So what to make of San Francisco-based Third Eye Blind, a decidedly pop group of which its members make no apologies for and openly admit enjoying the genre?

Perhaps most importantly, Third Eye Blind's new pop-oriented, self-titled release kicks-ass.

Arion Salazar, the 26-year-old bassist for Third Eye Blind, comes from the old school of rock 'n roll. A voracious Beatles-fanatic ('I fucking swear by 'Revolver'), he feels many of today's musicians don't reach back far enough in time for inspiration. "Modern Rock bands claim their influences were the Velvet Underground or Led Zeppelin," he explains. "None of those bands would have come around if the Beatles hadn't made their mark. They were the beginning of the expansion of popular music."

3EB's sound also incorporates a contemporary rock 'n roll edge. Salazar credits lead singer Stephan Jenkins' often-times cryptic phrasing, wordplay that harkens back to the days of Hendrix and the Stones, as the reason. "It's because of every negative lyric that comes out of Stephan," he says. "He's really into having that edge and into the irony of having a dark lyrical content put with accessible pop music that's pleasing to the ear. Especially a song like "Semi-Charmed Life", the lyrics come from a place of Beat Poetry. There are Hip-Hop influences but, perhaps more so, Hip-ster influences -- even before Beck."

"Semi-Charmed Life", proported to be the first single from the collection and comparable to the Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" hit of the early 90s, is a dichotomy. "That song is about some folks Stephan knew from the San Francisco area who got into speed addiction. Not heroin, not chasing the dragon -- speed addicts getting fucked up and having weird sex," he laughs. "That's always a great thing to have a song about!"

In the song, Jenkins sings: 'One stop to the rhythm that divides you / And I speak to you like the chorus to the verse / Chop another line like a coda with a curse / And I come on like a freak show takes the stage."

Much like an addiction to the very drug of which the song speaks, "Semi- Charmed Life" seduces the listener in with its pop hook and sing-a-long refrain, ultimately slamming some pretty grim subject matter into the face.

"What's cool about that song is that it's doing as well as it is," Salazar continues. "A lot of people don't take the time to listen to the lyrics and get what it's about and all they hear is (sings) 'Doot-doot-doot. Doot, doot, doot, doot, doot' -- and they say, "Oh, I love that song! It's great!"

The album's lead-off track "Losing A Whole Year" again features a catchy hook intertwined with somber words. "If it's not the defense then you're on the attack," sings Jenkins, "when you start talking I hear the Prozac / Convinced you've found your place / With the pierced queer teens in cyberspace." Reminiscent of Tears For Fears' "Seeds Of Love" meets The Beatles' "I Am The Walrus," the song is, by all accounts, a bonafied pop hit.

Third Eye Blind's signing caused quite a stir. The group, rounded out by guitarist Kevin Cadogan and drummer Brad Hargreaves, was heavily courted by many labels prior to choosing Elektra. In a war not easily won, 3EB demanded full creative control over its recordings from whatever company they decided to select. "We weren't asking for much, we just wanted creative control," says Salazar. "We approached them and said, 'This is what we want. Take it or leave it.' I know it sounds kind of cocky but at the time it seemed like a lot of folks were trying to get us. It wasn't that (Elektra) acquiesced to our demand, but it was their honesty and sincerity in their faces and their voices. They seemed like they were good folks. There wasn't any kind of schmaltzy, show-biz thing about it. Believe me, we experienced that in a cliché, sort of comical level from other folks, who shall remain nameless."

The group has been tagged for the opening slot for James and will work their way to the East Coast in early June. In the meantime, band members are waiting patiently for their chance to let loose on stage. "We can't wait to go out and play because playing live shows is obviously the impetus to get people passionately and actively into it."

Salazar freely admits to enjoying catchy music of all genres, from the Ohio Players and P-Funk to Madonna. "I remember being a little kid and liking Madonna's "Into The Groove" but there was no way I was ever going to admit that to anybody," he says, adding a mocking, "'Madonna? That's weak!' Secretly I was thinking, you know, that's a tight melody, it's a catchy thing."

For this bass player, his idol above all others remains Paul McCartney. "The Third Eye Blind record doesn't have the super-loud bass mixes the Beatles got," he explains, "but I'm definitely, completely influenced by McCartney's lyrical, melodic, upper register bass style.

"People feel McCartney is that super-cheesy-ballad Beatles guy. This is his rep, right? But then he does "Helter Skelter" which is like a Death Metal, Satanic-thing. Paul McCartney invented Death Metal, he can do anything."

And, seemingly, so can Third Eye Blind. Pop, rock, alternative, funk call their style of music what you will but, first and foremost, consider it good music.

"I'm proud to admit to playing pop music," he offers triumphantly. "A lot of people get scared of that term. I'm not scared of it at all. To me, pop music is good songs and that's what we set out to do, that's what we do and we're definitely unapologetic about it."