"The self-titled debut album by Unified Theory has just arrived, and its outstanding. The band is composed of Blind Melon members Brad Smith and Chris Thorn, former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen and newcomer, lead singer Chris Shinn. The songs which stand out to me are Cessna, Wither, Passive and Keep On. Cessna is placed wisely at the beginning of the cd, its a strong alt-rock song that carries a great melody and introduces the amazing vocals of chris shinn. Wither is on the mellow side, it begins with a bit of acoustic guitar and then moves into a rhythm that is impossible to forget. You find yourself repeating the lyrics "and so i'll sit, and watch you wither, on by" many times aloud and in your head. Passive is another soft song, it begins with an electric riff and quiet vocals which continue to get louder until you hear shinn belt out "closer then i ever thought i could be, i believe now..." it a gorgeous song. Keep on is best described as haunting, it is carried by a piano piece and shinns changing vocals. This whole album is great, unified theory has added a twist to the alternative rock sound and its an amazing twist. They should have no trouble making it big, incredible sound, incredible cd, buy it."
Great inde/alt rock cd
shmitty01 | ? | 01/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I randomly stumbled upon this cd by means of a friend who is a long term fan of blind melon. After a few listens, it quickly dawned on me that this is one of the best inde rock albums released in recent years. The vocalist sounds a little like Shannon at times, but not so much that you would think they are trying to recreate blind melon. This cd ranges along the lines of the formerly stated band, but adds so much more depth of inde rock influences. The other strong influence that I hear through the cd is that of sunny day real estate. Considering that inde/alternative rock today usually implies "emo"(aka, crap), this cd is a much needed relief to the fan of real, true rock. Well produced, dynamic, solid, and all around just good music."
New Rock for the new Millennium
shmitty01 | 08/16/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those who do not know anything about Unified Theory, this band consists of former members of Peal Jam and Blind Melon. However, try to leave that fact at the door when you begin to listen to this CD. The music is very layered and textured and the high voice of Chris Shinn soars over the tracks. It is very different from what you have heard from Blind Melon and Pearl Jam. I really appreciate what this new band is trying to create. The sound is very fresh and the future is looking very bright for UT. In this time of "boy bands" and "rap metal", rock and roll needs a band like this one. My favorite tracks include: "Cessna", "California", "Passive", "Wither", and "AM Radio"."
"MINDBLOWING" - VH1.COM
shmitty01 | 08/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Reunion" and "supergroup" - no two words loom more suspiciously in rock and roll. After all, how many such liaisons are not overblown, pompous reruns from musicians riding the coattails of past glory? Luckily, even though Unified Theory reunite two former Blind Melon members, guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith, and pairs them with one-time Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen and introduces a relative newcomer, lead vocalist Chris Shinn (formerly of the Tool-like Celia Green), the quartet's self-titled debut bears no such stigma. Kickoff track "Cessna" erupts in a barrage of underwater alterna-guitar sounds as Shinn's voice aches despairingly, soothed only by Smith's angelic harmonies. The next two tracks are equally pensive but heavy and driving: First single "California" adds Zeppelin guitar crunch to Jane's Addiction-esque high-pitched vocal earnestness, and wham-dinger dynamo "Instead of Running" nails the opening triptych with the kind of melodic hook that remains long after song's end. Produced by Thorn, Smith, and Shinn (and with Matthew Steer drumming on some tracks), the album follows with mainly lighter, clever chill-out rock, nicely perked up by "Self Medicate," a skyward-bound guitar pop number a la Manic Street Preachers. With no desperate rap or gratuitous hip-hop headbanger in sight, this band's engulfing, prog-rockish, blues-based alternative rock, with its nod to classic roots is indeed a unified theory."
Good solid rock
Micheal Spence | Pocatello, ID USA | 01/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first song I heard of this band was "Wither", and I thought it was Blind Melon. I think that Unified Theory managed to take what Blind Melon had established and expand on it. The singer has an eerily similar vocal style to that of the late Shannon Hoon. Unified Theory has a more of a rock sound when compared to the blues sound of Blind Melon, but I think that they mangaged to pull it off and created a great album."