Third Eye Blind’s 30th Anniversary Includes Vinyl Release of ‘Rarities & First Drafts’ for Record Store Day 2026 (ALBUM REVIEW)

Arriving as part of Third Eye Blind’s 30th anniversary run, Rarities & First Drafts pulls material largely from the band’s first three albums: Third Eye Blind (1997), Blue (1999), and Out of the Vein (2003), and presents it through demos, alternate takes, and acoustic versions. Instead of revisiting these songs in their familiar form, the collection strips back some of the studio layering and centers on the songs’ structures. It plays less like a standard compilation and more like a look at how these tracks functioned before the final mixes. As part of Record Store Day 2026, Rhino Records is offering this new compilation on Translucent Emerald vinyl as an RSD Exclusive.

“Invisible” opens the record and immediately sets the tone. A longtime fan favorite from around the Out of the Vein sessions, it finally gets an official release here. The new studio version here is much more polished than the demo that has been circulating on the internet for decades. It fits comfortably alongside that era, even if it didn’t make the original track list. The first side also includes a notable quirk: while “Semi-Charmed Life (Acoustic)” is listed on the sleeve, the track on the record is actually “How’s It Going to Be (Alt. Version).” This version, originally from the self-titled debut, features slightly different lyrics and a scaled-back arrangement that puts more weight on the melody and vocal phrasing. “A Kiss Goodnight (Alt. Version)” and “Good for You (Alt. Version),” both tied to Blue, shift toward cleaner guitar tones and a more forward vocal. “Deep Inside of You (Alt. Version)” follows in a similar way, with less emphasis on studio effects and a clearer separation between instruments. “Narcolepsy (Alt. Version),” from the debut, still builds through its quiet-to-loud structure, but the shifts feel more contained here. The spoken “rap” bridge in particular is rougher and more rushed than the studio version, giving the track a more unfinished feel.

On Side B, “Motorcycle Drive By (Alt. Version)” leans more heavily on synth textures, with a slower, more gradual build and less of the sharp quiet-to-loud contrast that defines the original. “Tattoo of the Sun”(originally a B-side from the Semi-Charmed Life single) takes on a different character here, with a drum machine feel and a groove that leans closer to a Stevie Wonder-style rhythm than the band’s usual guitar-driven approach. “The Background (Alt. Version)” shifts the feel of the original, with a slightly faster tempo and a spaced-out bass effect that changes how the track moves beneath the piano and vocal. “I Want You” appears in a stripped variation that keeps the structure intact while easing back on the production. Although the sleeve lists “Burning Man (Alt. Version)”, the track included here is actually a repeat of “A Kiss Goodnight (Alt. Version)” from Side A. “New Girl (Alt. Version),” from the Blue era and known from the American Pie soundtrack, closes the record with a noticeably faster, more pop-punk-leaning arrangement than the studio version.

Despite the quirks and omissions in the track listing, Rarities & First Drafts works well as a companion to the first three albums. The alternate versions don’t drastically change the songs, but they shift the emphasis enough to highlight different parts of the arrangements. For longtime fans, it’s a great addition, especially with the inclusion of “Invisible” and the various mix differences.