Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View

Cracked Rear View marks the commercial debut of these college buddies from South Carolina, and it sold an astonishing 13 million copies in its first year of release. With Darius Rucker's ringing baritone and Mark Bryan's muscular guitar framing Jim Sonefeld's bluesy, energetic southern folk rock tunes, it's easy to understand its success: It's the kind of thoroughly likable album people sing along with on the car radio. When Rucker demands, "Stand up and let me see you smile," there's something that feels real and convincing behind it; sure, it's a formula, but a sincere one, and it works over and over again. Songs like "Let Her Cry," "Hold My Hand," and "Running from an Angel" lay down the rhythm for a cohesive, feel-good collection. There may not be a lot of virtuosity behind it, but there's plenty of fun. --Barrie Trinkle Amazon.com

 ROAD TRIP
This CD is one of the best Road Trip CD's ever made. You can listen to it all the way through, it keeps the energy up for the whole ride, and, if need be, you can listen to it multiple times without getting sick of it. Good times! March 3, 2008

 First CD I ever purchased
I was 8 years old when this CD came out; I remember listening to this every night before going to bed. Many critics have missed the point, labeling this as just bar band schlock. I disagree, many bigger more well regarded acts can't achieve half the urgency and emotional energy found on this disc. There is something very soulful about Darius Rucker's voice; he really sells the lyrics. Often when I've had a bad day, I'll find myself humming the lyrics to "Time" quietly, or perhaps after a relationship has ended "Look Away." Is this pop? You bet; but it's pop of the very best kind. Nearly 15 years down the road this album has worn well in my very large diverse collection of music. February 5, 2008

 Instant classic, over 13 million sold for a reason, still awesome original music and sound.
Being in college in the mid-90's , who didn't hear Hootie on their college rock station, and who didn't own this album. I dislike the fact that some people call this band a "one-hit" wonder. Yes, their first album (this one) was their most gigantic, but spawned 5 hits and other great songs. And their next album was no slouch either, selling 3+ million. Their sound is strong, original, and a great marker of that time, but it still is fresh today. A must have album in any collection of rock, many may try to imitate this sound, but nothing quite fits the nitch like Hootie and the Blowfish. January 25, 2007

 Hootie and the Blowhards
This is perhaps one of the worst albums ever produced. While there are undeniably moments of pop catchiness, they fade within seconds. Furthermore, if you are masochist enough to subject yourself to any footage of the act, you will find a revolting arrogance that is so dreadfully misplaced that it will turn your stomach. The next time that you find yourself ever-so-briefly caught in that forgetful moment you will want to immediately destroy the device from which their putrid music emanates. January 3, 2007

 Ionlywannabeewathyaaaoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuu...
Yeah, Darius was a mumbler. But, so was every other successful frontman in those days.

It's funny what time does to an album like this. Cracked Rear View became a roaring success, then the public turned it's back on the band. Years later, nostalgia seeps in, people dust off their copy and give it another spin. Maybe they were a little hard on Hootie after the hype machine got cranked up to 11. Their career certainly crashed and burned, but they're not to blame. It's the industry's marketing gimmicks and the fickle public who never gave this band a second shot.

But, that's all over. What's left is a pile of albums nobody ever listened to and this one. It's ashame people aren't as turned off by hype these days as they were back then, because I can think of a hundred worse "artists" off the top of my head dominating today's Top 40 who couldn't hold a candle to Hootie & The Blowfish's talents.

Give these guys a second chance, because they DO have talent. January 1, 2007

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