DATE: Friday, August 1, 1997                TAG: 9708010096

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E13  EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

JUST TURN A BLIND EYE TO GROUP'S NEW ALBUM

Third Eye Blind, Elektra Records

If you've heard the upbeat Do Do Do song, as I call it, or Third Eye Blind's first single, ``Semi Charmed Life,'' then you know how annoying it can get. Once that song gets stuck in your head, it's there for weeks.

This foursome's latest self-titled album sounds like the soundtrack for a twentysomething, Generation X movie. Stephan Jenkins, the leader of the group, has an unusually whiny voice and most of his songs are about losing his girl.

These boys aren't stupid, though. They show some intelligence with ``Narcolepsy.'' Poor Stephan just cannot get to sleep, even after he ``read dead Russian authors and wrote everything down except what's on my mind.''

``Losing a Whole Year,'' ``How's It Going to Be,'' and ``I Want You'' are all songs about losing his woman. Push the skip button when you come to these songs. The one you should listen to is ``The Background.'' Jenkins shows total devotion to one girl when he sings, ``And I'm hanging on your words like I always used to do.'' Mushy love stuff, awww!

Third Eye Blind did try pretty hard to make a good, No. 1 album, but, in my opinion, it wasn't all that great. Better luck next time, boys.

By Amanda Leedom, Bayside High School, Virginia Beach

Various Artists, Club Cutz 2

The title speaks for itself.

A worldwide mix of music, Club Cutz 2 makes for great entertainment. You can dance in your room to Clubland's ``Gimme Love, Gimme All'' or have a party with Ke, Le Click and Scatman John. The only problem you might have with this CD is that it includes a couple of disco songs straight from the late '70s. Odyssey's ``Native New Yorker,'' Cie's ``Set Me on Fire'' and Evelyn (Champagne) King's ``Shame'' might be enough to placate your parents when you play this CD too loud. A characteristic I found rather pleasant was the European flavor - totally understandable since most of the artists hail from overseas. I particularly enjoy ``Shut Up'' and ``Sleep With Me'' by Sin with Sebastian.

Meta La Follette, Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach

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