“Shine” – we might as well say it.
In the mid-90s, in my first job and with two record shops within walking distance, I used to buy anything mentioned in Kerrang! So the Collective Soul single “Shine” mattered to me as much as, say, STP did at the time.
Which means 60s-flavoured power pop wasn’t how I remembered Collective Soul, but yet here we are.
Perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise. More than three decades after “Shine” introduced them to the world, Collective Soul have earned the right to do whatever they want. On “Touch And Go”, their 13th album, that means embracing The Cars, New Wave and the sharpest pop instincts they can find.
“Rainbow” is the first indication of the change. Bright, melodic and drenched in a 60s influence, it puts old-fashioned songwriting craft ahead of everything else.
“Eye On You” moves forward a couple of decades. The 80s synths are prominent, but the chorus is so catchy that resistance is futile. It sounds different without ever feeling forced.
Then, on “Uh Oh”, rock n roll breaks out. The guitars are turned up, the energy increases and the familiar Collective Soul swagger comes flooding back.
The harmonies on “All My Days On Thru” are the type Cheap Trick would be proud of. There is real elegance in the way it is constructed, but it still possesses enough grit to stop things becoming overly polished.
“Heavy Load” is appreciably darker. It always compels, though, and there is something in its brooding atmosphere that recalls the best work of Blue October.
The bassline on “Fun” sounds like it has come straight from the underground. “Where’s the fun?” asks Ed Roland over the sort of gleeful hedonism that Electric Six would surely approve of. It is playful, strange and utterly irresistible.
The understated guitar on “Again” is ridiculously catchy. Nothing is overplayed, but the song gradually worms its way in and refuses to leave.
“Feel” is bigger and more expansive. Its widescreen sound brings U2 to mind, yet Collective Soul never lose their own identity within the grandeur.
“Shooting For You” underlines just how sharp these songs are. These are lovely little gems, meticulously put together but never robbed of their warmth or humanity.
That leaves “Love Your Way” to close the album, and the guitar work is superb. Like so much of “Touch And Go”, it doesn’t need to shout for attention. It simply works its way into your consciousness until you realise you have been humming it for hours.
“Touch And Go” might be different from the Collective Soul many will remember, but its brilliance lies in how natural that difference feels. The guitars, melodies and harmonies remain, but the colours surrounding them have changed.
More than 30 years into their career, Collective Soul are still finding new ways to make their songs stick. That might be the most impressive thing of all.
Rating: 8/10
