CANDLEBOX'S FIGHT FOR RESPECT

It had to happen sooner or later. In the music industry, today's trends are

tomorrow's used CD's sitting for sale in a pawn shop. From the glam of eighties

hard rock to the soft clean rap of early Beastie Boys and Run DMC, most of

yesterday's biggest trends have faded with time, with the hottest bands of that genre

suffering the consciquencies. Such was the fate of Candlebox. Even after selling 4

million copies of their debut album, "Candlebox," and electrifying a muddy

audience at Woodstock '94, the band was still looking for respect from critics and

some music listeners alike when they released their second album, "Lucy." And

much to no one in Candlebox's surprise, they found none.

With their distinct dramatic vocal style supplied by Kevin Martin coupled with hard

as nails guitar lines by riff master Peter Klett, the band's downfall with the critics

seemed only based on one aspect of the band. Candlebox is from Seattle, home of

the grunge rock revolution that swept the country. Said bassist Bardi Martin, in an

interview with Brainchild, "At the point in time we came out, nobody wanted to

hear about another new band out of Seattle because the scene was dead. There was

a Seattle backlash, and we were in a position where it was easier for people to

criticize us rather than other bands that were more established." Vocalist Kevin

Martin (no relation) agreed. "We don't sound like any of the other bands from

Seattle, yet we definately took the fall for the Seattle scene."

The band tried to keep a positive attitude regarding their poor reviews, yet some of

the negativity began to seep into the band's collective consciousness. "The one thing

that bothered me most was that the bad reviews were beginning to affect our live

shows," explained Kevin Martin. "It made it very hard for us to relax up there."

Candlebox went into the studio and decided that they would make "Lucy" the

album that would win over critics and fans alike. Said bassist Martin, "There were

things about the first album that we didn't want to do again. It was a little too slick,

and we strive for a more natural sound." The band recorded as much of "Lucy"

live as they could, resulting in a much more mature sophomore effort which Bardi

said the band was very pleased with. "The level of excitement the whole way

through was very high. We knew that this would be a much better album."

Although initial press wasn't exactly flattering, the reviews steadily seemed to

become better and better. Vocalist Martin explained, "On a sophomore effort,

everyone wants to see you fail. We wanted to prove them wrong, and I think we did

that." Candlebox has taken it's fair share of heat from other musicians as well,

including a nasty war of words with Hole vocalist Courtney Love. Love was quoted

in various Seattle music magazines describing Candlebox as hangers on and fakes,

which resulted in the boys dressing up as Courtney for a outrageous photo shoot in

another magazine. Martin doesn't understand the criticisms, saying, "I think the

biggest misconception about us is that we're trying as a band to fit into this

alternative suit. That just isn't true." Chimed in bassist Martin, "We're just a rock

band. That's all we've ever been and all we've ever tried to be. The only thing that

I can remember we talked about when we were first starting was making very

dynamic songs." Through a rigorous touring schedule, positive attitudes, and a

commitment to fans, the band has seen it's acceptance grow quite a bit in the last

year. "It's funny to meet up with some of the journalists who disliked us before

'Lucy,' laughed vocalist Martin. "Now they come up and apologize for what they

had said. I'm even friends with a couple of them now. Imagine that."