. We used to go and get free wristbands. I'm a big Rickey Henderson fan.
3. How much do you guys follow sports?
I don't know a f*&$%#g thing about sports. I'm actually more fond of darts. I'd rather watch fat English guys drink beer and throw darts. That's more fun to me.
4. Would you watch if there was a 24-hour cable channel devoted to fat English guys throwing darts?
No. Well, I guess it would be good for a laugh once in a while. Yeah, I'd keep on eye on that every now and again, definitely.
5. Are you guys on tour right now?
No, we are going to start the new tour in February. The new record came out Wednesday. It's called "Blue" and we will be playing "Never Let You Go" today, which will be the second single off the disc. It's got 13 tracks of rock-and-roll fury.
6. Do you have any fantastic Thanksgiving memories from growing up?
The most fantastic thing is -- and it's kind of hokey -- just getting so full of food that you can't move. Just the good food that you gorge yourself on. Just stuffing your face with killer grub, that's kind of my favorite part about Thanksgiving.
7. What is your favorite Turkey Day desert?
My grandmothers apple pie. I'm very American. "American Pie" hasn't stopped me from eating apple pie.
8. White meat or dark?
I'm into both. I like a little bit of both, because variety is the spice of life, as they say.
9. What kind of CDs do you guys listen to on the bus when you are on tour?
We got all kinds man -- a lot of rock-and-roll. The Who, The Rolling Stones, T-Rex, pretty old school. We're into some new bands though too, like Oasis.
10. Who is going to win today, and do you have a prediction on the score?
I don't know, I suppose the best team. Maybe Superfan (the parachutist from the Holyfield-Bowe II fight in Las Vegas) will be here. He'll have something to say about who is going to win the game. 98-43 Lions.
Wow, a high-scoring affair. Thanks for being with us Arion. Have a good show at halftime and good luck with the new record and your upcoming tour.

10 - STEPHAN SIGHTING!   Mini-live set and handshake session at Tower Record in Shibua (Tokyo, Japan)

From Erica - a huge 3eb fan in Japan who attended this appearance:

11 - STEPHAN SIGHTING!   Mini-live set at Hard Rock Cafe (Tokyo, Japan)

12 - STEPHAN SIGHTING!  Mini-live set at Tower Record in Umeda (Osaka, Japan)

Also, the January issue of Seventeen magazine contains an ad for "Blue".

Also, a review from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Third Eye Blind, "Blue"
There's something almost timeless about 3eb's approach to guitar rock. Where other bands seem either to be
moving ahead toward a hip-hop/rock fusion or retreating into the comfortable cliches of punk and retro rock, 3eb finds plently of fresh inspiration in the sound of cranked guitars and a simple backbeat. That's not to say the band doesn't do anything new, "Wounded" uses special effects to enhance the differences between the quiet, tendion-building verses and explosive chorus. And, as much as the band's instrumental side seems to shape the songs, it's singer Stephan Jenkins who gives the music its focus. NOt only does he bring an unusual lyrical depth to songs--"10 Days Late" is an awesome evocation of emotional ambiguity--but his singing is remarkable powerful.--- JD Considine

13 - STEPHAN SIGHTING!  The January/February 2000 issue of Request Magazine (Beck and Fiona Apple on the cover - available at Sam Goody and Musicland) includes this tidbit on Stephan and Boo (his dog):

Who is that dashing figure swooping in and out of traffic on a Triumph 955 motorcycle with a brown pitbull strapped in front of him? It's none other then Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins. Is Jenkins afraid of being attacked? No. His 4-year-old canine Koby Boo hates to be separated from her master, so he whisks her around town with him, parking her at the studio where he's finishing up mixes for the band's forthcoming album, now titled, Blue.

