| Ursa Major | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 18, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2005–2009 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 47:06 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Stephan Jenkins | |||
| Third Eye Blind chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ursa Major | ||||
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Ursa Major is the fourth studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind. Released on August 18, 2009, on the group's own Mega Collider label, Ursa Major was the group's first studio album in over six years. [2] [3] [4] The first single from the album was "Don't Believe a Word", which debuted on the radio June 5, 2009.
Frontman Stephan Jenkins had intended for the album to be released in 2007 but didn't feel that it was complete, and writer's block slowed down the album's progress. [5] [6] In an interview with Rolling Stone , Jenkins also noted that the recording industry had "just collapsed" following the release of Out of the Vein. [7]
The working title of the album was The Hideous Strength, after a similarly named C.S. Lewis book. [8] [9] According to Jenkins, the album's name was subsequently changed to Ursa Major because "...We’ve been hibernating and now we’ve awakened and we are hungry for spring and we want to feed and we want to thrive." [5] Another album, Ursa Minor (B-Sides compilation), was scheduled to follow Ursa Major, but the idea was later scrapped in favor of a new studio album.
Ursa Major's cover is derived from Uranographia, a 17th-century drawing by Johannes Hevelius. The view is mirrored following the tradition of celestial globes, showing the celestial sphere in a view from "outside", with the drawing mirrored to match the view through a telescope.
The album was released on August 23, 2009. The first single, "Don't Believe a Word", was released June 5, 2009. [10]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 65/100 [11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | 87% [12] |
| AllMusic |    [13] |
| Associated Press | (favorable) [14] |
| Billboard | (favorable) [15] |
| Robert Christgau |  [16] |
| Consequence of Sound | [17] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C+ [18] |
| Kerrang! | [19] |
| Rolling Stone | [20] |
| Slant Magazine | [21] |
Upon its release, Ursa Major received positive reviews from music critics. The review aggregator website Metacritic assigns a "Metascore" to each album, which is based on the ratings and reviews of selected mainstream independent publications, and the release has a score of a 65 based on 7 selected critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [11]
Ursa Major debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, selling 49,000 copies in its first week of release. [22] The top 10 debut made Ursa Major the highest-charting album of the group's career, though its first week sales were less than that of its predecessor's first week sales of 63,000. [23] [24] The sales would prove to be short lived, as Ursa Major fell to #45 in its second week on the Billboard 200 with a 77% sales drop. [25]
All tracks are written by Stephan Jenkins, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can You Take Me" | Jenkins, Tony Fredianelli | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Don't Believe a Word" | Jenkins, Fredianelli | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Bonfire" | Jenkins, Fredianelli | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Sharp Knife" | Jenkins, Fredianelli | 4:27 |
| 5. | "One in Ten" | 2:51 | |
| 6. | "About to Break" | Jenkins, Ari Ingber | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Summer Town" | 4:52 | |
| 8. | "Why Can't You Be" | 5:25 | |
| 9. | "Water Landing" | 4:30 | |
| 10. | "Dao of St. Paul" | 4:05 | |
| 11. | "Monotov's Private Opera" | 4:19 | |
| 12. | "Carnival Barker" (instrumental) | Jenkins, Fredianelli | 1:24 |
| Total length: | 47:06 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Why Can't You Be" (with Kimya Dawson; iTunes only) | 5:27 |
| 14. | "Monotov's Private Opera" (acoustic; iTunes pre-order only) | 4:20 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can You Take Me" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Don't Believe a Word" | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Bonfire" | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Sharp Knife" | 4:27 |
| 5. | "One in Ten" | 2:51 |
| 6. | "About to Break" | 3:56 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Summer Town" | 4:52 |
| 2. | "Why Can't You Be" | 5:25 |
| 3. | "Water Landing" | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Dao of St. Paul" | 4:05 |
| 5. | "Carnival Barker" (instrumental) | 1:24 |
| 6. | "Monotov's Private Opera" | 4:19 |
Notes
Third Eye Blind
Additional Personnel
Production
Third Eye Blind is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1993. After years of lineup changes in the early and mid-1990s, the songwriting duo of Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan signed the band's first major-label recording contract with Elektra Records in 1996. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1997, with the band largely consisting of Jenkins, Cadogan, Arion Salazar, and Brad Hargreaves (drums). Shortly after the release of the band's second album in 1999, Blue, with the same line-up, Cadogan was released from the band under controversial circumstances.
Stephan Douglas Jenkins is an American singer, guitarist, and the frontman of the alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. He began his musical career in 1992 as part of the short-lived rap duo Puck and Natty, alongside Detroit rapper Herman Anthony Chunn. Following the breakup of the duo, Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan formed Third Eye Blind in 1993. The band released their eponymous debut studio album in 1997, which went multi-platinum in the United States. Since then, they have released nine more albums: Blue (1999), Out of the Vein (2003), Ursa Major (2009), Dopamine (2015), We Are Drugs (2016), Thanks for Everything(cover album) (2018), Screamer (2019), Our Bande Apart (2021), and Unplugged (2022). As part of Third Eye Blind, Jenkins has received one Billboard Music Award and eight California Music Awards.
Third Eye Blind is the debut studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on April 8, 1997, by Elektra Records. The album was collectively written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan, while production was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. Recorded in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S., the album incorporates elements of alternative rock, post-grunge, and power pop. Thematically, the album focuses on topics such as relationships, drug addiction, suicide prevention, and the band's experience of being signed to a major record label. Third Eye Blind was promoted with five singles: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Graduate", "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Jumper".
