[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Collective Soul — Listen
Album: Disciplined Breakdown
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2233









Released: 1997
Length: 4:05
Plays (last 30 days): 1
You're now thirsty,
Walking in the desert all alone
You're now searching,
Lost in isolation from your soul

From the bullets you bite,
To the pain you request,
You're finding them harder to digest
When the answers you seek,
Are the ones you destroy,
Your anger's well deployed

Why can't you listen? - Why can't you hear?
Why can't you listen,
As love screams everywhere?

You now hunger,
Feeding your mind with selfishness
You now wander,
Aimlessly around your consciousness

When your prophecies fail,
When your thoughts become weak,
Silence creates necessity
When you're clothing yourself,
With the shields of despair,
Your courage now impaired

Why can't you listen? - Why can't you hear?
Why can't you listen,
As love screams everywhere?

You crucify all honesty,
No signs you see do you believe,
And all your words just twist and turn
Reviving just to crash and burn,
Fighting 'til the bitter end,
If only your heart could open up and listen

Why can't you listen? - Why can't you hear?
Why can't you listen,
As love screams everywhere?

Why can't you listen? - Why can't you hear?
Why can't you listen,
As love screams everywhere?
Comments (134)add comment
Saw them once in their hayday in a small club.
Totally.  Insane.  Show
You wouldn't have thought so but yeah
This rules -- it's a great song that has held up amazingly over time. Super glad to hear it this afternoon.
 Pound33 wrote:

This one sounds a bit like Soul Asylum to me.




I can hear that.  GOOD TUNE!!
This one sounds a bit like Soul Asylum to me.
i never get tired of hearing this one. thanks!
Are these guys good guitar players? To me it sounds fantastic. I'm just learning to play and would consider myself blessed to be able to play like this. But I also know that sometimes something that sounds good to me is "meh" to other guitar players.

So are the guitars as good as I think they are? I mean, is it particularly hard to do what they're doing, or particularly different? Just wonderin'
This pretty good track made my day when the end was segued into the intro to The Beatles’ “Dr. Robert”. I often say these details are why I love RP!
that overdrive guitar sound
CS is just another one of those great bands that wanna-be critics love to dump on.
Something wrong with the file? Sounds very thin.
Always great to hear this remarkable band jam here on RP! Their last couple of albums have some really tasty rockers on them, too, I'm very happy to report!
this is a great forgotten song.
 AlexPendragon wrote:

It really pisses me off when bands like this get dissed.  I was raised on The Beatles and everything in between and I thoroughly enjoy the evolution brought forward by bands like this.  If you can't get a life then go back your trance and drum machine garbage and not have to think period.........




I agree! GREAT TUNE!
EXCELLENT!
Collective Soul's guitar riffs are so contagious. 
I am a sucker for harmonics 
 AlexPendragon wrote:
It really pisses me off when bands like this get dissed.  I was raised on The Beatles and everything in between and I thoroughly enjoy the evolution brought forward by bands like this.  If you can't get a life then go back your trance and drum machine garbage and not have to think period.........
 

Psytrance makes me think (and feel) a lot (hold the drugs)
You said it best - dont diss the bands if you don't like it or get it!
It really pisses me off when bands like this get dissed.  I was raised on The Beatles and everything in between and I thoroughly enjoy the evolution brought forward by bands like this.  If you can't get a life then go back your trance and drum machine garbage and not have to think period.........
The picture frame (mentioned at the end of the reply below) looks like a guitar sound-hole, seen looking towards the neck. Something that looks like a double row of pins are at the bottom of the image, but there are too many, and if that's what they are, there doesn't appear to be a bridge.

So, kinda weird.

 
unclehud wrote:

The largest internet image I can find is here:  

https://www.ecrater.com/p/30935236/disciplined-breakdown-by-collective-soul

(Click on CD cover for larger view.)

Looks like a person (female?) lying across on a bed with a red cover.  She has a spherical object (beachball?  basketball?  motorcycle helmet?) in front of her face.  

Headboard is shown through highlighting.  "DISCIPLINED BREAKDOWN" is spelled out on yellow dots.  (They're not bullet casings, as they have no centerfire primer spots. Note that 22-caliber bullets are rimfire, and they could be the yellow-colored circles.  Unfortunately, bullets are often an aspect of "disciplined breakdown".)

There's something behind the title, but I can't make out what it may be -- or might spell.

