Unified Theory (band)
Encyclopedia
Unified Theory, previously Luma, were an American rock
band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. The lineup consisted of Chris Shinn
(vocals, guitar), formerly of Celia Green, former Blind Melon
members Christopher Thorn (guitar) and Brad Smith (bass) as well as Dave Krusen
(drums) formerly of Pearl Jam
.
Following the death of singer Shannon Hoon
, former Blind Melon members Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith moved to Seattle and began working on a new project. This project was put on hold following Thorn's move to Los Angeles. However, after meeting former Celia Green singer Chris Shinn, they regrouped with Smith in Seattle and, with the addition of former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen, formed Luma in 1998. The following year, they released a self-titled EP
before renaming themselves Unified Theory, after Albert Einstein
's unified field theory
, releasing their self-titled
debut album in 2000.
Unified Theory toured in support of their album and began recording their second album. However, in 2001, the band disbanded with Smith citing a "sudden lack of chemistry" for the breakup.
band Blind Melon
. The band released two studio albums, Blind Melon
and Soup, before singer Shannon Hoon
died of a drug overdose
in 1995. Smith and Thorn moved to Seattle, Washington following Hoon's death, with the band taking extended break, releasing Nico
, a rarities compilation album, in 1996. The same year, the remaining band members began discussing the possibility of continuing Blind Melon with a new vocalist, eventually deciding to continue under a different moniker and, unsuccessfully, auditioning a number of singers before going their separate ways.
While in Seattle, Smith and Thorn began a new project that was put on hold after Thorn moved to Los Angeles in early 1998. Smith began working on a solo album, while Thorn produced Amy Correia
's album Carnival Love, recorded with Live
, on their album The Distance to Here
, and searched for a singer for their project. After listening to several singers, Thorn met vocalist Chris Shinn
, during his time recording with Live, after hearing an album by his previous band Celia Green. Shinn soon relocated to Seattle, due to his own house in North Carolina being burnt down, staying at Thorn's house while the guitarist was on tour with Live. Thorn and Shinn then regrouped with Smith and began recording material. It was during recording that Smith invited friend, and former Pearl Jam
drummer, Dave Krusen
to record with them, with Krusen eventually joining the lineup permanently, forming Luma in mid-1998. The following year, they released a four-song self-titled EP
through their website, and toured the Pacific Northwest
from July 29–August 18, the same year. By the end of the year, Luma changed their name to Unified Theory, named after Albert Einstein
's final hypothesis unified field theory
.
subsidiary 3.33 Music Group while they relocated to Los Angeles and began recording their debut album. The album was recorded at Stank Face Laboratories and Lucky Dog Studios in Seattle, and was produced by both Thorn and Smith, and mixed by Andy Wallace
. Jon Bolton and Matthew Steer contributed additional drums to the recording, while string arrangements were handled by Dave Dysart. In June, Unified Theory shot a music video for their first single "California" with director Bobby G, before touring the US in July.
The band's debut album entitled Unified Theory
was released on August 15, 2000, through 3.33 Music Group in North America only. Unified Theory went on to sell over 16,000 albums by 2002. "California" and "Wither" were both released as singles. However, with the exception of Seattle, most major market radio stations avoided playing "California." Critically, the album received generally positive reviews. Reviewing for Allmusic, Greg Prato stated that "Unified Theory's self-titled debut shows that Shinn has brought a more modern rock sound to the proceedings, mixing Jeff Buckley
and Radiohead
with Smith and Thorn's retro rock stylings" and that the "12-track debut is a refreshing break from the norm." Lina Lecaro, of the Los Angeles Times
, describes the album as "a little too much like its members' former projects." However, "there are a couple of unique gems in the derivative dust." The Stranger
stated that the album "sounds like Jane's Addiction
, but not as hard." Classic Rock
stated that the bands "self-titled debut has to be one of the most exciting, spiritual albums of recent times" and that "their sound combines flashes of the off-the-wall genius that was Blind Melon
's calling card, the odd reminder of the 90s Seattle scene
and a whole host of fascinating influences."
