I’ve followed Collective Soul since their remarkable debut ‘Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid’ and along the way found plenty in their catalogue to make me a fan, not least their self-titled release from 1995 and their second eponymous release from 14 years later! Their last outing 2015’s ‘See What You Started by Continuing’ saw a return to their trademark guitar-driven Rock with newcomers Johnny Rabb and Jesse Triplett seamlessly augmenting long-time members Ed Roland, Dean Roland and Will Turpin to put together the band’s first album in 6 years. Four years later that line-up is back again and its even better.
‘Blood’ has plenty in the tank from the bouncy riff to opener ‘Now’s the Time’ and the even greater thrust and drive of the ‘Cheap Trick in an alternate Universe’ second up ‘Over Me’ before ‘Crushed’ adds even more with a quirkier (almost) dash of The Tubes and melodies that throw in the kitchen sink! All three are trademark sounds that fans will lap up and more.
There’s a lot to love here if you’re a long-time fan, but if the band is new to you there’s plenty to recommend them too. This might be slick melody-driven modern-day Rock album but its roots are in the south of Georgia and are never too far from the surface. ‘Right as Rain’ soars and bubbles nicely whilst ‘Them Blues’ goes even deeper and takes it right back to basics opening with keys and voice before the song arcs with a sparing and accented use of guitar to create a song of delicacy and poise that finally lets the six-string free.
The second half opens with ‘Good Place to Start’ which melds gentle melody with spoken word verses injected with a Tom Petty bent, it’s a cool song and followed by ‘Observation of Thoughts’ which adds an uplifting vibe with its understated backing vocal creates a warm ‘summer sky’ glow. The ballad ‘Changed’ uses keys and voice to great effect before we closeout with two of the best here.
Penultimate offering ‘Big Sky’ is a track that really brings it home for fans with echos of the past as the vocal and background drum beat set off the smooth trademark background-vocal washed melody; and ‘Porch Swing’ takes it all the way back to basics with a strummed guitar and a heartfelt lyric – it’s beautiful.
Heady, melodic, reflective and gentle, ‘Blood’ is a mature offering and one which underlines that Collective Soul 2019 has plenty more to offer.