Track listing
Show track credits
- 1 Skin 3:08
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writer
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Lindsay Kris Rolandvocals
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mixing
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- 2 Vent 3:13
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writer
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vocals
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Jerald JacksonClavinet
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mixing
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- 3 Why Pt.2 3:37
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writer
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mixing
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- 4 10 Yrs Later 3:21
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writer
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mixing
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- 5 Boast 3:39
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writer
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mixing
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- 6 Turn Around 3:39
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writer
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mixing
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- 7 You Speak My Language 3:24
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mixing
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writer
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- 8 Perfect Day 3:48
- feat. Elton John (piano,vocals)
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writer
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Jake Shapirocello
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Jeff Lanahanhandclaps
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handclaps
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mixing
- 9 After All 3:44
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writer
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mixing
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- 10 Over Tokyo 3:38
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writer
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Chika Gotovocals
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Megumi Higashigucivocals
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backing vocals
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Jayce Fincherbacking vocals
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mixing
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- 11 Happiness 3:32
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writer
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mixing
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- Total length: 38:43
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
To rate, slide your finger across the stars from left to right.
20 Reviews
I've always had a soft spot for Collective Soul, since discovering their early singles and music videos, Shine, December, The World I Know etc. I have had a sort of fondness for them, there was a time I recall when I first discovered their music videos and I had a sort of 'wow!' feeling, like a sort of nostalgia even though I didn't grow up with them! So I listened to the albums from Collective Soul and it led me here, I wasn't sure on Blender, you see I love the singles from it, Why is a brilliant rock song, Perfect Day is really mellow and cool, but I actually quite like it, I mean it's not perfect but who cares? I think it's nicely produced, has some cool hidden gems too like 10 Years Later and Over Tokyo. I don't really think Collective Soul are an album band, more of a singles one but that's not to say it isn't worth listening to their albums as every album is different and has some great hidden gems including this one.
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Collective Souls most underrated album. It’s just as good as all the others, have never understood the negativity about it
Published
It's jelly and trifle time again.
Collective Soul are one of those bands the critics love to hate and the venom from their written words has proven so consistently vitriolic it's become readily accepted as fact. Apparently bands who trade in standard risk-free rock automatically qualify for the kind of vituperation normally reserved for war criminals and pedophiles. To my mind it says more about lazy, half-assed hacks writing from a false sense of entitlement and self-worth rather than attempting to provide insight or original thought. Okay, in their lighter, poppier moments, Collective Soul find themselves standing at passport control awaiting entry into boy band territory but music is a very broad church and, in some intangible way, requires all forms to function. Having said all that Blender is a pretty ordinary album. It's as if songwriter Ed Noland has been reading his own press notices and decided to ring the changes.
We've all seen those movies where the weedy kid becomes so tired of being beaten up for his lunch money he engages the local martial arts grandmaster to teach him how to defend himself? The denouement being lots of bullies sporting bruised faces and ruptured testicles and pretty girls lining up for dates? Well Blender joins the action halfway through the training program. Our hero may get lucky with a single punch or kick but he's still likely to be spending most of the time during any conflict curled into a ball protecting the family jewels. It's as if, by daring to throw in the odd grungy chord or grubby riff the band scare themselves and have to retreat to the safety of songs with rounded edges and smooth melodies. The move from "Why Pt.2" to "10 Years Later" being a good case in point and inviting along Elton John to sing a few lines in the chorus of "Perfect Day" is another.
Blender is a decent enough title for a band straddling a post-grunge / soft rock line in the sand but, ultimately, it proves to be a stance as awkward as it sounds. Tracks like "Skin", "Vent", "Boast" and "Why Pt.2" are where any strength resides, while "You Speak My Language" is a decent stab at a Morphine track, but this is a band that needs to bulk up rather than slim down. No doubt it's a transition which left the band's detractors rubbing their hands in glee but, personally, it's just another excuse for a party.
More trifle please!
Collective Soul are one of those bands the critics love to hate and the venom from their written words has proven so consistently vitriolic it's become readily accepted as fact. Apparently bands who trade in standard risk-free rock automatically qualify for the kind of vituperation normally reserved for war criminals and pedophiles. To my mind it says more about lazy, half-assed hacks writing from a false sense of entitlement and self-worth rather than attempting to provide insight or original thought. Okay, in their lighter, poppier moments, Collective Soul find themselves standing at passport control awaiting entry into boy band territory but music is a very broad church and, in some intangible way, requires all forms to function. Having said all that Blender is a pretty ordinary album. It's as if songwriter Ed Noland has been reading his own press notices and decided to ring the changes.