14 - Are you pissed that you haven't heard "Anything" on your local radio station?  Well, some fans in the Chicago area were, so they took it up with their local top 40 radio station, WTMX, The Mix.  Jaime Kartak, Assistant Program Director/Music Director of the Mix, explains the reason for no airplay:

You're correct that we know about "Blue" (in fact, I have a whole box of the CDs in my office). You're also correct that the first single "Anything" is too edgy for our format to play (and in fact, has only been sent to Alternative and Rock stations). The reason such a hard first single was chosen was because the band was concerned the Alternative and Rock formats would abandon them (in light of their great success at other formats such as ours). So, the band insisted that an Alternative-only track be the first single and be "worked" at Alternative radio only. This
is a tactic taken by a few bands and is not uncommon, though it's disappointing for a station such as ours that has enjoyed success with the band.
We were assured that there would be other great tracks that would fit our format and we were also asked to NOT play anything else until the band was ready to release a second track and had their relationship with the
Alternative format cemented. In deference to the band's wishes, we've left it alone for now and have been told a second single (that WILL be appropriate for our format) will be coming out at the first of the year with full support from the label and the band.
I haven't had a chance to listen to the full album yet, though it's in a stack of CDs in my car that I want to review, so I don't know about "Never Let You Go". I'll make sure to listen to that track, though.
Hope that answers some questions for you and your fellow mailing list members, and keep listening to The Mix as I'm sure we'll have the band on the air on our station again next year when they tour in support of "Blue".

Regards, Jaime Kartak  Assistant Program Director/Music Director  WTMX - The Mix, Chicago

15 -  The WB's "Roswell" features 3eb background music "Deep Inside of You."

Last day to enter *Jingle Bells Freestyle 3eb-style* for a chance to win "BLUE" autographed by the band!

16 - STEPHAN SIGHTING! Third Eye Blind perform (repeat) at 8:00 pm ET on Saturday Night Live on Comedy Central.

17 - The El Paso Times reviews "Blue":

Third Eye Blinds "Blue" compact disc doesn't quite jump at you the way the band's debut cd did.  The last disc was outstanding, with tunes such as "Semi-Charmed Life," "Graduate," and "Losing a whole year."
The first thing that caught me off guard on "Blue" was the single, "Anything." It's a super catchy ditty that screams 3EB all the way, but the song is only two minutes long. It starts off slow, then thumps in to the alternative-rock sound so prevalent on the band's first disc.
The band hit some serious issues such as domestic violence on "Wounded," and "10 days late" is about unplanned pregnancies. In addition to hitting the issues, these songs are pretty good, too. That's a pretty good combination.
"Deep inside of you" is a decent ballad, while "Camouflage" wreaks of The Clash.
This makes sense, as 3EB contributed to the Clash tribute earlier this year. "Camouflage" plays homage to the band in a not-so-direct way as a cover tune.
Overall, "Blue" is a good listen. It just takes a few listens to realize it.
(Nick Jezierny is a reporter for the El Paso Times who reviews compact discs each week.)

18 - STEPHAN SIGHTING!  Stephan lists his 12 fave albums with CDNOW.com.  Here's his Artist Picks:

Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins: FAVORITES ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Compiled by Meredith Ochs "There's nothing worse than a good rock show; if it isn't great, for God's sake stay home," says Stephan Jenkins, Third Eye Blind's frontman, producer, and ringmaster. That statement epitomizes the San Francisco quartet, whose self-titled debut blurred the lines between rock and pop and spawned irresistible (and unavoidable) hits like "Semi-Charmed Life," "Graduate," and "How's It Going to Be."

