"Tremble For My Beloved" (1.8 Meg) by Collective Soul is the Sound File Of The Month for August, 2000 at Sight N Sound.org.

Collective Soul's 1999 contribution, Dosage, is a piece of work which affixes them to the confirmation that despite their having carved a signaturic niche in rock and roll, they can deliver sincere diversity. Listeners are welcomed to "Tremble For My Beloved" (1.8 Meg), a brilliant choice for an opening track, having introductory strains of a Jimmy Page piece (of over a score ago). It becomes a rocker, with layers thick and swarming, the vocals finding themselves infectious.

Click here to download "Tremble For My Beloved" (1.8 Meg)

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Click here to buy the Dosage CD by Collective Soul.

Read on for a word of confidence regarding the remainder of the album...

Second track Heavy speaks nicely balanced with setups and releases which grow more likable the more one hears it. That's one of the outstanding points Collective Soul has most artists on, in that they mix it up with uncanny timing, able to sound not contrived, choosing the order the compositions herein would seem to be only planned for. There's the tipoff. Listen to an album a few times, then reprogram the songplay, say in countdown manner your favorite to least. Some songs beg to come after another, and depending where you are with the artist, oft-times you end up leaving the selections to play as planned.

Fourth song Needs which (is in part, a touch Art Garfunkel and I'm confident he'd agree,) vies for equalling his best, due respect given. Third tune, No More, No Less is dimensional. When the changes happen, the travel within the song lift, sidestep and set down for explanations, clarifications and carefree outing of some ya-yas.

Because Collective Soul has not given in to commercialization, they remain an underdog band, which smartly cannot hurt them because their music remains their art. The range which they cover as a band, is almost defiant. Just when you think, Hmm, this is a kickin' little tune...in comes another track of strings. Then a second listen is demanded. The lyrics reach in. Their music fluently lends you to be reached. Their vocals and harmonizing are, in my opinion, phenomenal. [This, coming from a reviewer's ear skewed slightly under training of the guitar school.] It is their fine and highly capable singing which enrapts.

Run is everything. It's song number seven. No one will dare call it chick rock, because this is no less thinking man's music. If you know how, take a moment for it, put down your racing, and simply bask in Run's porosity. It's radio friendly, yet poetic, deliberate. It's a song you'd like as a kid, knowing to yourself it's something you're still going to like when you're retired. Take Generate, song eight on Dosage. The rhythm is set, and they play with it. And, true always to meaning and balance, simultaneously whipping in aptly fresh counters, their vocals come out on top. This tune shows off a beautiful example of the guitar solo as part of the song, recalling Queen guitarist Brian May's textbook execution of the theory that the solo is still under the song, ultimately of the same fabric therein. The architect is happiest when the people don't notice his work, especially if they know a little something about it. Upon later inspection, or, listening, surprises come at you, and you're reminded silently that the stuff had been there the first time. Song five, Slow, has vocals which move me so much I can't get out of my skin. At first I was confused, asking why the contrastive guitar riffing, but, upon stepping back and letting the song emanate, I now know. Listen, as will you. Crown is the closing, and perhaps sweetest song on Dosage. A true jewel, which provides escalation and pacification that double team from earside on, through to your heart. It likely will prove Collective Soul's fourth CD title true, asking replays for recompense. You might even like the bonus track.

review by Morgan Field