Music Review: Candlebox - Into the Sun

Way back in 1994 Madonna was getting into the record label biz, having just started up Maverick Records. One of the first bands she brings under the banner is up and coming Seattle act Candlebox. Sounds like the perfect match, right? A pop superstar and a grunge act? All right, I'll buy that, I mean it's not like she was producing them or anything. Anyway, the band went on to become the first successful act for the label on their way to the top of the radio pile behind the song "Far Behind."

I liked the band, and I liked that self-titled debut, but I tired of them in a rather short period of time. They struck me as one of those bands that rode the coattails of grunge by making it a bit more accessible and radio-friendly. Now, here we are fourteen years removed from that auspicious debut and ten years from any new material and the 'Box is back with a brand new album.

The album is called Into the Sun and it picks up right where they left off a decade ago. I type that in the most literal sense of the words. Actually, I take that back, I have only a passing relationship with their second and third releases, such that I can't recall any of the songs. I feel it would be accurate, perhaps more so, to say this album picks up right where they left off with their debut. It is so reminiscent of that first album as to be nearly indistinguishable at moments. I seriously had to do a double-take when I first pressed play. Those notes that opened "Stand" sounded so dang familiar, as if I had heard them before. I cannot say they definitely used those notes on Candlebox, but it is enough to make you wonder if you put the right disk in.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

Visit Chris Beaumont's author page — Chris Beaumont's Blog