Third Eye Blind Blue List $17.97 Add to Cart $12.58 Save to Wish List

||| 1 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Thin Lizzy: Live & Dangerous Stephan Jenkins: "The VH1 special on them made me cry. [Singer-bassist] Phil Lynott seemed like a sweet guy reacting to the times; he wanted to belong. I can totally relate to him. Rock is about reinventing yourself, and that's what he used it for. It works to a point, but not completely. What an amazing band, I love them." ||| 2 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Metallica/San Francisco Sympho: S & M "I was at the shows where they recorded this. It was a blast. The first night, though, the band was so loud -- their sound guy was like, 'No symphony is gonna over my band!' [Laughs] I see those guys around sometimes; they were doing some recording at the same time and place as we were. I'm very fond of Metallica; they're really genuine both as a band and as people." ||| 3 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Macy Gray: On How Life Is "I'd listened to the Lauryn Hill record a lot, and then I heard this album and was completely blown away by Macy Gray. I love her voice. She allows her vulnerability to show in a way that's not self-pitying; it's fantastic." ||| 4 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Korn: Follow The Leader "Whenever I'm in the car and I hear Korn, I always turn it up, especially 'Got the Life,' which is on this album. They've got a really hard sound. I don't know their music all that well, but I like the power of it." ||| 5 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Police: Outlandos D'amour Also, Regatta de Blanc. "I see these two as pretty much one record, or companion pieces. I totally embraced these records when I was a teenager; the energy is amazing, especially Stewart Copeland's drumming, and I got really interested in the way they broke down the delineations between rock and reggae. Delineations are a bore. These days, when I say rock, I usually mean hip-hop, too." ||| 6 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| : "What I really feel like saying is 'Clash: See All.' I love all their records. Musically, the Clash are our highest models. Once again, it's the breaking down of barriers that I like; on their records, they'd play a dub song, then a punk song, then a sort of rockabilly song, but it always sounded like the Clash. They also did away with the traditional roles of who plays what in the band; instead of a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer, you have four noisemakers. We made our new record with that in mind. If any of us had an idea for a part on any instrument, we just went ahead and played it. ||| 7 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Cat Stevens: Tea For The Tillerman "My mom played this record for me when I was a kid, and I still like it. It's such a gentle record -- it doesn't reflect in our music, but I know it had some subliminal influence on me, because I grew up wanting to be a storyteller." ||| 8 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run "The best compliment I've ever been paid is when people have said that our record was like a friend to them during a time in their lives when they where going through some kind of change, and that's how I feel about Born to Run. I first heard it as a kid, and it was so powerful and full of energy and emotion, it just really got to me. And of course he's a great storyteller as well." ||| 9 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Chemical Brothers: Let Forever Be Also, Aphex Twin's Windowlicker. "While we were making our new record, I listened to a lot of DJ and jungle stuff, which had a great impact on me. The thing is, though, that you couldn't find most of this stuff even if you tried. But as far as the more easily accessible stuff goes, I really like these two singles for their rhythm and feel." ||| 10 |||||||||||||||||||||||| David Bowie: Hours... "This record is really good. Bowie's one guy I'm down to copy, just go ahead and copy him. Because he's gone through so many phases in his career, by the time you do it, he'll have moved on to his next incarnation." ||| 11 |||||||||||||||| Beatles: Beatles "We tried the same approach to recording our new album that the Beatles used in the studio when they made The White Album. Instead of just going into a room and playing together, they were all in separate rooms playing their instruments. If you didn't already know this, next time you hear it, you'll hear it in a different way." ||| 12 |||||||| Camper Van Beethoven: Our Beloved Revolutionary Swee "I was a huge Camper Van Beethoven fan; I appreciate their sense of humor. This one's got one of my favorite songs of theirs, 'She Divides Water.'"

19 - A response from 3eb's Kevin Cadogan and others to the San Francisco Chronicle's story on Stephan from 11/28:

BLIND'S KEVIN CADOGAN SETS RECORD STRAIGHT

Editor -- I am writing in response to Joel Selvin's reporting about Third Eye Blind (``Blind Ambition,'' November 28). He was mistaken when he reported that the corporation Third Eye Blind was solely owned by Stephan Jenkins. It is jointly owned by the band, and shares will be issued by the end of the year. Selvin also stated, ``Make no mistake: Stephan Jenkins is Third Eye Blind.'' I find this statement particularly irresponsible since I co-wrote 10 songs on the first album and six on the second. Arion Salazar co-wrote two on the second album and did just as much producing as Stephan did. Brad Hargreaves produced his drum tracks and I produced my guitar. Jason Carmer, a local producer and engineer, helped all of us with these tasks. Stephan and I both signed the Elektra agreement; Brad and Arion should be following along soon.
Does anyone care to read an expose about the business aspects of Third Eye Blind? Tune in next week when Selvin's careful research reveals which financial institution Third Eye Blind banks at! Is the band an S-corp, a C-corp or a limited partnership? Is Selvin really the music editor or did you borrow him from the business section?
I knew Selvin had no interest in writing about music when I handed him our new CD. He took it with the kind of ``oh yeah'' attitude one has when the checkout person reminds him to take his receipt. I was particularly surprised since he had been bragging to me about all the research he was doing on the band. Shouldn't listening to both albums and reading the credits be part of his homework assignment?
Make no mistake: The readers missed out on a good story. Selvin spoke only with Stephan's enemies, and not even his best ones at that. We have been performing right under your nose at coffeehouses and bars for years. There are other bands playing down the street from you tonight. Go and see them. Become part of their story before they become a corporation, before Selvin takes notice and tries to tell the story to you.
KEVIN CADOGAN
Berkeley

CDNOW.com mini review:
Third Eye Blind
Blue

With the title track of their first album "Semi Charmed Life," Third Eye Blind earned their spot as one of the catchiest rock bands of the 90s. Their new album further solidifies that enviable position with the hard-rocking "The Red Summer Sun," the '80s-pop-tinged "Never Let You Go" and the jangly "Deep Inside of You."

