Candlebox – Candlebox (2xLP, Music On Vinyl)

Candlebox's Candlebox arrived in July 1993 just as Seattle rock was moving into its post-grunge phase, and it quickly turned Candlebox from local hopefuls into a mainstream force. The self-titled debut reached No. 7 on the Billboard album chart, was certified four-times platinum by the RIAA, and sold more than 4 million copies. That run of radio, MTV and concert success also helped earn the band a main-stage slot at Woodstock '94.

What still gives the record its pull is how clearly it balances heavy riffs with a more melodic, hard-rock-friendly approach. The big singles "Change," "You" and "Far Behind" did most of the commercial lifting, but the album's full 11-track sequence shows why it connected so widely, moving between bruising guitars and more reflective moments without losing momentum. "Cover Me" was another key single, and "Blossom" is included here as part of the complete original album.

This Music On Vinyl edition matters because it made the complete debut available on vinyl as a 2xLP set for the first time, rather than trimming it down or treating it as a nostalgia curio. For anyone coming back to Candlebox beyond the radio staples, it is a solid reminder of how big this album was in 1993 and why it sat near the front of that decade's more accessible Seattle rock wave.

Features

• 2xLP, 180g, Stereo, Music On Vinyl
• Complete debut album on vinyl for the first time, including "Blossom"
• Includes insert

Reviews

• there is enough sheer riff power to satisfy fans of their singles. - AllMusic.com