Collective Soul Self-titled (Rabbit) Review
Rabbit Is A Return To Rock For Ed Roland and CS
Sep 21, 2009
In some ways, Rabbit is another step up for Roland and company. They're not breaking new ground per say, but are sprinkling in some new sounds while remaining true to the familiar rock sound that is Collective Soul.
Rabbit Returns To Rock
Songs like "Welcome All Again," "Dig" and "My Days" sound like the classic Collective Soul of the late 1990s. Collective Soul was at the peak of their popularity after they released their first self-titled album in 1995, and Dosage in 1999. The band went on to produce seven #1 hits in the 1990s. And while they've released four albums since 1999's Dosage, they haven't had the same success since.
2000's Blender was a mixed bag that saw the band rely more on synth than ever before. In 2004, they released Youth which was fairly successful, however, 2007's Afterwards went unnoticed in the mainstream.
Collective Soul Sign New Label with Roadrunner Records
For Rabbit, the band dropped their old label and signed on with Roadrunner Records. The fivesome is hoping to have more success this time around. And for the first time, all the band members are responsible for the song writing. In the past, it was just frontman, Ed Roland. So how does this album stack up compared to the others?
"Understanding," "Welcome All Again" and "Staring Down" The Highlights
As with every Collective Soul record, there will be three or four standout tracks that measure up to some of their best work. This time around, they hit more right notes than wrong. "Welcome All Again" is the opener and it is so jammed packed with energy that it could fit right on Dosage. "Staring Down" is their first single and the pop rock sound is what has made Collective Soul what it is.
Finally, the stand-out track on the album is "Understanding," a song that changes tempo and pace several times before closing with the band singing in harmony and fading out. It could be three songs in one, but it works so well. And it is very different than anything they've done, so they deserve props for trying something new.
Rabbit Is A Solid Album
No song on the album is unremarkable, but a few of the tracks seem to blend together a little. "Fuzzy" is an interesting choice for the band, and the whistling is bound to remain in the listener’s head for days. The final tracks on the album leave it on a good note. "Love" is infectious and "Hymn for My Father" is both emotional and beautiful and a nice way to end the record.
Fans should be satisfied with the band's latest output, but many may still be waiting for the album where Collective Soul really shakes it up and tries something completely different.
 |