In support of the album, Unified Theory performed a number of dates in August, and toured supporting Counting Crows
, VAST
and Live. In 2001, the band headlined their own North American tour from February 12–March 1, before performing at South by Southwest
in March. The band began writing and recording material for their second album before announcing their breakup later in the year. Smith cited frustrations during the writing of their new album as the reason, stating "in the past eight months the band's focus became hazy at best" and despite efforts to keep the band together, it was time for them "to move on" and that "the decision to split was made about two weeks ago [and that their] minds were elsewhere way before that."
entitled Wreck of the Day
released on April 19 2005, and American Minor's self-titled debut album released on August 16, the same year. In 2006, Thorn co-produced Cheyenne Kimball
's debut album The Day Has Come
, which also featured additional drums by Krusen, released on July 11, while Smith and Thorn produced Under the Influence of Giants
' self-titled
album, released on August 8 the same year.
Shinn moved to Los Angeles, following the breakup, and began working on a new band with Krusen called Verb. Though they recorded one song, titled "Want and Need," Shinn and Krusen would part ways, with Shinn forming Everything is Energy with former She Wants Revenge
guitarist Thomas Froggatt and former Ours drummer Kirke Jan in 2003. Both Froggatt and Jan would depart the band, with guitarist Noah Lebenzon, Shinn's former band mate in Celia Green, bassist Joey Clement
and drummer David Brotherton joining the band by 2006, with Everything is Energy releasing their self-titled album the following year.
Krusen would go on to form Novatone with guitarist Robert Lyons and former Green Apple Quick Step
singer Tyler Willman
, releasing their debut album entitled Time Can't Wait in 2005. The same year, he contributed drums to Thee Heavenly Music Association
's debut album Shaping the Invisible, while in 2008, Krusen's former band Candlebox
released first album in ten years entitled Into the Sun
, which featured additional drums previously recorded by Krusen.
After befriending singer Travis Warren, who was interested in having Smith and Thorn produce his music, the trio, along with former Blind Melon members Rogers Stevens
and Glen Graham, began working with Warren on new songs and announced the reformation of Blind Melon in 2006. They toured from October 8–22 in 2007, and released their first studio album, since Soup, entitled For My Friends
on April 22, 2008. The band performed at the MusiCares
MAP Fund benefit concert and announced plans to tour in support of their album. However, the tour was soon cancelled after Blind Melon parted ways with Warren. The band were to perform a number of shows with Thorn and Smith's former band mate Shinn, though a lack of preparation time resulted in the band cancelling the tour.
writer Sandy Masuo described the release as a "nexus of musical styles that draws on everything from Led Zeppelin
to Björk
. Hard rock
merges with power pop
over a trippy undercurrent that flares up in tracks like "Passive."" Describing the songwriting process, Smith stated that each band member "puts their personality into the song even if it was almost completely written by one person" and that once a song goes through the band, it gives it the character of the band members. Comparisons were also made between vocalist Chris Shinn
and Shannon Hoon
, due to their similar high register singing and similar lyrical content, though Allmusic writer Greg Prato believes Shinn has "brought a more modern rock sound to the proceedings."
EPs
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. The lineup consisted of Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as frontman and lead singer of the band Unified Theory. He is the son of former New Orleans Hornets owner, George Shinn.- Beginnings :Unified Theory began to form in early 1998...
(vocals, guitar), formerly of Celia Green, former Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
members Christopher Thorn (guitar) and Brad Smith (bass) as well as Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
(drums) formerly of Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
.
Following the death of singer Shannon Hoon
Shannon Hoon
Richard Shannon Hoon was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the frontman and lead singer of the band Blind Melon until his death from a cocaine overdose in 1995.-Early life:...
, former Blind Melon members Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith moved to Seattle and began working on a new project. This project was put on hold following Thorn's move to Los Angeles. However, after meeting former Celia Green singer Chris Shinn, they regrouped with Smith in Seattle and, with the addition of former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen, formed Luma in 1998. The following year, they released a self-titled EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
before renaming themselves Unified Theory, after Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
's unified field theory
Unified field theory
In physics, a unified field theory, occasionally referred to as a uniform field theory, is a type of field theory that allows all that is usually thought of as fundamental forces and elementary particles to be written in terms of a single field. There is no accepted unified field theory, and thus...
, releasing their self-titled
Unified Theory (album)
Unified Theory is the self titled album by the band Unified Theory.-Track listing:# "Cessna" – 3:48# "California" – 3:07# "Instead Of Running" – 3:39# "Wither" – 3:56# "The Sun Will Come" – 3:26# "AM Radio" – 4:03# "Fin" – 4:33...
debut album in 2000.
Unified Theory toured in support of their album and began recording their second album. However, in 2001, the band disbanded with Smith citing a "sudden lack of chemistry" for the breakup.
