Seattle band Candlebox lit up the music scene at the tail end of the fleeting grunge movement with an impressive debut album. Their self-titled record would reach #7 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1993 thanks to strong singles like "You" and "Far Behind", the latter of which climbed to #18 and remains the band's highest charting single. An uneven sophomore effort, "Lucy", still sold well (peaking at #11 on the album chart) and produced the band's last charting single to date, "Simple Lessons" (#60). The third record, "Happy Pills", was released in 1998 and managed to get to #65 on the album chart. Filled with a bevy of strong tunes with a return to melodic roots, "Happy Pills" really should have been a welcome comeback for this band. The record also boasts some extraordinary ballads that should have eclipsed their hit "Far Behind". "Sometimes" is not only one of my favorite songs from this record, but one of my favorite ballads in the band's entire catalogue. The band took a 10 year break, but reunited in 2008 to produce some more fine albums, with their sixth due next month.
Unfortunately, most people will only remember the band called The Calling from their single chart hit, "Wherever You Will Go", which went all the way to #5 in 2001. The hit came from the debut record, "Camino Palmero". The band's next act would prove to be a "sophomore jinx" - their second record, simply called "Two", flopped despite boasting another strong collection of songs. The first single, "Our Lives", is arguably their best song. Featuring an amazing chorus and positive lyrics, it is hard to explain why this song didn't even crack the top 100. It is an essential tune for any inspirational playlist.
The Call struggled to get heard above the noise during the 80s. With their emotive lyrics, tight melodies, and distinctive vocals of Michael Been, they appeared to have all the right stuff. The band's first breakthrough arrived in 1983 with "The Walls Came Down", which climbed to #74 on the Billboard Top 100. By the time they started recorded their 1985 album, "Reconciled", several big name guests were pleased to help, including Peter Gabriel and Robbie Robertson. Many would consider the single from that album, "I Still Believe", to be among the band's best work, but it failed to chart. Flash forward to 1989 and The Call makes their final chart appearance with the uplifting and powerful track, "Let The Day Begin", which topped out at #51. It was lifted from the album of the same name, propelling it to #64, the band's highest charting album. Sounding like a sequel to "I Still Believe", "Surrender" appears on the same album but didn't chart. With that unmistakably 80s synth, it remains one of my favorite songs of the era.
Daughter of the man who produced the classic Fleetwood Mac albums "Rumors" and "Tusk", Colbie Caillat expanded the family tradition and became a chart sensation throughout the 2000s. In one of the biggest missed opportunities for American Idol, for which she was rejected twice, Colbie's debut album "Coco" soared to #5 on the Billboard Top 200 in 2007. The record spawned "Bubbly", one of the songs she played to audition for American Idol, which also got to #5. "Begin Again" can be found on her 2009 sophomore record, "Breakthrough", which debuted at the #1 position on the album chart. This song was considered as a single, but eventually others were chosen. I think it would have been another hit for her.
The Rocky soundtracks provided a great opportunity for 80s rock bands to showcase their muscle. Before John Cafferty secured a spot on the Rocky IV soundtrack, he and his "Beaver Brown Band" had a top 10 hit with "On The Dark Side" in 1984, which was on the soundtrack for Eddie And The Cruisers. The Eddie soundtrack cruised to #9, which outmuscled the Rocky IV soundtrack, which got to #10. In 1985, they released the album "Tough All Over", whose title track climbed to #22. Three additional singles would chart from this excellent bar band record, and in the midst of their success came "Heart's On Fire" from the Rocky IV movie. This energetic rocker might have been a victim of the band's saturation on radio at the time, stalling at #76. Stallone was clearly a fan of the boys - another cut from "Tough All Over", "Voice Of America's Songs" was featured in his movie Cobra. On the strength of all these singles, the "Tough All Over" album reached #40 in 1985. Unfortunately, the band's 1988 follow up, "Roadhouse", did not chart.
There's a terrific power pop and rock band known as The Yum Yums that has been going strong since the early 2000s. In 2011, Yum Yums member Tomas Dahl released a solo effort under the name Caddy. It is true solo record, meaning Dahl wrote and performed pretty much everything you hear. Continuing in the finest power pop tradition, Caddy's one and only album to date, "Electric Hero", shines with instantly catchy songs that pack a punch. "Turn Up The Radio" is one of my favorites in this excellent collection.
Ryan Cabrera broke away from his first band, Rubix Groove, to release his first solo album, "Take It All Away", in 2004. Produced by John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, the album spawned several charting hits: the title track went to #15, the acoustic ballad "True" went to #18, and the third single "40 Kinds of Sadness" went to #47. His sophomore effort, "You Stand Watching", failed to generate a major hit but managed to climb up to #24 on the Billboard Top 200. To switch things up, Cabrera changed his image for the third record, "The Moon Under Water". His sound didn't change much - he still churned out plenty of sweet pop rock songs - but the record stalled at #177. "The Moon Under Water" deserved better. Not only did it contain "I Will Remember You", a song that got high profile airplay on TV in 2006, but lead single "Say" is one of the catchiest song he's ever done. Cabrera is now involved in a new project called Beyond The Sky for those keeping track.
