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Dosage

Artist: Collective Soul
Genre: Alternative
Year: 1999
Rating: 6.5 / 10

Collective Soul unveiled its latest effort, Dosage, to increased fanfare this year, thanks in no small part to their growing success in the record industry. Disciplined Breakdown, the band's most recent album, was a continuation of the band's musical maturation process. It represents the band's most complete effort to date, leaving some big shoes for Dosage to fill. Unfortunately for the band's mainstream success, the album cannot live up to such high expectations. For true Collective Soul fans, however, the album is still another enjoyable, if not overly fulfilling, step in the band's progression.

Straying away from the radio-friendly fare of the earlier albums, Dosage is more cerebral, containing less raw power and more emotional power. Initial release "Heavy," while a potential rock hit, lacks the depth necessary to sustain it as a lasting classic. "All your weight, it falls on me. It brings me down." "Run," the other main track promoted by the band, is an intriguing change of pace from the band's usual efforts. It evokes memories of "The World I Know," despite falling short in impact and energy. The changing momentum of "Run" is likewise visible in "Crown," one of the better performances on the album. Ed Roland soulfully laments man's loneliness in this world, as he wonders, "Who's gonna wear my crown?"

The highlight of the album for me, though, comes during two bonus tracks. For those with a computer nearby, purchasers of the album can listen to "Almost You," a track made possible by the use of HyperCD technology. Contrary to the majority of the songs on the album, "Almost You" harkens fans back to the band's earlier days, when roaring guitars were the order of the day. Even more exciting is the presence of "She Says," a previously-released Soul track not present on any of the albums. The song is buried seven minutes into "Crown," so do not attempt to cut that song off prematurely - "She Says" is the album's strongest number. Unfortunately, it is not strong enough to allow Collective Soul's increasing fame to continue on that path. One can only hope that Collective Soul's legion of core fans can propel this album to success.

Submitted 2/17/99.