25 Years!  Wow!  Collective Soul is celebrating 25 years together as a band and as luck would have it, we also get a new record to boot.  The band delivers their 10th Studio Album with ‘Blood’ and they prove there is still life in that blood running through their veins.

With the opening track, “Now’s the Time”, you get that classic Collective Soul guitar sound and Ed’s soaring vocals. The song is high energy and welcomes you to the party with open arms.  The heavy bass line from Will Turpin opens the next song “Over Me” which keeps the energy level pumped up to 10.  The band has a way with catchy riffs and choruses that are simple yet impactful.

“Crushed” is a song that would feel right at home on their 2000 album ‘Blender’.  It is a throwback, yet modern. Then comes “Right as Rain” which the band has been playing live for awhile now so it makes you feel right at home.

The first four song were familiar and sounded like Collective Soul.  That changes with “Them Blues”.  The piano-based song is a more bluesy track and takes a more serious tone.  Ed’s (or E as he likes to be called…WTF??) vocals are great, the style switch is a nice change of pace and it seems to be a more serious band and sound. The best part is the super long guitar solo by Jessie Triplett to end the album…it is killer. One of my favorite tracks on the album.

The second half opens with “Good Place to Start” which is another piano backed track and Ed’s spoken vocals.  It is a drug song at its best.  It is happy and fun and you have the munchies by the end!  Smoke ’em if you get ’em.  “Observation of Truth” brings thought provoking lyrics with a driving beat that keeps your feet tapping while the brain is churning listening to the lyrics.  Even another guitar solo thrown in to take it up a notch.

The album’s first ballad is the piano-driven “Changed” filled with orchestration that swells and falls back nicely adding a new texture to their sound and an optimism that lifts you up.  “Big Sky” kicks off with the rat-ta-tat-tat of the drums in a military style and brings you another feel good song that puts you in a good mood.

The album closes with the country-styled song “Porch Swing”.  The Georgia boys go back to their Southern Roots and it feels like they are sitting on the front porch with acoustic guitars in hand, sweet tea at their side and enjoying the beautiful day.  With a little help from Tommy Shaw (Styx) on guitar and soaring backing vocals, the album goes out making you feel like you are home and all is right with the world!

On their 10th album, the band shows they still have a little left in the tank…who am I kidding, their tank is full and they are still going strong.  The album kept that Collective Soul sound while at the same time allowing them to explore different styles and sonics that shows the range and talent that few bands have.  I would have to give this album and easy 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  It ranks up there with some of their best and shows they still have a ton to offer.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

If you want to see where this Ranks among all their albums, check out the Collective Soul – The Albums Ranked Worst to First.