Search - Collective Soul :: Blender

Collective Soul launches into the 21st Century with "Blender

Eddie Lancekick | Pacific Northwest | 02/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Collective Soul had already given us a major dosage of their anthem rock style mixed with bluesy tunes and the occasional soft power ballad. With "Blender" we're in for even more of a treat: Another album diverse in structure and noble in effort.



Blender starts out with no less than three gems that are worthy of praise for their power and style. "Skin" "Vent" and the MTV video hit "Why pt. II" are good enough by themselves to carry the rest of the album. However, that is not the case with this band, who with the exception of Pearl Jam, has survived the 90's messy musical scene by sticking together and putting out solid albums that make rock music fun again.



The fast paced rocker "You speak my language" and the moody envoked, soft drifter of "Over Tokyo" are other tracks to relish on BLENDER. Collective Soul continues to produce songs that are powerful, fast, slow, fun, funny, and serious, all the while maintaining their lineup with great guitars and heavy drums. If you have been looking for a rock band that's not a one hit wonder, and has the diversity of songs that are not found with formula rock or whatever you are hearing on the radio, BLENDER is a great album to check into."

Excellent

Cory T. Shaeffer | Pittsburgh | 01/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a melodic, slightly electronic collection of hard rock tracks and ballads. Positive lyrics for the most part, too. This is one of those CD's that you can just let play, and while none of the songs compare to the hit "Shine," the consistency of the sound makes this album a notch above their other ones just because they seem to have developed a clear direction for their sound. They have settled into a great album-rock band, with a newer sound applied to classic 70's rock melodies. "Skin," "Why" and the haunting "Turn Around" are some highlights, but there are only two poor tracks on the whole disc out of 11. Ed Roland has to be perhaps the greatest alt-rock vocalist today, vastly underrated songwriter as well. Collective Soul CD's are never instant classics, but they have a way of growing on you and man do they sound great live!!"