The entire image is enclosed by an elliptical border which looks like a broken picture frame or wall trimming/molding
 

Hey man, Dolly covered "Shine"..... and a pretty darn cool cover at that!
Saw Ed Roland perform 2-3 weeks ago with just Jessie the guitarist and it was excellent!
 Bert7 wrote:

Like my brother the musician says" I just write songs, what you hear is up to you"
 
great quote! 


 Antigone wrote:
I'm trying to make out the image on the album cover ... can anyone help?
 
The largest internet image I can find is here:  

https://www.ecrater.com/p/30935236/disciplined-breakdown-by-collective-soul

(Click on CD cover for larger view.)

Looks like a person (female?) lying across on a bed with a red cover.  She has a spherical object (beachball?  basketball?  motorcycle helmet?) in front of her face.  

Headboard is shown through highlighting.  "DISCIPLINED BREAKDOWN" is spelled out on yellow dots.  (They're not bullet casings, as they have no centerfire primer spots. Note that 22-caliber bullets are rimfire, and they could be the yellow-colored circles.  Unfortunately, bullets are often an aspect of "disciplined breakdown".)

There's something behind the title, but I can't make out what it may be -- or might spell.

The entire image is enclosed by an elliptical border which looks like a broken picture frame or wall trimming/molding
I was seriously bored with CS in the 90's and thought they were overplayed.  Now its 22 years later and I look fondly back on a decade of alt rock 
I'm trying to make out the image on the album cover ... can anyone help?
One too many "tuh"s but otherwise good on you. I love the break too.

 SeriousLee wrote:
I always get my air drums out for this one...wait for it..."...why can't you hear..." tuh tuh tuh tuh tuh....
 

I always like to hear them.

Dosage was an awesome album

Whenever I hear them I want to like them but I keep thinking they are trying too hard and that it sounds amateurish..."5"
They're from Stockbridge?!?!  How come I never knew that?  (Because I don't listen.)
 Typical wrote:

A spicier grand funk

 
Like my brother the musician says" I just write songs, what you hear is up to you"
 On_The_Beach wrote:
"I'm your captain, yah, yah, yah."
Not sure why, but I'm hearing a bit of the old Grand Funk tune here.

 
A spicier grand funk
Turn up the volume! 
 
Great song...i support them for 20 years here from far away germany....never had the chance to see them live ...but this year i hope to get a ticket for their Medford/OR show during my summer holiday .... see you there...hopefully
I always get my air drums out for this one...wait for it..."...why can't you hear..." tuh tuh tuh tuh tuh....
 coloradojohn wrote:
... And that cranked but restrained guitar in there!

 
THAT is what I was looking for, thank you :)  Very interesting effect(s), for sure.  Sounds great.
 rdo wrote:


I do not think he is joking.  I have heard this assertion quoted by reliable authorities on more than one occasion.

 
Perhaps it is true; a lot of the '90s are a blur to me.
"I'm your captain, yah, yah, yah."
Not sure why, but I'm hearing a bit of the old Grand Funk tune here.
 driving tunes... {#Motor}
I love this!
I endlessly dig the drums in this one! And that cranked but restrained guitar in there! When they played it live it was a right TIGHT JAM
 coloradojohn wrote:
One of the best and most exuberant solid-rocking albums of the late 90s.  A couple days ago I put it on and played the whole thing and FREAKED.  Blame?  Whoah, blistering!  Crowded Head: Heavy...Intense...Strident... And this one — LOVE IT!  It brought back tons of memories, brought out a lot of emotions...felt my Collective Soul SHINE like it hadn't in years. 
THIS STUFF JAMS!  Thanks, RP!

 
Remarkably so!
 robotbass wrote:
Not enough Collective Soul played here...

 
Indeed.
{#Moon}
The band is Good or even more than that ,it Shined in the 90's their song Shine---still seems like(Unusual song)and controversial due to Virginia Tech massacre case
Not enough Collective Soul played here...

marvelous...  love it...
 
Yes. There should be more Collective Soul in the world. Thanks RP. 
Yay...they're touring again...a must see show.
One of the best and most exuberant solid-rocking albums of the late 90s.  A couple days ago I put it on and played the whole thing and FREAKED.  Blame?  Whoah, blistering!  Crowded Head: Heavy...Intense...Strident... And this one — LOVE IT!  It brought back tons of memories, brought out a lot of emotions...felt my Collective Soul SHINE like it hadn't in years. 
THIS STUFF JAMS!  Thanks, RP!
Ho-hum..catchy hook, but then it dies off and something is missing.  Then I look, Collective Soul...not a surprise.
 Proclivities wrote:

I believe you may be "literally" exaggerating.  Mariah Carey (for one), certainly got more airplay than Collective Soul did in the 1990s.
 

