Scattered, Smothered & Covered

by

Hootie & the Blowfish

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Let's face it: Cracked Rear View was a fluke, a cultural phenomenon that swept up a fun bar band and turned them into the next big thing. When it turned out that they only had one GREAT album in them, everyone turned away from two good ones. I may be in the minority, but I think Fairweather Johnson and Musical Chairs were fine albums that showed growth and maturity. The new album, named for hash browns of all things, the cheap kind you find on the road and consists of mostly grease, is a fun album, the kind you seldom see any more in this "serious rock star" world. If you went into any bar in America, had a nice cold beer, and the band played a set like the songs you hear on this album, you'd tell everyone you knew. Hootie and the Blowfish are just that - one of the best bar bands around. They take this opportunity to show off their influences and solidly place themselves as a halfway point between the dreamy jangle of R.E.M and the pop of countless groups like Matchbox 20. "I Go Blind" has been a concert staple for years and "Araby" is growing into a favorite of mine over my full 24 hours of listening - no, not non-stop. They make me work! While I can't pretend this is great, it is exactly what you would expect from a band named Hootie and the Blowfish - fun pop that sometimes makes you think, sometimes makes you smile, and a great addition to their collection.