Early years and formation (1995–1999)
Guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith were members of alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
. The band released two studio albums, Blind Melon
Blind Melon (album)
Blind Melon is the eponymous debut album by the rock band Blind Melon, released on September 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Fronted by singer Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon had a distinctive traditional rock sound, influenced by southern rock and psychedelic music...
and Soup, before singer Shannon Hoon
Shannon Hoon
Richard Shannon Hoon was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the frontman and lead singer of the band Blind Melon until his death from a cocaine overdose in 1995.-Early life:...
died of a drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
in 1995. Smith and Thorn moved to Seattle, Washington following Hoon's death, with the band taking extended break, releasing Nico
Nico (album)
Nico is the third album by the band Blind Melon, released in 1996 by Capitol Records. The album was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. The album was named for his daughter, Nico Blue, and the proceeds arising from album sales were placed...
, a rarities compilation album, in 1996. The same year, the remaining band members began discussing the possibility of continuing Blind Melon with a new vocalist, eventually deciding to continue under a different moniker and, unsuccessfully, auditioning a number of singers before going their separate ways.
While in Seattle, Smith and Thorn began a new project that was put on hold after Thorn moved to Los Angeles in early 1998. Smith began working on a solo album, while Thorn produced Amy Correia
Amy Correia
Amy Correia is an American singer and songwriter who grew up in Lakeville, Ma.Correia lived in New York’s Chinatown after graduating from Barnard College. She worked in advertising, writing copy by day, while at night honing her songwriting and performing in clubs like Sin-é Cafe on the lower east...
's album Carnival Love, recorded with Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
, on their album The Distance to Here
The Distance to Here
The Distance to Here is the fourth studio album by the band Live, released in 1999. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, selling 138,000 copies in its first week and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on November 19, 1999.-Track listing:...
, and searched for a singer for their project. After listening to several singers, Thorn met vocalist Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as frontman and lead singer of the band Unified Theory. He is the son of former New Orleans Hornets owner, George Shinn.- Beginnings :Unified Theory began to form in early 1998...
, during his time recording with Live, after hearing an album by his previous band Celia Green. Shinn soon relocated to Seattle, due to his own house in North Carolina being burnt down, staying at Thorn's house while the guitarist was on tour with Live. Thorn and Shinn then regrouped with Smith and began recording material. It was during recording that Smith invited friend, and former Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
drummer, Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
to record with them, with Krusen eventually joining the lineup permanently, forming Luma in mid-1998. The following year, they released a four-song self-titled EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
through their website, and toured the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
from July 29–August 18, the same year. By the end of the year, Luma changed their name to Unified Theory, named after Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
's final hypothesis unified field theory
Unified field theory
In physics, a unified field theory, occasionally referred to as a uniform field theory, is a type of field theory that allows all that is usually thought of as fundamental forces and elementary particles to be written in terms of a single field. There is no accepted unified field theory, and thus...
.
Unified Theory and break up (1999–2001)
By 2000, Unified Theory signed with Universal RecordsUniversal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
subsidiary 3.33 Music Group while they relocated to Los Angeles and began recording their debut album. The album was recorded at Stank Face Laboratories and Lucky Dog Studios in Seattle, and was produced by both Thorn and Smith, and mixed by Andy Wallace
Andy Wallace (producer)
Andy Wallace is a Grammy Award-winning music studio engineer with a long track record of successful productions, beginning with the 1986 production of the Run-DMC/Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way" with Rick Rubin...
. Jon Bolton and Matthew Steer contributed additional drums to the recording, while string arrangements were handled by Dave Dysart. In June, Unified Theory shot a music video for their first single "California" with director Bobby G, before touring the US in July.
The band's debut album entitled Unified Theory
Unified Theory (album)
Unified Theory is the self titled album by the band Unified Theory.-Track listing:# "Cessna" – 3:48# "California" – 3:07# "Instead Of Running" – 3:39# "Wither" – 3:56# "The Sun Will Come" – 3:26# "AM Radio" – 4:03# "Fin" – 4:33...
was released on August 15, 2000, through 3.33 Music Group in North America only. Unified Theory went on to sell over 16,000 albums by 2002. "California" and "Wither" were both released as singles. However, with the exception of Seattle, most major market radio stations avoided playing "California." Critically, the album received generally positive reviews. Reviewing for Allmusic, Greg Prato stated that "Unified Theory's self-titled debut shows that Shinn has brought a more modern rock sound to the proceedings, mixing Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
with Smith and Thorn's retro rock stylings" and that the "12-track debut is a refreshing break from the norm." Lina Lecaro, of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, describes the album as "a little too much like its members' former projects." However, "there are a couple of unique gems in the derivative dust." The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
stated that the album "sounds like Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
, but not as hard." Classic Rock
Classic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
stated that the bands "self-titled debut has to be one of the most exciting, spiritual albums of recent times" and that "their sound combines flashes of the off-the-wall genius that was Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
's calling card, the odd reminder of the 90s Seattle scene
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and a whole host of fascinating influences."