I do not think he is joking.  I have heard this assertion quoted by reliable authorities on more than one occasion.
 coloradojohn wrote:
In my opinion, a vastly under-appreciated band with loads of talent, lots of cryptic multi-layered lyrics, and deep melodious springs of soul that employ all avenues of expression...always a real treat! and always great to hear them on RP!
 
same


In my opinion, a vastly under-appreciated band with loads of talent, lots of cryptic multi-layered lyrics, and deep melodious springs of soul that employ all avenues of expression...always a real treat! and always great to hear them on RP!
 derekd wrote:
Random but true factoid: While people associate Pearl Jam and Nirvana with the 1990s, Collective Soul literally has the record for the most played artist on the radio.
 
I believe you may be "literally" exaggerating.  Mariah Carey (for one), certainly got more airplay than Collective Soul did in the 1990s.
I'll never grow tired of CS
Was blown away by these guys when they burst on the scene, and luckily it seems, wasn't burned out on them (was living overseas at the time) on radio play, AND I got to see them jam live in Boulder in 2001 so I still really like them.  I think they have a groovy edge!
 Jelani wrote:
I have Dosage and their first album.
I think the laser has worn through the discs. 
 
I have all of there CD's...IMO Dosage is there best...

Very nice!!
RP: You're better than this.
Love the guitar riff!{#Bananajam}
 flatpicker wrote:
not bad.
Though something about the guitar riff reminds me of Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins.
   Or maybe it's 34 years ago and Steven Tyler is screeching "...sweeeeet emotion... "
I have Dosage and their first album.
I think the laser has worn through the discs. 
 derekd wrote:
Random but true factoid: While people associate Pearl Jam and Nirvana with the 1990s, Collective Soul literally has the record for the most played artist on the radio.
 
a dubious distinction 
not bad.

Though something about the guitar riff reminds me of Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins.


Random but true factoid: While people associate Pearl Jam and Nirvana with the 1990s, Collective Soul literally has the record for the most played artist on the radio.
 romeotuma wrote:
This is a really cool song...
 
Yes, get the extinguisher because RP's on fire again! Bill this is getting to be a problem....not!

I can't stand this band, especially the singer.{#Puke}
 romeotuma wrote:


This is a really cool song...
  I dig this song a lot too
taken a lot of flack from the cool kids for liking collective soul 
8 for a most excellent riff


Very catchy.
As cheesy as they may historically be, they are very 90's in terms of their sound and I've always had a love for their guitar riffs. 
I always kind of liked their music. I saw them on TV the other day and man do they think they are cool. They reminded me of the band Jack Black and the kids beat in School of Rock.
MLavender wrote:
Collective Soul had some very catchy riffs. ...shame their vocalist and lyrics are so poor.



His singing improved a lot on the last few CD's especially starting with Disciplined Breakdown and especially Dosage. He even lists a vocal coach in the credits of I think Dosage. But if you listen to that CD, you'll see he really learns how to use what he has much better. Granted the texture and range of his voice isn't lovely, but he has developed into a clearer and more nuanced harmonic voice, and it's gotten quite good.

Saw them on tour and not only do they awesomely rock, but they play with passion and put on a great show— and Ed Roland is a very charismatic front man, but you can't tell that without seeing them. They've been one of my most favorite bands now since I heard Dosage a few years ago.

