Photo: Benjamin D. Esham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 US <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Third Eye Blind songs list takes a listen to 10 great songs from a rock and roll band formed in San Francisco, California, in the early 1990s. Originally formed and led by the songwriting pair of Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan, the group Third Eye Blind signed one of the biggest record deals in the history of Elektra Records in 1996. The group rewarded their record label with a debut album that spawned five hit singles. So far, since the band’s debut album in 1997, Third Eye Blind has released six studio albums. Our top 10 Third Eye Blind songs list takes a listen to 10 of the band’s best singles released from those fantastic six studio albums.
# 10 – 10 Days Late
As we begin our Third Eye Blind songs list, we listen to the band’s great track entitled “10 Days Late.” The song was released on the band’s wonderful album entitled Blue, the same as Joni Mitchell named her classic album. However, this sounds nothing like Joni Mitchell. This is Third Eye Blind rock and roll, late 90s style. The song was a big hit for the band as it broke into the Billboard Alternative Songs charts peaking all the way up to number 21. If you don’t know what this song is about from just the title alone, just listen to the lyrics. We are not going to get into it here. The bass sets the song’s groove from the opening while it gets slammed by those cool Third Eye Blind guitar riffs.
# 9 – Losing a Whole Year
Alrighty, moving along on our Third Eye Blind songs list, we present this roaring track called “Losing A Whole Year.” What we love about this band is how they sort of separated themselves from the other popular late 90s and 2000s bands like Sum 41, Simple Plan and all the others. Third Eye Blind was more groove rock than the punk rock pop style of the other bands. One can hear it on this great track from the group’s debut album released in 1998, entitled Third Eye Blind.
# 8 – Everything Is Easy
In the number eight spot on our Third Eye Blind songs list is this fantastic song with great chord changes called “Everything Is Easy.” Man, do we really like this one There is kind of an early 80s Men At Work vibe happening on this song. The song “Everything Is Easy” was released on the album Dopamine. The album was released in 2015. It was the first single released from the album. There was also something about this song that sounds very familiar and there’s a sort of melody in there that we’ve heard before from another song, but we can’t pinpoint it. It’ll come to us, it always does
# 7 – Don’t Believe A Word
We have always loved the opening of this one. It’s so classic rock sound like a cross between The Who and Thin Lizzy. However, that’s pretty much all thrown out the window as the song explodes into the first verse. But that “Baba O’Riley,” riff comes back on the chorus. There’s even the Roger Daltrey scream towards the end of the song.
# 6 – Screamer
In the number six spot on our Third Eye Blind song list is a song quite the opposite of the last one featured on this list. This is a fabulous song that also features the great singer Alexis Krauss from the band Sleigh Bells. This is a more recent Third Eye Blind song, as it was released in 2019 on the album also entitled Screamer.
# 5 – Blinded (When I See You)
At the halfway point on our Third Eye Blind songs list, we listen to the band’s popular song, “Blinded (When I See You).” There is such a great groove on this one. The song “Blinded (When I See You)” was released on the band’s third album, Out Of The Vein. The album was released in 2003. The song “Blinded (When I See You)” was released as the lead single from the album. It did well on the charts as it reached the number thirty-four spot on the Billboard Pop Songs Charts in 2003.
# 4 – Jumper
The next group of songs on our Third Eye Blind songs list remains the biggest hits the band ever celebrated. In the number four spot is the fantastic track entitled “Jumper.” The song was released on the band’s debut album entitled Third Eye Blind. The album was released in 1997. This was a very successful album as it contained five hits singles. The song “Jumper” was the fifth and final single from the album. Even after being released as the fifth single, the song did exceptionally well commercially. The song was a top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking up to number five.
# 3 – Never Let You Go
Everyone loves this one. With it’s Lou Reed “Walk On The Wild Side,” chord changes in the verse, and a Rolling Stones “Ruby Tuesday” melody in the chorus, Third Eye Blind took those changes and put their own spin on the song, sounding very modern in a classic sort of way. “Never Let You Go” was released as a single from the band’s Blue album. The song hit number one in Canada in 2000.
# 2 – How’s It Going To Be
In the number two spot on our Third Eye Blind songs list, we turn to the great mid-tempo rocker entitled “How’s It Going To Be.” The song was released on the band’s debut album Third Eye Blind. It would become the second of the album’s three top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. That is a pretty impressive feat.
# 1 – Semi-Charmed Life
Closing out our top 10 Third Eye Blind songs list is the band’s most successful song of their career. It’s also their most popular by far. Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life” is also one of the best rock and roll singles released in the 1990s. “Semi-Charmed Life” was the band’s first single release and the only single they have ever released that has gone platinum in sales. This was also a song inspired by Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side,” in the backing vocals on the chorus.