![]() It's the kind of album delivered by a confident veteran act, then: solid and strong, lacking in frills but satisfying all the same. If the sounds on Blood aren't precisely new, they're nevertheless sturdy, the work of craftsman who know their trade and are comfortable relying on their skills. His energy and resolve enliven songs that deliberately follow conventional contours - songs designed to evoke certain sounds and emotions, from both Collective Soul's peak in the alt-rock '90s and the '70s album rock that is their perennial inspiration. Leader Ed Roland decorates his surging rockers and ballads with some light, stylish flair in the margins - they usually arrive in the form of polished electronic accents - and, more importantly, he still sings with passion. Even if Blood offers the kind of densely saturated melodies and hooks that are Collective Soul's trademarks, it doesn't feel like a throwback, nor does it seem like a nostalgia trip. At this point in their career, Collective Soul are acting like veterans, playing music that builds upon their older work, music that ignores the present day by going deeper into the familiar. It's their tenth album released in the wake of the 25th anniversary of their 1994 breakthrough, the kind of landmark that only a veteran band gets to claim. The record should be a crowd pleaser for long time fans of the band.All the stars align for Collective Soul on Blood, at least as far as the calendar is concerned. Three decades into the band’s career, Collective Soul still has something to say and Vibrating has an awful lot to like. “I can’t feel like you/ I could take you back/ But today’s not tomorrow’s news,” Roland sings on the lovelorn ballad.Ĭollective Soul concludes the record with the CCR-inspired “Where Do I Go,” mixing a melodic Southern country with rock and a group singalong at the end. ![]() It’s the slowest tune on the entire album and the only one of its kind here, carrying on the tradition of “The World I Know.” “Looking Around” reintroduces the Georgia influence and mid-tempo bluesy swagger.Įthereal lovelorn ballad “Back Again,” which still has a strong rock backbone, then throws a bit of a curve into the mix. The infectious, percussive-groove-heavy “A Conversation With” stays very much in the same territory, Roland leading the way. Roland’s singing is expressive and offers added bluesy swagger in one of the album’s better moments. Shuffle Radio Subscribe 88.3K Songs Shine Collective Soul Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid December Collective Soul Collective Soul The. It’s an acoustic-driven mid-tempo rock tune that sits right in the pocket. “Rule #1” brings a decidedly ’90s pop-rock flair. The dual attack guitar solo breaks down into Roland singing a cappella before the song rolls on to its conclusion. It fuses the big vocal melodies of ’80s rock and roll with a Southern rock sensibility. “Undone” is the first track to decidedly slow the pace to mid-tempo. “Take” floats between the melodic and the heavy, with all the riffs to go around, but also offers an acoustic-laden melodic chorus. It’s not difficult to envision Collective Soul in a room banging out the tracks together. The majority of the record has a very organic and feeling to it. This song features some interesting drumming by Johnny Rabb. Roland’s vocal delivery is strong and shows off his adept range. “All Our Pieces” is still upbeat but has more of a folky, Tom-Petty-inspired classic rock feel. shows,” Roland sings. At its conclusion, it even features a fadeout instead of a straight-up ending, something rarely heard on recordings these days. ![]() “Been chasing after shadows/ Chasing what who really knows/ Been catching up to nothing/ Catching up on T.V. ![]() Singer Ed Roland gets a little more space to stretch out on this one. The energy keeps up for “Reason,” which picks up right where the opener leaves off. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |