How? How is it possible that Hints, Allegations & Things left unsaid by Collective Soul is a demo?

Sure. It’s rough, unpolished and needs a good mixing. But every track is a winner. No wonder Ed Roland was aiming to sell himself as a song writer, in the style of Desmond Child or Diane Warren. He always has the ear for a great tune, happy or sad, peppy or slow.

The band tends to consider their second album, a self titled effort, to be their real debut, and when you listen to it and relish their expansive talent for the sad (world I know), the break up (December) or the straight rocker (gel), you know this is a band that oozes talent.

Like many gen Xer, my introduction to the band was shine, which sounds unproduced but what a fucking great track it is. Billy Corgan might insist it’s a copy of Drown, but shine precedes it as it was written in the late 80s.

Although their fame has waned, Collective Soul still play a great live set and are still on my bucket list.

-Sam J Valdés López