Blue is the second studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on November 23, 1999. The album's creation was difficult, mainly due to power struggles and arguments between frontman Stephan Jenkins and lead guitarist Kevin Cadogan, leading to a quick but isolated recording experience between members. The album was generally well received by critics, and was certified platinum by the RIAA, but performed below the band's prior album, the multi-platinum Third Eye Blind. While managing to stay together for the creation of the album, shortly after its release, the band fired Cadogan, touring in support of the album with replacement guitarist Tony Fredianelli.
Out of the Vein is the third studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind. Released on May 13, 2003, Out of the Vein is the band's first album with guitarist Tony Fredianelli, who replaced longtime guitarist Kevin Cadogan in 2000. It would also be Third Eye Blind's final album with Elektra Records as well as their final album with bassist Arion Salazar.
"Semi-Charmed Life" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to modern rock radio as the lead single from the album on February 18, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins is credited as the sole writer of the song, although guitarist Kevin Cadogan has disputed the song's authorship through litigation. The song was produced by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. An alternative rock and power pop song with a rap-influenced singing style, the lyrics of "Semi-Charmed Life" concern a crystal meth addiction and transition periods in one's life.
"Jumper" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). The song was written and produced by frontman Stephan Jenkins, with additional production by Eric Valentine. Elektra Records released it as the fifth and final single from the album on August 4, 1998. An alternative rock and acoustic power pop song, "Jumper"'s lyrics concern an act of suicide, as Jenkins urges for a greater amount of human compassion.
"How's It Going to Be" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the third single from the album on October 20, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as writers of the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Cadogan. According to Jenkins, the song is about the end of a relationship and the transition to acquaintanceship.
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1993. The group's discography consists of seven studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, three extended plays, 25 singles, three promotional singles, and 31 music videos. The current line-up consists of Stephan Jenkins, Brad Hargreaves, Kryz Reid, Colin CreeV, and Alex LeCavalier. They have amassed worldwide album sales of over 12 million units.
Under the Blacklight is the fourth and final full-length studio album released by American alternative rock band Rilo Kiley. It was released on August 20, 2007, in the United Kingdom - three years and three days after the release of their third album, More Adventurous. Warner Bros. Records released the album one day later in the United States. "Silver Lining" was No. 27 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.
Leave This Town is the second album by the American rock band Daughtry, released on July 14, 2009, by RCA Records. It is the first album that they recorded as a band, as their self-titled debut album was recorded before the band was formed and only lead singer Chris Daughtry was signed to the label. It was also their last album to feature Joey Barnes on drums. The album's style is primarily arena rock, with influences ranging from hard rock to pop rock.
All the Women I Am is the twenty-eighth studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire. It was released November 9, 2010, through the Valory Music Group, a division of Big Machine Records. Its first single is "Turn On the Radio", which was released in July and debuted at #54 and peaked at #1 in January 2011. The second single "If I Were a Boy" and was released in January 2011 and re-entered the Billboard Country Charts at #60, peaking at #22 in April 2011. The third single, "When Love Gets a Hold of You", was released on April 11, 2011, peaking at #40 in six weeks. McEntire's fourth single from the album was "Somebody's Chelsea," which peaked at #44. The album was produced by Dann Huff. As of 2012 it is her 1st studio album since 1984's Just a Little Love not to be certified.
Dopamine is the fifth studio album by American rock band Third Eye Blind, released on June 16, 2015. It is the band's first studio album since 2009's Ursa Major. Third Eye Blind worked on Dopamine from 2010 to 2015. The album's first single, "Everything Is Easy", was released on May 8, 2015, along with a cover version of the Beyoncé song "Mine". The album debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, selling over 21,000 copies in its first week.
Symphony of Decay is an EP by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. The EP started off under the working title Black as a companion to their platinum selling 1999 album Blue. Its creation was a result of a compromise over the release method of the track "Slow Motion"; the band had wanted it on Blue, while their record label, Elektra Records, opposed its inclusion on such a high-profile full-length album release due to its controversial lyrics. The EP would go through years of delays for a multitude of reasons, including extensive touring, prioritizing the completion of their third studio album Out of the Vein, and complications arising from parting ways with Elektra in 2004. The EP itself was never collectively released, though many of the tracks were eventually released elsewhere.
Ursa Minor is an unreleased studio album by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. Initially conceived as the second part of a double album to their 2009 release Ursa Major, the album was delayed, and eventually shelved, due to legal issues between frontman Stephan Jenkins and then-guitarist of the band Tony Fredianelli. The subsequent re-staffing the band with mostly new members in 2011 and 2012 led Jenkins to shy away from releasing the material, stating that it no longer represented the current band lineup - though comments from as recent as 2015 have alluded to releasing some of the music online eventually as well.
We Are Drugs is a studio EP by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. Preceded by the singles "Cop vs. Phone Girl" and "Company of Strangers", We Are Drugs was released on October 7, 2016.
"Cop vs. Phone Girl" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their second extended play, We Are Drugs (2016). It was released as the lead single from the extended play on July 25, 2016, by MegaForce Records. The song addresses the issues of racism and police brutality, specifically focusing on a 2015 incident at South Carolina's Spring Valley High School.
Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope is the thirty-first studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire. It was released on February 3, 2017, by Rockin' R Records, Nash Icon, Big Machine Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. McEntire produced the album with her musical director Doug Sisemore and Jay DeMarcus from the musical group Rascal Flatts. The album consists of two discs. The first disc is made up of traditional hymns, while the second disc contains all original songs. McEntire wrote a song on the album "I Got the Lord on My Side" with the help of her mother, Jackie McEntire.
Thanks for Everything is an EP by Third Eye Blind. It consists of seven cover songs and was released on August 24, 2018.
Screamer is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. It was released on October 18, 2019 by Mega Collider Records.
