Collective Soul

Collective Soul started as one of many grunge wannabes that scored nondescript hits with zero staying power and even less identity, starting with 1994's "Shine." The impressive pop-rock on 1999’s Dosage should have signaled a new era in Collective Soul’s sound, but proved to be a fluke; its follow-up, Blender, served up rock-by-numbers, an inexplicable image makeover, and an appearance by none other than Elton John. After undergoing another makeover as a glammy, heavy rock band, 2007’s Afterwords returned the quintet to the sound that made it popular over a decade ago—and where it's comfortable enough to stay for now, judging by "Staring Down," the single from the forthcoming new disc Collective Soul (Rabbit).

Updated 08/06/2009