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| BYU-Idaho students pose with the band members of Blessid Union of Souls after its concert on Sept. 30 at Idaho State University. Four years after its first album premiered, the band has released a new album, Perception. |
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After a four-year dry spell, Blessid Union of Souls is back on its feet with a new album, a new tour and new energy.
Striking both gold and platinum, the band, popular for hits such as “Hey Leonardo (She likes me for me),” “Light in your eyes” and “I Believe,“ incorporates uplifting lyrics and great musical talent.
“We just want to write really positive songs,” said Eliot Sloan, lead singer and songwriter for Cincinnati-based Blessid Union of Souls.
The band has been together since 1995, but an unfavorable contract forced them to put their careers on hold after their 2001 album release. The new album, Perception, has been in the works for the last two years, and the wait has paid off.
The album is packed with 16 songs, filling nearly every minute of the CD, and gives fans plenty to enjoy.
The band’s classic appeal is evident in the new album. Songs like “Could’ve Been with You” and “A Thousand and One” continue the trend of great upbeat music.
Fans with more of a wild side will appreciate many of the new tracks that take advantage of the band’s new second guitarist.
Many songs the band writes are Christian based. The song, “I Still Believe in Love” is Sloan’s favorite song on Perception for a reason.
“At the end of the day I still believe in God; I still believe God has His hand over everything,” Sloan said. “Sometimes he has to bring tragedy in our life to get us on the right track, and at the end of the day I still believe in love; I still believe God is in charge.”
Recently, Blessid Union of Souls came to Idaho State University where it played in the newly constructed Jensen Concert Hall. There the band performed a mix of old and new hits, giving longtime fans and newcomers a taste of what Blessid Union of Souls is all about.
“You won’t find a better concert than this in all of Idaho. They’re amazing,” said Ryan Scott, a sophomore from Lebanon, Ohio. The band has toured through Utah and Idaho and is currently playing on the East Coast.
“We are going to take it one album at a time,” Sloan said, regarding the future.
