Collective Soul

Performer: Collective Soul
Artist: Luis Enrique
Engineer: Greg Archilla
Producer: Matt Serletic; Ed Roland
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Collective Soul: Ed Roland (vocals, guitar); Ross Childress, Dean Roland (guitar); Will Turpin (bass, background vocals); Shane Evans (drums). Additional personnel: Jerry Miller, John DiPuccio (violin); David Chappel (viola); Steve Sidgursen (cello); Janet Clippard (acoustic bass); Luis Enrique (percussion); Becky Russell, William Brown, Bertrum Brown, Jackie Johnson (background vocals). Recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida; Kiva Studios, Memphis, Tennessee; Streeterville Studios, Chicago, Illinois; Granny's Studio, Reno, Nevada. Personnel: Ed Roland (vocals, guitar); Ross Childress (guitar); Jerry Miller , John DiPuccio (violin); David Chappell (viola); Steve Sidgursen (cello); Shane Evans (drums); Luis Enrique (percussion); Becky Russell, Jackie Johnson, Bertram Brown, Will Turpin (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Bob Clearmountain. Recording information: Criteria Studios, Miami, FL; Granny's Studio, Reno, NV; Kiva Studios, Memphis, TN; Streeterville Studios, Chicago, IL. Unknown Contributor Role: Alfredo Oliva. This self-titled album from the group that surprised even itself with the success of its premiere release, HINTS, ALLEGATIONS & THINGS LEFT UNSAID, represents Collective Soul's first complete manifestation as a cohesive band. COLLECTIVE SOUL is a true rock and roll effort, full of hard-edged, rhythmic guitar work, tempered by dips into the musicians' reserve of metal, blues and radio-friendly pop. Ed Roland's songs are simple and strightforward, yet searching--as in "The World I Know," an unpretentious observation of good and evil, laden with questions like "Has the sweet breeze blown?/Has all the kindness gone?" Vigorous riffs, a full-bodied '70s radio-rock sound, and an essentially optimistic outlook on life characterize this record, though there is the occasional surprise like the final track, "Reunion," a contemplative, gospel choir-backed blues tune.

Rolling Stone (6/15/95, p.83) - 3 Stars - Good - "...With COLLECTIVE SOUL, the band proves it has the goods to continue to shine on brightly..." Entertainment Weekly (3/17/95, p.88) - "...Soul's second album focuses the group's modest mission on breezy pop songs buffed with uniquely resonant guitars....the combination of ringing pop and lowbrow riffs could well turn them into the Bachman-Turner Overdrive of their generation..." - Rating: B Q (6/95, p.132) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...most of these 12 tracks....are topped with phased, harmonised vocals and choruses which ring with something approaching pop genius."

Riding the crest of the grunge movement as it crashed on the shores of mainstream rock, Georgia's Collective Soul showed up in the mid 1990s with everything rock fans wanted, and now expect, from their radio stars: big, compressed, gut-wrenching guitars, sensitive lyrics and emotive wailing that presaged emo vocals, and hooks galore. Their debut album went double-platinum, largely due to the lovely power ballad "Shine." They continued to release solid, hit-spawning albums for Atlantic Records, but left after a greatest-hits package in 2001, and began self-releasing their recordings to a still-enthusiastic base of loyal fans.

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