There are two bands I catch more shit for liking than anyone else. I guess they are the epitome of what is known as a guilty pleasure. One is Gin Blossoms, who I still contest to this day were a great band, and were killer live performers as well. The other is Collective Soul. I'm sorry fellow music snobs, I just can't help it. I own all five of their previous albums, and their greatest hits collection just to have the two previously unreleased tracks (yes you read that correctly.) I've also seen them twice in concert, and in all actuality the last time I saw them, it was a birthday present from our own Adam Mast who made fun of me even while giving me the tickets (that's ok, he likes Queensryche. Anyone up for some Mindcrime?). Anywho, to make a long story short, Collective Soul, to me, make some of the best dumb, sugary, radio friendly pop rock you can find. I mean, they've had seven number one singles last time I checked. Can you tell I'm trying hard to defend my position? Well, after their newest album Youth, I may be hard pressed to keep on doing it, because even I'm starting to realize that these guys are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

This is the longest stretch of Collective Soul's career between albums (4 years) and usually that means one of two things; Hard at work on a masterpiece, or stretching for material. Can you guess which category Youth falls under? Good Lord, just look at the back cover photo on the CD case if you ever get the chance. Are these guys still a rock band, or are they metro sexual Abercrombie & Fitch model fembots? Lead singer Ed Roland still has quite the vocal chops, and an ear for melody, and Youth is plastered with tracks that could all fall under the single worthy category, but Roland's lyrics (which honestly were never really that deep to begin with) are laughably silly. Roland has an uncanny ability all over Youth to spout lyrics that are beyond self-indulgent. For example, on the track 'General Attitude" he gushes "I'm a criminal with no crime, sing like a bird that is now released, like an angel with clip-on wings, I've nothing that's etched in stone, I'm a ready that's already gone." Or how about on the even worse 'Counting The Days" when he sings "I'm never one to become precious, 'cause life is so touch and go, counting the days yeah, until some freedom can scream my name, yeah, until the gods break these chains." God, what a blow-hard! Musically, if you've heard one Collective Soul album you've heard them all, and this one is no different. Safe, slick, and never taking any chances; just how America likes their radio tunes!

In all honesty though, if you consider yourself a Collective Soul fan, there's plenty here that will keep you satisfied. But for those of you who have hated these guys and made fun of them (and me) for years, well lets just say I can see your point.