Blue October and Jay Quinn

Blue October is about a decade late. The Houston band now signed to Brando/Universal Records would have been a perfect match with the mid-'90s (fleeting) success of Better Than Ezra and Deep Blue Something, their brothers in white, college-age, men-unafraid-to-show-their-emotions rock. In fact, Blue October's hit, "Calling You," is this year's "Breakfast at Tiffany's." It's radio-friendly and inoffensive. It rocks enough for The Edge but is tame enough for MIX 102.9. And its lyrics, an earnest outpouring of emotion for a faraway love, finds the soft spot in frat boys, soccer moms and girls in studded chokers alike. And, also like "Breakfast at Tiffany's," it doesn't reflect the rest of the band's sound, live or on the album. Which means they'll probably play "the hit" last in order to keep the beer flowing.