We've all seen those movies where the weedy kid becomes so tired of being beaten up for his lunch money he engages the local martial arts grandmaster to teach him how to defend himself? The denouement being lots of bullies sporting bruised faces and ruptured testicles and pretty girls lining up for dates? Well Blender joins the action halfway through the training program. Our hero may get lucky with a single punch or kick but he's still likely to be spending most of the time during any conflict curled into a ball protecting the family jewels. It's as if, by daring to throw in the odd grungy chord or grubby riff the band scare themselves and have to retreat to the safety of songs with rounded edges and smooth melodies. The move from "Why Pt.2" to "10 Years Later" being a good case in point and inviting along Elton John to sing a few lines in the chorus of "Perfect Day" is another.
Blender is a decent enough title for a band straddling a post-grunge / soft rock line in the sand but, ultimately, it proves to be a stance as awkward as it sounds. Tracks like "Skin", "Vent", "Boast" and "Why Pt.2" are where any strength resides, while "You Speak My Language" is a decent stab at a Morphine track, but this is a band that needs to bulk up rather than slim down. No doubt it's a transition which left the band's detractors rubbing their hands in glee but, personally, it's just another excuse for a party.
More trifle please!
Published
This compact disc is really pretty bad. I don't know what they were aiming for but I don't think they hit it. The material is not so good and the band doesn't seem very interested, kinda just going through the motion.
I can't get into this one at all. I think they were just playing it safe.
I can't get into this one at all. I think they were just playing it safe.
Published
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1
Skin
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2
Vent
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3
Why Pt.2
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4
10 Years Later
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5
Boast
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6
Turn Around
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7
You Speak My Language
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9
After All
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10
Over Tokyo
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11
Happiness
The opening “Skin” gives a good indication of what the rest of the album entails. Somewhat catchy but ultimately disposable, “Skin” is actually one of the better examples of the sound Roland was trying to achieve on this album. The first of two duds on the album comes with “Vent” which along with some less than stellar lyrics is way too busy for me to focus on anything. The redeeming section of the album comes in the middle third from “Why, Pt 2.” through “Turn Around”. In this stretch only “Turn” really stands out and would sound at home on any other album by the band. The other tracks in this stretch succeed in being closer to by-the-number Collective Soul than the remainder of the album. “You Speak My Language” is the second throw away track on the album and suffers from many of the same problems as “Vent”. Elton John makes one of the most random cameo appearances on any release that I own with “Perfect Day” and the only noteworthy track on the last third is the understated “Over Tokyo”. I’m very hesitant to recommend this to fans of any Collective Soul albums. Regardless of what you like about the band, Blender should be the last album on your list of Collective Soul albums to try out.
Favorites: “Turn Around”
Published
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1
Skin
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2
Vent
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3
Why Pt.2
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4
10 Yrs Later
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5
Boast
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6
Turn Around
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7
You Speak My Language
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8
Perfect Day
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9
After All
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10
Over Tokyo
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11
Happiness
I suppose it's a testament to Roland's prodigious songwriting gifts that the record still eeks by with a non-disastrous 2.0 stars. With the exception of the outrageously awkward "You Speak My Language" (easily the poorest track in the group's entire discography), every track is at least moderately enjoyable from a purely melodic perspective. The record is actually loaded with infectious melodies: it's the production details and complete lack of originality that really sink the album. The end result is a release that I don't mind listening through while doing something else, but a record that I'm far too embarrassed to play in public. At best, a seriously guilty pleasure.
As much as I'd love to continue levelling criticisms at the record, any proper review of Blender should mention the small minority of tracks that actually work rather well. When the band gives up on the synth beats and slows down the pace, they actually deliver a pair of thoughtful ballads in "10 Years Later" and "Turn". Alongside the vaguely twangy builder "Old Tokyo", these are three tracks that any Collective Soul fan should enjoy. There's also a decent chance that such listeners might enjoy "Perfect Day", a somewhat sappy ballad that features an effective guest spot from Elton John (I have no idea how they convinced Elton to help out on this release...). I also have a soft spot for the opening "Skin", even if it epitomizes much of what the record does wrong. I even feel like lead singles "Why, Pt. 2" and "Vent" probably have interesting songs buried somewhere deep inside. I still won't be returning to those tracks singles, or the album as a whole, anytime soon.
Blender may offer occasional enjoyment to hardcore Collective Soul fans, as long as they're willing to overlook some blatantly awful moments. I still have a hard time recommending this album to anyone. The general listener is best advised to completely stay away and restrict their Collective Soul collection to the three LPs that directly precede this one.
4.3/10
Published
This album is not as bad as most people think it is. Despite the awkward boyband album cover and a poppier sound, a couple of songs such as "Perfect Day", "10 years later" and "over tokyo" make this album worth a casual listen.
Published
There's no longer shine on this burnt out rainbow... or maybe something means nothing after all.
Published
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Catalog
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26 Dec 2023
23 Nov 2023
17 Nov 2023
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1
Skin
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2
Vent
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3
Why Pt.2
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4
10 Yrs Later
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5
Boast
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6
Turn Around
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7
You Speak My Language
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8
Perfect Day
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9
After All
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10
Over Tokyo
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11
Happiness
17 Nov 2023
23 Oct 2023
16 Oct 2023