The title of Collective Soul's new album, "Blender," begs the question: blending what? Is this latest effort more than just the usual mix of grungy garage rock and radio friendly ballads? By the time the last track has played out, "Blender" proves to be something else. Collective Soul has matured beyond our expectations.
Collective Soul's lead singer and songwriter Ed Roland makes a wise detour when he steers his band away from the pattern they have established in the past decade. Perhaps Roland noticed another pattern, that the band's most successful singles were the ones least representative of the albums. "Run" and "The World I Know" are understated numbers. The albums, however, tended to be stuck in the high end of grunge; Roland's focused, innovative lyrics were lost in a sea of groaning guitars. Since Roland is responsible for both the lyrics and the music of the band, the inconsistency of quality seemed puzzling.
Roland seems finally to have hit his composing stride with "Blender," an album containing the best and worst of his band, but mostly the best. The single "Why Pt. 2" is a statement for the other ten tracks. "Why Pt. 2" is not only striking musically, with a choral hook you won't soon forget which also continues Roland's lyrical tradition. "In the air I'm tasting your perfection / Forgive me dear for my misdirection," he sings. Ok, so maybe his lyrics are more inventive than insightful, but Roland's gritty tenor sells the goods.
|
Songs such as "10 Yrs. Later," "Turn Around" and "After All" speak Roland's sensitivity; and best of all, the music won't even come close to making your ears bleed. The catchiest song on the album, the upful "Boast," however, also has the foggiest lyrics. But just try to listen and not walk away singing "Yeah you want to / 'Cause you say so / 'Cause you need to / Yeah you need to need to" to yourself while passers-by try not to stare. Lead guitarist Ross Childress earns his stripes on songs like "Boast," where his playing sounds more like a vocal/guitar duet than simply accompaniment.
Of course, no album would be complete without an Elton John duet. Wait, come again? No, that's not the No-Doze taking effect, you really read that. Mr. "Blue jean baby / Airline lady" Elton John. Oh, I'm sorry -- Sir Elton John. The British songster trades verses with Roland on "Perfect Day," even throwing in a veritable ragtime piano solo. Surprisingly, their voices aren't ill-matched. It even works.
Thinking thematically here, however, perhaps it would have been best to leave Roland off vocals altogether for a seemingly bizarre Elton John interlude. "Blender" is a pop record, where Collective Soul has clung to rock before. Throwing their hardcore fans a curveball like Elton John by himself smack dab in the middle of the album could have been insidiously brilliant. U2 did it with Johnny Cash on "Zooropa" in 1993; it was entirely unexpected and completely appropriate. Most likely, however, Collective Soul isn't ready to take that plunge.
"Blender" has a couple of those moments where the band seems to doubt its new incarnation. The album opens and closes with straightforward rock. While "Skin" is excusable, "Happiness" sounds like Pearl Jam when Eddie Vedder is having a bad hair day. The only song not penned by Roland, the confused "You Speak My Language," doesn't fit anywhere.
When Ed Roland trusts his instincts, Collective Soul is strong and memorable. If "Blender" is an indication of future metamorphosis, hopefully Collective Soul can avoid being labeled merely a band of the 90s.
Grade: B+
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
