Collective Soul
Biography
When Seattle grunge went mainstream, it was only a matter of time before the ripple effect was felt in regions other than the Pacific Northwest. The Georgia-based quintet Collective Soul -- along with fellow inheritors of the now commercially lucrative post-grunge landscape like Live, Bush, and Candlebox -- developed the genre into a more succinct brand of angst, turning the sonic cacophony of bands like Mudhoney and the Melvins into radio-friendly hard rock.
Collective Soul (whose name borrowed from a line in Ayn Rand's book The Fountainhead) was formed in the small town of Stockbridge in the early '90s by principal songwriter Ed Roland (lead vocals/keyboards/guitars), guitarists Dean Roland and Joel Kosche, and rhythm section Will Turpin (bass/percussion) and Shane Evans (drums/percussion). Originally released in 1993 on the Atlanta indie label Rising Storm, the debut effort Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid proved popular enough on the local level that it was picked up the following year by Atlantic. Within months of its major-label release, "Shine" became a modern rock and MTV staple, and Collective Soul found itself laden with a platinum debut, an arena tour alongside Aerosmith, and a spot on the roster for Woodstock 1994.
The bandmates released an eponymous sophomore effort the following year, which spawned five Top Ten hits on the Hot Mainstream Rock charts. Two such singles, "December" and the symphonic "World I Know," also charted in the Top 40, demonstrating the band's crossover appeal and gathering multi-platinum sales for the album. Although Collective Soul's fan base began to wane upon the release of 1997's Disciplined Breakdown, the 1999 effort Dosage was a return to form, yielding the hit singles "Run" (another crossover hit) and "Heavy." Despite the band's best efforts, however, the post-grunge genre had begun to suffer under the weight of the emerging nu-metal scene, and the band's heyday drew to a slow close.
Collective Soul returned in 2000 with Blender, an image-seeking misfire that saw the group attempting a clean-cut (no facial hair) image while mixing heavily produced AOR with elements of dance-pop, even performing a duet with Elton John. The album nevertheless went gold, and the following year, Collective Soul concluded its contractual obligation to Atlantic Records with the release of 7even Year Itch: Collective Soul's Greatest Hits 1994-2001. The musicians then returned to their roots in 2004, bringing on new guitar player Joel Kosche and releasing the stripped-down and dynamic album Youth on their own El Music Group imprint. An eight-song EP (From the Ground Up) arrived the following year. In early 2007, it was announced that the band had teamed up with Target, which became the "exclusive physical retailer" of the band's next album, Afterwords. One year after its release, the album was reissued at all retail outlets. Collective Soul's eponymous eighth album was released in 2009 on Roadrunner Records. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
AND ALL YOUR WEIGHT, IT FALLS ON ME, IT FALLS ON ME, IT BRINGS ME DOWN
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Whoa Whoa heaven let your light shine down...pleas e
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They don't mention in any of the biographies that Ross Childress was the original and best lead guitarist, maybe one of the best of the 90's. Can't believe they left him out. Must have been a hostile departure. He's in many of the videos they produced too.
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Did Atlanta this past weekend with their biggest fan, my sister (she follows them everywhere!) for their induction into the GA Music Hall of Fame. Have always loved their music but not as fanatic as sis. What nice guys (signed autographs for us) surrounded by their families. The new album is terrific.
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just saw them w/ Green River Ordinance and Gavin DeGraw @ House of Blues in Orlando July 2009...
they've been one of my fav's for a long long time, but I have to say GRO sounded better..CS's sound guys didn't do a very good job of equalizing the loud buzzing throughout the show. All in all it was a great show, but I've seen them do MUCH better....I do love the venue tho'....smal l enough to feel intimate and large enough to feel like you're at a big party. I also love their new album RABBIT...... |
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I went to school with a girl who knew these guys when they were getting started. She said they all were total dicks, but they got some good music!
