February 9, 1999 - Dosage

Happy New Year! Over two and a half months since my last release and two years since "Disciplined Breakdown", Collective Soul released their fourth album "Dosage" on February 9, 1999. Collective Soul add a sixth member on this album as Anthony J. Resta is credited with some keyboards as well as drum programming. After being unhappy with the production on their last album, Collective Soul spent a lot of time in the studio on this album and Resta helped the band use more advanced technology and techniques. Let's see what this new album is all about!

The album kicks off with "Tremble For My Beloved" and after a slow opening Ross Childress comes in with some cool lead guitar. Ed Roland sounds solid and the main riff hits pretty hard and sounds pretty cool! The chorus is solid as well and it's easy to see why this easy one of the album's singles, it's hard not to get into! There's a nice distorted guitar solo in the middle and they wrap things up nicely as well. A pretty cool opener! Up next is the album's biggest single "Heavy" and Dean Roland plays a nice rhythm guitar riff while Shane Evans adds a catchy drum beat and when Childress comes in with the cool lead guitar things sound pretty good. Ed's voice sounds nice and epic in the chorus and Resta makes his first real impression with some trippy keyboards in the background. Childress unleashes a pretty epic guitar solo that fits the mood perfectly and in under three minutes they've banged out this pretty cool tune. Things sound great so far! Track 3 is "No More, No Less" and Evans plays a catchy drum beat, Will Turpin plays a cool bass line and Resta plays some piano in this decent main riff that's pretty light and fluffy. For a song so light, it is pretty damn catchy and it's hard not to sing along in the chorus. Childress plays another epic sounding solo that fits the mood nicely and after a final verse and chorus they continue to jam things out for over a minute longer with some decent guitar keeping things interesting. The next track is "Needs" and along with a light guitar riff we hear a whole strings section that sounds decent and adds some epicness to another light song. The first verse and chorus are quieter, but everyone joins in with the strings for the rest of the song and together everything sounds a little sappy, but it's pretty well done pop rock. They hit reset and return to the quiet opening riff for what seems like the finish, but they nicely bring it back and jam out the catchy chorus for over a minute, which might be a little long. The strings at the end sound good though. Track 5 is "Slow", and despite the name it's an upbeat song with a catchy guitar riff with some cool effects driving things along. Ed sings a solid verse overtop the repetitive but catchy riff and things sound very loud and epic in the chorus with Ed singing pretty high. They miss an opportunity for a solo and kinda half-ass the part where it should've been, and then return for a final chorus. It's got a great hook, but not much more. Up next is "Dandy Life" and it has Cbildress singing lead vocals as well as his lead guitar! It's a light guitar riff and a catchy drum beat that start things off and Resta adds some cool keyboards before Childress begins his first verse. He doesn't sound bad, but it's nothing special either, a decent pop voice but Ed is certainly better. I like his second verse better though and the chorus is still very typical Collective Soul with some catchy wooing and a smooth riff. Childress plays a decently epic solo for the slower mood and then jams out a final chorus. Track 7 is "Run" and it starts with some acoustic guitar and Resta adds some catchy piano to form the backbone of this light but catchy main riff. Ed sounds solid overtop and the strings show up again to add some epicness to things. Childress plays some louder guitar that barely qualifies as a solo and then they predictably jam things out. The next track is "Generate" and it has a pretty cool lead guitar riff that is undeniably catchy and Ed sounds great singing overtop. The stop-and-start chorus sounds pretty good as well and I'm shocked this wasn't a single as I think it's very accessible and still pretty good! Track 9 is "Compliment" and the first verse and chorus are quiet but then things get a little louder. It's a pretty simple main riff but Ed's vocals keep things interesting throughout. Not one of their best songs, but still decent. Up next is "Not The One" and it has a kind of trippy and interesting riff that keeps the pace while some slow but epic piano and guitar plays overtop. Ed sings a quiet first verse and chorus, then the whole band finally joins in for a louder version of the same riff. Childress plays a slow but fitting solo and he spices up the fadeout as well. The final track on the album is "Crown" and it's listed at over ten minutes long, although it's really just over five minutes. It's got a slow beat and some quiet guitars and bass with Resta adding some trippy, droning notes as well. Ed sounds pretty good singing slowly along and everything sounds pretty epic despite it's simplicity. Childress's solo sounds perfect for the mood and after 5:07 we reach a near minute of silence before a bonus song "She Said" kicks in. It sounds like a typical Collective Soul song with a light and catchy main riff and the strings show up again to add some epicness to the chorus. They don't stray from the verse and chorus, but things sound solid enough and it's a decent way to wrap things up.

That is the end of "Dosage" and I thought it was a pretty solid album. Collective Soul are playing a very catchy pop rock style and I think Resta's presence is felt on most of the songs with lots of new effects and sounds being used to keep things sounding diverse and pretty cool. I think it's easily better than their last album "Disciplined Breakdown" and while it's pretty close, I think it's better than "Collective Soul" as well! A new best album is pretty cool, I can't wait to see if they can top it next time out!