20 - San Francisco Chronicle subscribers voted on their 100 fave Bay Area bands.  3eb came in number 46.

" Self-titled 1997 debut was stuffed with radio-ready songs, including the momentarily ubiquitous Semi-Charmed Life. The follow up, Blue, sounds as if it could continue the streak. The band, led by spotlight magnet Stephan Jenkins, opened for U2 and the Rolling Stones mere months after it graduated from the local dives."   Definitive song: Semi-Charmed Life (1997)

A review from thespark.com:

Third Eye Deaf, Dumb, and Blind A review of Third Eye Blind's Blue by Jeff Weiser 1/2 Stars
After tackling weighty issues like methamphetamine addiction and suicide on Third Eye Blind's seminal debut album, pretty rock star Stephen Jenkins reveals his softer side on Blue, an unlistenable album of vague songs about relationships and other stuff.
If you've ever heard "modern rock" radio, then I hardly need to brief you on this album's aesthetic. Imagine a Semisonic collaboration with Marcy Playground and Eve 6. Imagine "She Likes Me for Me" with a different chord progression and different vocals. Imagine a contemporary white band. Just imagine Third Eye Blind.
But don't let me bias you against Blue because it's generic (3EB even flirts with that crazy punk rock on "The Red Summer Sun.") Let me bias you against it because it's terrible. You will probably be subjected to the first single, "Anything," for the next few weeks, but I'd be surprised if even MTV could make this album stick.
In short, the worst album I've reviewed since Tori Amos's double-disc To Venus and Back [post that on the fan site, Toriphiles].

21 - From Launch.com:

Third Eye Blind taking laid-back approach to album

(Launch) - For the new album "Blue," Third Eye Blind is being unconventionally cautious about issuing tracks from the album. Both singer Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan say they approaching the promotion of the album more in its entirety. They said that the first "single" from the new set, "Anything," isn't really a promotional tool. "It's just the first advance song that went to radio and we didn't think about it that much," Jenkins said. He added that the band has declined to do a video for the song, a move the band's record company didn't approve of. "There's a lock-step way that everybody has to put their album out and it's not like we're some dogmatic band," he said. "I respect bands like Fugazi, but we're not them. We're just trying to do things in our own way. Because our first album was successful, we could have gone out and made the million-dollar video and have sort of the big splash and all those kinds of things. We're not a media band. We're not a band that's based on hype." Jenkins adds, "We didn't want the wrapping to precede the package." The song "Anything" sits at No. 15 on the Billboard modern rock chart in only its second week of release.

22 - From vh1.com:

To the millions who made Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life" the contagion of 1997, and Stephan Jenkins the alpha-male of sensitive rock stars: you (we?) are absolved. 3rdEB's sophomore effort, Blue, has enough raw noise and raw emotion to vindicate us all. Lead singer Jenkins, whose earlier, sudsy tunes became prime-time breakup themes, must have sensed he has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by putting together ballsy hair-band rockers such as "1000 Julys." Opening for the Stones apparently did 3rdEB a world of good: "Never Let You Go" is three chords and the truth, the way Keith Richards used to play it. But Blue also bears a few scars of self-production. Musical ideas laid end-to-end, as on the obnoxious soft-loud-soft "10 Days Late," need more than Jenkins' grand vocal gestures to sound fluid. When these strategies are layered more thoughtfully, as on "Deep Inside of You," the wounded sentiments actually sound convincing. Other notable moments: "The Red Summer Sun," which shifts from powerful, Rush-like technique to a lyrical falsetto, and the lovely "Slow Motion," a toned-down ballad that mirrors Blur's "Tender." That Blue has moments at all is a great leap forward. It may not make heads bop from side to side, but it'll make listening to Third Eye
Blind more than just a guilty pleasure.

