Artist: Chevelle
Album: Point #1
Release Date: May 4th 1999
Label: Steve Taylor’s long since defunct Squint Entertainment

I’ve decided to review the first 4 Chevelle albums before getting to my review of the newest offering from the band, Sci-Fi Crimes. As you are well aware, it’s quite common for people to love the fact that they were “in the know” long before a band hit it big time. Most of the time it’s also common to lord such knowledge over the head of those less fortunate, those who got into said band only after the radio played their first hit single into the ground.

I definitely got into Chevelle a long time ago, but I don’t resent those that got into them with Wonder What’s Next or after nor do I think everything the band has done since hitting the big time is useless mainstream trash. I was in 10th grade (1999 to age myself) when Chevelle came onto my musical radar with Point #1. Videos like “Mia” and “Open/Point #1″ were gold and the sound was something new to my collection.

Reflecting back on that album, it’s easy to see that it’s far from their best work. It’s evidence of a new band finding themselves, creating a very solid foundation to build on but still in need of the seasoning that the years would soon give them. Back then, however, it was good enough for me to scribble a Chevelle logo on my 5 Star trapper keeper binder like all the school girls used to scribe “Johnny Boy” on theirs.

If you’ve only been with the band since their later releases, this album won’t give you much. If you have been there with them since the beginning, what do you think of this album today? Most of what I love about this album today is from a pure nostalgic view.

My favorite songs are – “Open/Point #1″ “Mia” “Prove To You” “Blank Earth” and “Sma”

Overall, it’s an excellent beginning for any band. It’s too bad that the band basically denies this albums existence by listing it nowhere in their discography.

Tags: Chevelle, debut album, Point #1, Squint, Steve Taylor