In support of the album, Unified Theory performed a number of dates in August, and toured supporting Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, VAST
VAST
VAST is an American industrial rock band based in Austin, Texas. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby...
and Live. In 2001, the band headlined their own North American tour from February 12–March 1, before performing at South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
in March. The band began writing and recording material for their second album before announcing their breakup later in the year. Smith cited frustrations during the writing of their new album as the reason, stating "in the past eight months the band's focus became hazy at best" and despite efforts to keep the band together, it was time for them "to move on" and that "the decision to split was made about two weeks ago [and that their] minds were elsewhere way before that."
Post–breakup activities (2001–present)
Following the breakup of Unified Theory, Smith released his debut solo album Mercy, under the alias Abandon Jalopy, in 2001. The album featured contributions from his former Blind Melon band mates, including Thorn who also co-produced the album, with Smith touring in support of the album in 2002. Smith and Thorn would continue to co-produce an number of albums together, including the debut album of American singer-songwriter Anna NalickAnna Nalick
Anna Christine Nalick is an American singer-songwriter. Her debut album, Wreck of the Day, featuring her first radio hit, "Breathe ", was released on April 19, 2005. Nalick left her label under Sony in 2009 after a falling-out surrounding the release of her second album...
entitled Wreck of the Day
Wreck of the Day
Wreck of the Day is the debut album by singer-songwriter Anna Nalick, first released in the United States on April 19, 2005 by Columbia Records. It was produced by ex-Blind Melon members Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn at their own Studio Wishbone....
released on April 19 2005, and American Minor's self-titled debut album released on August 16, the same year. In 2006, Thorn co-produced Cheyenne Kimball
Cheyenne Kimball
Cheyenne Nichole Kimball is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her debut album, The Day Has Come was released in July 2006 coinciding with an MTV reality series following her entry into the music industry...
's debut album The Day Has Come
The Day Has Come
The Day Has Come is the debut album of singer-songwriter/guitarist Cheyenne Kimball. The lead single off the album, entitled "Hanging On", peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was released on July 11, 2006. Kimball co-wrote all the songs featured on the album. The album debuted...
, which also featured additional drums by Krusen, released on July 11, while Smith and Thorn produced Under the Influence of Giants
Under the Influence of Giants
Under the Influence of Giants is a musical group from Los Angeles, California. They released their major label debut album in August 2006, which was a number one hit on the Top Heatseekers chart. Among their influences are the Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees, Prince, WHAM!, Chicago...
' self-titled
Under the Influence of Giants (album)
The self-titled album, Under the Influence of Giants is the second album of Under the Influence of Giants.-Track listing:#"Ah Ha" - 2:58#"Got Nothing" - 3:25#"In The Clouds" - 3:43#"Stay Illogical" - 4:16#"Mama's Room" - 3:52...
album, released on August 8 the same year.
Shinn moved to Los Angeles, following the breakup, and began working on a new band with Krusen called Verb. Though they recorded one song, titled "Want and Need," Shinn and Krusen would part ways, with Shinn forming Everything is Energy with former She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is an American musical duo, based in San Fernando Valley, California. The group's debut album She Wants Revenge was released in early 2006, with three singles to follow...
guitarist Thomas Froggatt and former Ours drummer Kirke Jan in 2003. Both Froggatt and Jan would depart the band, with guitarist Noah Lebenzon, Shinn's former band mate in Celia Green, bassist Joey Clement
Joey Clement
Joey Clement is an American bassist from Rapid City, South Dakota. He is best known as the bassist of American pop band Selena Gomez & the Scene. He is also a member of the American band Midwest Kings.-Selena Gomez & the Scene:...
and drummer David Brotherton joining the band by 2006, with Everything is Energy releasing their self-titled album the following year.
