Disco de Collective Soul: “7even Year Itch: Greatest Hits 1994-2001”

When I first heard Shine I thought that Collective Soul would become a one hit only band and that I would hear from them in one of those "Where are they now" shows. Time has proven that this band can deliver some consistent rock records year after year. I had a chance to see the live at the Caracas Pop Festival (Jan. 2001) and I was impressed as they are more powerfull as a live band that as a recording one. They deliver stronger a rawer performances this way.

As for this CD, this a simple and nice start to their music. Its has a collection of their better known hits plus two new tracks. Collective Soul has built a carreer on singles and this CD cover all the bases in this regard. As for the booklet, its has lyrics, track information and tells you from what record each track was taken from. If you do not have any of their records and are a casual fan you will probably need no more. If you have their work already you have to decide if two new tracks are worth the expense.

Just a great CD. If you don't know who Collective Soul is, I HIGHLY suggest you go out and buy this CD anyways. There are many recognizable songs that you may have heard on the radio at one point in the last 7 years. The CD starts out with the incredible, highly-charged rock anthem "Heavy" that really gets you pumped for the rest of the CD. Other popular songs include "Gel," December," and "The World I Know" from CS's second album (and in my opinion, their best album yet), Collective Soul. Popular songs from other albums include "Why Pt 2," "Precious Declaration," "Shine," and "Run" among others. The only real disappointing thing about 7even Year Itch is that their two new songs ("Energy" and "Next Homecoming") featured are not too great. But this is an overall great album and I haven't stopped listening to it since I got it. I only wish they would have put a few more songs on it---it just seems a little unfinished. "Skin" or "Untitled" or "To Where the River Flows" or "Vent" would have been great contributions I would think. Or just some more songs from their first and fifth albums that are barely featured on 7even Year Itch. I was surprised to see that "Perfect Day" was not on this CD. It is the first song I have seen CS record while featuring another artist---Elton John for that matter! But, it is still great with out it. BTW---Collective Soul in concert is a MUST-SEE! I saw them in May 2001 and they became my favorite band and I now have all of their CD's. They are an incredible band who deserve to be seen and deserve more than what they are getting. They are quietly famous which is both good and bad, but I still find them popular and just good all around.

This CD compiles Collective Soul's 11 biggest hits, and offers 2 new songs (Energy; Next Homecoming--both good tracks actually). For the casual CS fan, this offers a nice package. The set is centered around Collective Soul's peak years: 3 songs from 1995's break-through "Collective Soul" album (The World I Know; Gel; December) and 4 songs from 1997 (Precious Declaration/Listen/Forgiveness from "Disciplined Breakdown" and She Said from the "Scream 2" soundtrack). The set is mercifully short on last year's "Blender" album (only Why Pt 2).

For those of use who already have all the albums, this collection is superfluous and somewhat confounding (some radio hits/key album tracks are missing, including Smashing Young Man, Breathe, Simple). I've said it before and I'll say it again: at this point, the band would have been better served with releasing a live CD, as its energy at concerts is amazing. (Ed Roland, are you listening?)

Nevertheless, singer/songwriter Ed Roland has built an impressive catalogue of infectuous rock hits, and if you don't have the albums, this compliation is a great starting place. (The good news is that the set isn't entitled "Greatest Hits Volume 1" as that is the surest sign a band is about to break up!)

I was not a Collective Soul fan until I listened to this CD. I am now a fan and listen to this CD over and over. It is amazing how many hits this band compiled in 7 years.

Most people don't think of Collective Soul when they think of great rock bands during the last 7 years. But unlike most bands who toss you a new album every three years, Collective Soul cranks out the music early and often. This collection does the band justice and yet doesn't at the same time. Some of the selections are odd, such as She Said, which is actually a hidden track on an earlier album. Plus, the songs don't seem to contain the same volume. Shine, taken from their first album, is recorded much lower than the other songs on the disc. You would think they would go back and correct that, but they didn't.

Aside from that, the two new songs on the album are flat-out good. Overall, Colective Soul fans should pick up this album even if it's just for the new songs.