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I lub Collective Soul I was so excited when they came out with that new song "Run". I love them, I think Chad Krueger is totally trying to steal their image.
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I have been a Collective Soul fan since 1995 and their music is the best. I just love their music.
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Their music is original and they ROCK in concert. Saw them last year and plan to go see them next time they're in the area.
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I agree with colin4533 too! I would also add Counting Crows and Barenaked Ladies as similar artists. I can't get enough! Waiting for the next album.
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Gin Blossoms, Better than Ezra, Dishwalla would be better similar artists? I sure hope not. Those bands are complete crap.
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To Jason Dearborn, I am probably like your mother. 51 years old. Love Collective Soul, although I like a lot of young and younger music. Proves good music is ageless.
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Why is Tom Petty listed as a similar artist? I love both bands, but come on. The Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, Dishwalla, etc. would be better listed as similar artists.
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Mitch, the CD and DVD "Home" is a live performace with the Atlanta Youth Orchestra so your prayers have been answered. One of the best DVD's out there.
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Have I got a long way..... to run
Has Collective Soul ever performed live with an orchestra? Collective Soul / New York Philharmonic would make a sweet live album. Run is powerful song, but would just kill with a full set of strings behind it. |
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My mom wanted a CD of these guys for christmas and I thought that was weird because I essentially thought she wanted a best of funk music album, but then I heard it and I'm like oh my riggin god, these guys do these songs? but seriously, good band I got her the best of Collective Soul: 7 year Itch (I swear thats the name of the best of album) and I'm really enjoying it, we can actually agree on something to listen to in the car.
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wow:)
i'm so glad i'm not the only person on the planet who adores these guys! |
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the true test of any good band is how well they perform live. i saw them at mudstock in 94 and again in a basement show in cincinnati years later and they are one of the best live bands around.
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Collective soul's best album by far was Their self titled Collective Soul relaesed in 1995 followed by Disciplined Breakdown. All their music is so easy to listen to. I own all their albums and they are one of my favorites. I hope they have continued success.
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I could not even begin to list the songs I like by these guys, I would be listing pretty much every song they made!!! Collective Soul- another great band of the 90s whoo!!!
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I have loved all of Collective Soul's Music, first heard "shine" in the 90s when I was a kid and liked it then, now almost 20 years later I love it!!
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Hey man, plenty of hard rock is about love. It just aint the kind of love YOU might be lookin' for. Hard rock is more than a genre, and it always will be. Its a way of life. And if ya love hard rock, you more than likely live that life.
Which means you love hard as well. And let's face it, not everybody can take that kind of love, man or woman. And when too hard livers get together...t h e result ranges between a beautiful couple and Bonnie and Clyde, which some would argue is one and the same ma |
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Have you ever noticed that their lyrics are always "love" this and "love" that? It's like they just throw together whatever words fit the rhythm of the music. Their blue album was the first cd I ever bought, and I listened to them all through high school, but I always thought it was funny that they write these semi-hard-ro c k songs and they're all about love.
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I saw them recently with Live and Blues Traveler in Ct. Collective Soul performed much better than both bands and was the highlight of the night for me!
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something about their music sends a chill up my spine its energizing
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These guys are my favorite band ever. I have been to only 2 concerts but am one of their biggest fans. I'm bummed they changed some of the band members. I guess all good things come to an end eventually.
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Their self titled album is song for song one of the best albums ever made!
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very good band i often think run may be the most beautiful song ive ever heard.
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my son -15- and I are both big fans and Im truly glad he and I have the same taste of wonder to share. I love the vocals and the music - you can rock and contemplate all with the same group - thanks guys.Ruthi
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Yeah, I never really got these guys. And I'm a fan of bands that haven't sold out, or have something to say or are original... Maybe I need to get several of their discs and just listen to them for a weekend. Or maybe they suck, who knows... December is the only song I've ever heard that I really liked, and Wyclef did that one with them.
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The band you never knew that you knew...
I've been a fan since 1994, and always will be. |
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