24 - A fan reports her findings:

i don't know if anyone else mentioned this, but in AP(alternative press-the one with gavin rossdale on the cover)under the new releases there is a pic of 3eb. but it says the album's name is chopper. i guess they screwed up. then it says:
stephan jenkins and crew(i hate when they only put the lead singers name) remain firmly in the middle of the road on their self-produced sophmore release. in addition to songs showcasing the bands riffing new "chopper rock", the album features "slow motion", a stripped down ballad on which jenkins smears junkie chic.

in cmj new music(with the foo fighters on the cover) stephan is the foo fighters article:   It's thursday night at Junior's Sky bar high atop Hollywoods Sunset Marquis hotel, and Dave Grohl has just ordered his sixth patron tequila. it's the only way to handle the scene. at a table in the corner elliot smith and foo fighters drummer taylor hawkins are battling for the attention of Minnie Driver. Charlize Theron and Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins are engaging in a way to conspicuous display of affection at the bar as winona ryder looks on enviously.

25 - Merry Christmas, everyone!

31 - THIS SHOW WAS CANCELLED TWO DAYS PRIOR:

A note from 3eb management regarding the cancellation:

THIRD EYE BLIND NOT TO PLAY NEW YEAR’S EVE PERFORMANCE
December 29, 1999

Eric Godtland  Eric Godtland Management, Inc.

STEPHAN SIGHTING! Bring in the New Year with 3eb as they perform live at the MCI Center in Washington D.C.  Come party with me and friends, but come packed with enough cash...tickets start at $199.00 eek!  9:00 pm - 4:00 am Oh and you must be at least 21 years old.  For more details and tickets visit the site at www.capitalcountdown.com

Ticket includes:
* Activity/Party Areas
* 6 Hours of Top Shelf Full Open Bar
* 150 Open Bars
* Upscale Dinner Buffet
* Breakfast Buffet
* Biggest Dance Floor in the Region
* 4 Stages
* 6 Popular National & Regional Bands including Third Eye Blind, Fuel, and Fighting Gravity, plus more
* Party Favors (do what? sex?)
* 4 Spectacular Countdowns (Midnight, 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00 am)
* Satellite Links From Parties in All 4 US Time Zones
* Midnight 2000 Toast, with:
- INDOOR FIREWORKS
- Massive Balloon Drop/Laser Light Show
- Champagne Toast

Here's what they say about 3eb:

Third Eye Blind
Falling between Hootie & the Blowfish and Live, Third Eye Blind's catchy and melodic post-grunge made the group's first single, "Semi-Charmed Life," into a hit in the spring of 1997.The San Francisco-based quartet consisted of Stephan Jenkins (vocals), Kevin Cadogan (guitar), Arion Salazar (bass) and Brad Hargreaves (drums). After earning an English degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Jenkins concentrated on playing solo shows in the San Franciscan scene. He spent four years playing in local bands before beginning a solo career; however, shortly after he set out on his own, he decided to form a band. After several lineups failed to gel, former Fungo Mungo bassist Arion Salazar joined the group, which was now called Third Eye Blind. At one of the band's shows, guitarist Kevin Cadogan, a former student of Joe Satriani who later became involved in the northern California ska and punk scenes, introduced himself to Jenkins. Cadogan joined Third Eye Blind in late 1995, bringing along former Counting Crows drummer Brad Hargreaves, as well.
As Third Eye Blind was getting off the ground, Jenkins was earning major-label attention through his production of the Braids' cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," which became an international hit. Shortly afterward, he signed a publishing deal, which was reported to be the largest ever for an
unreleased artist. By playing the Bay Area frequently, Third Eye Blind cultivated a dedicated fan base, and the group's original 14-song demo attracted the attention of major labels. The buzz was continuing to build on Third Eye Blind when the group finagled their way to a prized opening slot for Oasis's April 1996 concert at San Francisco's Civic Auditorium. At the time of the concert, the group was unsigned, but following their well-received performance, the band became the subject of a bidding war. The
band signed with Elektra/Asylum because the label offered the most artistic freedom, which included enlisting Jenkins as the album's producer. Upon signing to Elektra, he was offered a production deal to help develop new bands.
Jenkins produced Third Eye Blind's eponymous debut, which was recorded in San Francisco with the assistance of Eric Valentine, an engineer who also worked on their early demos. Third Eye Blind was released in the spring of 1997, and by the summer, its first single "Semi-Charmed Life" had become a number one modern rock hit. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide.