7even Year Itch is Collective Soul's swan song for Atlantic Records. It features 11 older tracks and 2 brand new cuts. Though the tempo and feel may change from song to song, this is all good-old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.
The Players (Who are those guys?)
Shane Evans: drums, percussion
Will Turpin: bass, percussion
Dean Roland: rhythm guitars
Ross Childress: lead and rhythm guitars
Ed Roland: vocals, keyboards, guitars
The Songs
1) "Heavy": From the band's 1999 set, Dosage, "Heavy" is exactly what its title claims. Crunchy guitars, a big chorus, and lyrics about a person holding another person down surround what is at heart a tune geared for rock radio success. As the band's eighth Number 1 rock radio single the tune stayed on top of the charts longer than any other rock song at the time.
2) "She Said": After this song originally hit the airwaves in late 1997 (in a much different form) on the Scream 2 soundtrack, the band decided to rerecord it for Dosage and throw it in as a hidden track. The hidden track is what we get on 7even Year Itch. The main difference between the two versions is that the first one is a straightforward rock tune while this one takes better advantage of the benefits from a fancy studio. Although I must admit that I originally liked the Scream 2 version better, I have since changed my mind. The tweaking done in the studio on this version gives the song a feeling of deeper importance. Even the record hissing in the background works to a degree (I'm guessing it was designed to add a more melancholy feel to the song).
3) "Shine": This is the one that started it all for Collective Soul. Released in 1994, it actually came from a collection of songwriter's demos from Soul frontman Ed Roland, recorded a year earlier. The band wanted to go back into the studio to record a "real" record for Atlantic, but the record company wouldn't let them. "Shine" was a hit before anyone had even heard of Collective Soul. On 7even Year Itch "Shine" is remastered to give it a fuller, richer sound than it had on Hints, Allegations, & Things Left Unsaid. This is more than just a catchy tune: It is an anthem from the '90s that will stand the test of time.
4) Energy: As one of the new tracks recorded for this greatest-hits collection, this is fun, experimental pop rock. No more, no less. Expanding from their 2000 set, Blender, the band continues to play with different sounds in the studio (record scratches, voice samples, etc.) but never over-indulges. If Atlantic opts to release "Energy" as a single to promote the album it will undoubtedly do well on the charts. "Energy" encompasses one of the greatest things about Collective Soul: As mainstream as their sound can be, it is always completely different from anything else you hear on the radio. That's pretty cool in my book.
5) "Run": First released as a single at the end of '98 on the Varsity Blues soundtrack and Dosage soon after, "Run" has become a staple of soft-rock radio. As the band chugs through this tune Roland wonders aloud, what the hell happened to the music industry? "Are these times contagious?/I've never been this bored before" Roland sings. "In this world of purchase/I'm gonna buy back memories" It's a mellow tune with a simple message that works.
6) "Gel": This is the tune that let people know that Collective Soul was for real after their "fluke" with "Shine". It's hard-rocking, infectious, and a staple of their live repetoire. It also went to Number 1. Roland, in his usual fashion, delivers a simple yet poignant message. Why can't everyone just get along? "Let's mingle/And make it well/We'll come together now/Yeah, let's gel" Look out for this one on their self-titled album and the Jerky Boys soundtrack.
7) "Precious Declaration": As the first single from 1997's Disciplined Breakdown "Precious Declaration" continued Collective Soul's string of number 1 hits. Collective Soul rocks hard on this track. Lyrically it would be difficult for the uninitiated to understand what exactly Ed Roland is singing about, but when one understands a bit of the band's history the song makes perfect sense. At the time when Disciplined Breakdown was written, the band was in legal turmoil with former management that essentially robbed them blind. This song, like many others from that particular album, is about an emotion brought about by those circumstances. In this case it's freedom.
8) "Why Pt. 2": This is the sole cut from 2000's Blender that made it onto 7even Year Itch. Many people wonder why this song is reffered to as "part 2." It's quite simple: the band has a rare track out there called "Why" from the "Breathe" single, circa 1994. The title is simply a gentle nudge to longtime fans who remember the original. Lyrically, the song is one of the band's stronger commercial efforts. "Now I'll pause to let my silence scream tonight/While you roam like a serpent satellite" The song has a common, yet always powerful, rock theme: don't be blind to injustice, even when it's committed against you by someone you love.
9) "The World I Know": As one of the 4 number 1 singles from Collective Soul's 1995 disc the band utilizes an orchestra, acoustic guitars, and somber lyrics to create a musical powerhouse. Melancholy lyrics such as "I drink myself of newfound pity/Sitting alone in New York City/And I don't know why" are followed by a slightly happier note in the end: "So I walk up on high/And I step to the edge/To see my world below/And I laugh at myself/While the tears roll down/'Cause it's the world I know" In these trying times with the World Trade Center/Pentagon attacks a simple ballad like "The World I Know" can really tug at the nation's heartstrings. If the song makes one person feel a little better when times are tough then Collective Soul have done their job.
10) "Next Homecoming": Along with "Energy" "Next Homecoming" was recorded specifically for this greatest-hits release. Though it lacks the experimentation of the other new track, it proves that Collective Soul haven't lost their rock roots. This is guitar-driven, catchy hard rock music with a special edge provided by Shane Evans on drums. They are simply thunderous on this track. It's a winner.
11) "Listen": Like "Precious Declaration" before it, this tune became a Number One hit in 1997. A midtempo rocker, "Listen", stands out to me as one of the tracks that from Disciplined Breakdown that signaled the band's future experimentation on Dosage and Blender. The song doesn't utlize sound effects or loops like many of the tracks from the aforementioned albums, but it has a certain oddball quality that makes it stand out.
12) "December": Songs about using and being used always have, and always will be, staples of the rock genre. "December" is a glowing example of what can be accomplished when such themes are put to music. Sure, it's overplayed. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a modern masterpiece.
13) "Forgiveness": It was rumored in 1997 that "Forgiveness" would be the fourth single from Disciplined Breakdown. That rumor never came to fruition, but it doesn't change the fact that this is one of Collective Soul's most amazing songs. It perfectly displays that Collective Soul are more than just a pop-rock band. Though the song is notably memorable and melodic; lyrically, artistically, and spiritually, "Forgiveness" is as good as anything Collective Soul have ever written. I was initially surprised to see that the band opted to include this track on their first greatest-hits package, but the decision now makes sense to me. "Forgiveness" was always a hit with the hardcore fans. The band is simply acknowledging this. Kudos to Roland and company for consistantly recognizing the fans' wishes, even if they are 4 years late.
Some of the Coolest Lyrics
"She said her daddy had dreams/But he drank them away/And her mother's to blame/For the way she is today" - "She Said"
"It used to be all I'd want to learn/Was wisdom trust and truth/Now all I really want to learn/Is forgiveness for you" - "Forgiveness"
"Why drink the water from my hand?/Contagious as you think I am" - "December"
Songs To Look Out For (What tracks should hook listeners the fastest?)
* "Shine" * "Heavy" * "December"
The Final Word (Is it worth a listen?)
Though it's easy to rant about your favorite tracks being missing from a greatest-hits collection, I have a 100 percent valid gripe about this one. Where the hell is "Where the River Flows"? In 1996 "Where the River Flows" became the fourth Number 1 single from the band's self-titled album. It's a staple tune in Collective Soul's setlists. Everyone and his brother has heard it on the radio. So why was it ignored?
I'm guessing it was the band's decision. If this record was slapped together by Atlantic you can damn well bet "Forgiveness" wouldn't have been on there. "She Said" wouldn't be found anywhere near this disc. You win some and you lose some, but when one considers that the disc only has a 51:50 total running time you has to wonder why just one or two more tracks weren't included.
With that gripe aside, this CD is a worthwhile addition to any rock—whether classic or modern—fan's collection. In the past 7 years Collective Soul have quietly put together five top-selling albums, thousands of live shows, and a rabid fanbase that regards them as demigods. They have built a bridge between classic arena-rock and modern studio-rock. Collective Soul are rock n' roll at its finest.
As they say goodbye to Atlantic Records and lead guitarist Ross Childress, Collective Soul are about to close one chapter of their career and begin writing a new one. Those of us who have been along for the entire ride and those of us who are just discovering modern rock's hidden treasure are eagerly anticipating their next move. Relive the band's first 7 years in the mainstream. Buy this CD. You won't be disappointed.
