Cravin' Melon was founded in 1993 by Clemson University classmates and disbanded with a concert in May, 2001. The Southern roots-rock band released
Red Clay Harvest in 1997 on Mercury Records. By that time, radio and the buying public had tired of their Hootie and the Blowfish-style pop music. (When
Cravin' Melon lost their original drummer, Gary Greene of Hootie filled in for a tour.) The songs on
Red Clay Harvest are all well written. Highlights include the upbeat rockers "Come Undone" and "Sweet Tea." The album was produced by Don Smith (Cracker and John Hiatt). The ballad "Post Office" sounds like it could have been written for
Darius Rucker and has many of the qualities that made Hootie a smash: soaring melodies, impassioned vocals, and a wistfull sensibility.
Cravin' Melon is similar musically to the
Pat McGee Band and
Sister Hazel.
Red Clay Harvest is perhaps the band's most polished and cohesive record. Consider this album a reminder of mid-late 1990s rock by 1998's "South Carolina Band of the Year." ~ JT Griffith