I’ve said it before, and I’m sure this is not the last time that I’ll fall back on this excuse: 365 is a big number. It’s also the number of records that I need to listen to—in as many days—for this blog to be considered a success. So, like a million monkeys with typewriters will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare, I was bound to check out mid-nineties mainstream rock sooner or later. Thanks ptchfrkabortion.
Believe it or not, I don’t mind this record too much. Yeah, I probably won’t be adding it to any “Greatest of All Time” lists, but Collective Soul gets the job done. It’s very clear when listening to their eponymous release that this band understands its purpose—make basic, catchy, rock songs. They don’t try anything too outside of the box on this record, as they stick to fairly standard song structure and lyrics. However, that does detract from any ability that they have to really draw me in. Collective Soul isn’t around for people like me, though. Collective Soul is meant to play in big arenas to legions of fans who know every lyric.
Honestly, if this were what all mainstream rock was like, we would live in a much better world. Fact. I, for one, would be far less ashamed to identify with the rock genre than I currently am. For example, when asked what type of music I like by someone who is a bit musically ignant, I hate responding with “rock.” This is because, fairly frequently, they’ll reply with something along the lines of “Oh, like Nickelback?”
No. Not like Nickelback. Anyway, if they were to say “Oh, like Collective Soul?” I’d be much more likely to smile and nod, and far less likely to feel the need to defend my musical honor.
Swole Ear 