by Brian Dear
Staff Writer
Collective Soul's previous two records delivered great songs, but lacked unity and continuity. Disciplined Breakdown handily dispels that tradition.
The album kicks off with "Precious Declaration," a song detailing Soul's difficulties and misfortune with its former manager. "Declaration" ideally begins the record due to the album's focus, the "disciplined breakdown" the band experienced over the previous two years.
Disciplined Breakdown exposes the riffy guitar melody that characterized the previous single "Shine." Anthematic choruses and smooth transitions within each of Breakdown's songs make the record magnetically hypnotic.
Listeners will find it hard to track-skip, as the album easily holds the attention of all but the most fickle music connoisseurs.
"Blame," the fourth song on Breakdown, will be the track that pushes this record beyond platinum. A gentle intro cascading into powerful verses coupled with addictive, smooth choruses makes even the most depressed, repressed person feel liberated and inspired. With Breakdown, Collective Soul finally crafts a record that can be experienced as a whole, rather than just as simple, radio-friendly singles.