Krusen would go on to form Novatone with guitarist Robert Lyons and former Green Apple Quick Step
Green Apple Quick Step
Green Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992...
singer Tyler Willman
Tyler Willman
Tyler Willman, also known as Ty Willman, is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who lives in Seattle, Washington. He is probably best known for his work with the Seattle-based band Green Apple Quick Step...
, releasing their debut album entitled Time Can't Wait in 2005. The same year, he contributed drums to Thee Heavenly Music Association
Thee Heavenly Music Association
Thee Heavenly Music Association is the 2001 musical endeavour of Helen Storer and Dave Hillis.-Biography:Thee Heavenly Music Association was formed after Storer, relocated to Los Angeles and hooked up with Jack Off Jill for their final show...
's debut album Shaping the Invisible, while in 2008, Krusen's former band Candlebox
Candlebox
Candlebox is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since their debut, the group has released four studio albums, which have achieved multi-platinum and gold certification, as well as numerous charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD....
released first album in ten years entitled Into the Sun
Into the Sun (Candlebox album)
Into the Sun is the fourth studio album by Seattle post-grunge band Candlebox. Released in 2008, it is their first album since 1998's Happy Pills and would mark both the band's studio return after a seven-year hiatus as well as their first album with Silent Majority Group.-Recording and...
, which featured additional drums previously recorded by Krusen.
After befriending singer Travis Warren, who was interested in having Smith and Thorn produce his music, the trio, along with former Blind Melon members Rogers Stevens
Rogers Stevens
Thomas Rogers Stevens is the guitarist from Blind Melon, an alternative rock band which began in the 1990s and is most famous for their hit song "No Rain"...
and Glen Graham, began working with Warren on new songs and announced the reformation of Blind Melon in 2006. They toured from October 8–22 in 2007, and released their first studio album, since Soup, entitled For My Friends
For My Friends
For My Friends is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blind Melon, released April 22, 2008. It is their first album in twelve years, and the first to feature new lead singer Travis Warren who was recruited after the death of previous lead singer Shannon Hoon.-Track listing:#"For My...
on April 22, 2008. The band performed at the MusiCares
MusiCares
The MusiCares Foundation, Inc., was established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Meant for musicians to have a place to turn, in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, its primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human...
MAP Fund benefit concert and announced plans to tour in support of their album. However, the tour was soon cancelled after Blind Melon parted ways with Warren. The band were to perform a number of shows with Thorn and Smith's former band mate Shinn, though a lack of preparation time resulted in the band cancelling the tour.
Musical style
Following the release of their debut album, College Music JournalCollege Music Journal
College Music Journal, commonly known as CMJ, is a music events/publishing company which hosts an annual festival in New York City, the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as a weekly magazine of and for the music industry and college radio stations in the United States and Canada. It publishes top 30...
writer Sandy Masuo described the release as a "nexus of musical styles that draws on everything from Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
to Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
. Hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
merges with power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
over a trippy undercurrent that flares up in tracks like "Passive."" Describing the songwriting process, Smith stated that each band member "puts their personality into the song even if it was almost completely written by one person" and that once a song goes through the band, it gives it the character of the band members. Comparisons were also made between vocalist Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn
Chris Shinn is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as frontman and lead singer of the band Unified Theory. He is the son of former New Orleans Hornets owner, George Shinn.- Beginnings :Unified Theory began to form in early 1998...
and Shannon Hoon
Shannon Hoon
Richard Shannon Hoon was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the frontman and lead singer of the band Blind Melon until his death from a cocaine overdose in 1995.-Early life:...
, due to their similar high register singing and similar lyrical content, though Allmusic writer Greg Prato believes Shinn has "brought a more modern rock sound to the proceedings."
Band members
- Chris ShinnChris ShinnChris Shinn is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as frontman and lead singer of the band Unified Theory. He is the son of former New Orleans Hornets owner, George Shinn.- Beginnings :Unified Theory began to form in early 1998...
– lead vocals, guitar - Christopher Thorn – lead guitar
- Brad Smith – bass
- Dave KrusenDave KrusenDave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
– drums
Discography
Studio albums- Unified TheoryUnified Theory (album)Unified Theory is the self titled album by the band Unified Theory.-Track listing:# "Cessna" – 3:48# "California" – 3:07# "Instead Of Running" – 3:39# "Wither" – 3:56# "The Sun Will Come" – 3:26# "AM Radio" – 4:03# "Fin" – 4:33...
(2000)
EPs
- Luma (1999)
Singles
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "California" | Unified Theory |
| "Wither" | ||
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "California" | Bobby G |