I’m sorry to say it, but Hootie & the Blowfish epitomized for me all that was sad about ’90s music. I know I’m generalizing, but frankly, I heard so many obviously talented bands trying so hard not to sound like anything that went before. Unfortunately, nobody figured out a new sound and so much of it ended up sounding like nothing at all.

So it was with some trepidation that I put on Looking for Lucky. I’m happy to report they’ve not only busted out, they’ve really found themselves in a very satisfying sense.

Looking for Lucky is a captivating cornucopia of aural pleasure, intellectual stimulation and pure joy. I’m not so much about lyrics as I am about real musical talent and creativity. I really can’t say there is a clunker on the talking CD and several of the songs are positively outstanding. The CD starts out really strong with “State Your Peace,” the band’s oblique comment on war and peace. “The Killing Stone,” in spite of its obvious biblical connotations, is an atmospheric tour de force by Darius Rucker.

The band brought lots of friends in to help write and record the songs including Cowboy Mouth’s Paul Sanchez.