MidLyfe wrote:
Of all the "power pop" bands, as they are called, Collective Soul has always had very smart songwriting and crisp guitar lines. They're guitarist until 2001, Ross Childress, was magnificent. This song typically opens their live shows. If you can't tell, I likey me some CS
Don't know if I would call them "power pop" They always reminded me of Drivin' n' Cryin', later period Neats and The Tragicaly Hip.
electronicthroat wrote:
Haven't heard this in forever. Reminds me of getting my first car when I was 16. I would take joy rides and listen to the rock station.
Heh... true for me as well. These guys will always be a part of my early music years.
Collective Soul had some very catchy riffs. ...shame their vocalist and lyrics are so poor.
While they never really broke barriers, Collective Soul has a very tight and distinct sound that can only be pinned as Collective Soul. 8
Of all the "power pop" bands, as they are called, Collective Soul has always had very smart songwriting and crisp guitar lines. They're guitarist until 2001, Ross Childress, was magnificent. This song typically opens their live shows. If you can't tell, I likey me some CS
mandolin wrote:
...somebody told me last year that collective soul was a christian band, i.e. overtly religious music - is that true?..if so, i'm dumbfounded oblivious...
That person is an idiot.
Never really got into these guys--
...somebody told me last year that collective soul was a christian band, i.e. overtly religious music - is that true?..if so, i'm dumbfounded oblivious...
Dang, I'd written them off for dead long ago. Thanks for playing.
As with most Collective Soul... it IS power pop. But that said... I still like them a lot. Easily a solid 6 or 7 in my book. I like their self-titled album a lot more than the newer stuff though. (I had it on tape...)
Beanie wrote:
they're not breaking any new ground here. It's still very listenable.
And yay I am awake.
Haven't heard this in forever. Reminds me of getting my first car when I was 16. I would take joy rides and listen to the rock station.
Jared wrote:
A guilty pleasure
Guilty, but no pleasure I am afraid. The lead singer's voice still grates on my ears like Styrofoam being rubbed together vigorously. Boo!
brokemusician wrote:
This band will soon be forgotten.
Not as long as Bill Goldsmith has any say in that... then again, maybe the RIAA will silence alot of these bands. That would really suck!
A guilty pleasure to hear them, and I thought the first 1/2 of Dosage had some nice quality
I still believe that this is a GREAT album of amazing tunes! Crowded Head, for one, just gets things cranking in no time. I like many cuts on Dosage, too... Maybe they were too preachy for some, but I always liked their message, and thought they rocked pretty well... Thanks, Bill, for this -- and all the rest!
Ordinary at best
AlanCE wrote:
I saw them in concert and they just turned the guitars up to 11 and pretended to be Ozzy Osborne (even played Crazy Train, which rocks in a completely super duper way), but that's not what I was anticipating. I wasn't impressed with their live stuff at all.
I saw them live too and their sound system wasn't as well engineered as the boy-band that warmed them up. Methinks they lost it whence they dropped their label to start their own. Too much ego, not enough art. But still one of my fav CD bands, when the mood strikes.
Sweeeeeeeet emooooooootion.....
To me this song has always had a bit too many Joe-6-pack, F-Body, "this tune rawks dooood!" overtones
This is a superb album. I love the guitars, his voice, the harmony, and the lyrics.
AlanCE wrote:
These guys are very hit and miss, but some of their stuff really gets my toe tapping.
Agreed. However, they seem to have lost all sense of identity and direction after the CD on which this track appears.
UltraNurd wrote:
Makes for innocuous background, though.
Precisely. I already have plenty of background music in my collection, thanks. CS need to go away...quickly. Formulaic beyond a fault. Zzzz...
This band will soon be forgotten.
Ok, yeah, it's kinda formulaic. So they're not breaking any new ground here. It's still very listenable.
Roverfish wrote:
Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V Craptastic unoriginality coupled with superior mediocrity on songwriting.
Makes for innocuous background, though.
Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V Craptastic unoriginality coupled with superior mediocrity on songwriting.
Good tune, I like their "Heavy" cut as well. These guys are very hit and miss, but some of their stuff really gets my toe tapping. I saw them in concert and they just turned the guitars up to 11 and pretended to be Ozzy Osborne (even played Crazy Train, which rocks in a completely super duper way), but that's not what I was anticipating. I wasn't impressed with their live stuff at all.
I heard an interview with the band once where they said all of their music is driven by and originates with the guitar. I think that's what I like about their music. Always a creative hook, even if the melodies are a little like pop tarts - a tasty little snack, but definitely not a meal.
warderblu wrote:
This band is dreadful!!!!
I actually used to like them.....BEFORE I saw them live
Boring.
Why can't you listen? Why can't you hear? Damn, that's my theme song!!!
I find Collective Soul to be original, creative, powerful performers with thoughtful lyrics in their funky-styled rock. They will always get a 10 in my book.
Dr._Crane wrote:
Their songs aren't particularly deep or memorable, but darn if the hooks and production don't grab my attention every time. Sometimes ear candy is just the thing for my musical sweet tooth...too much causes mental cavities, though.
I concur with my esteemed colleague. Bubblegummy is yummy somey-times, but too much is bad for your (musical) tastebuds....
This band is dreadful!!!!
I like it.
Heavy metal for people with minimal brain damage
Enrique wrote:
I like Collective Soul--even though I feel that somehow I shouldn't.
I know! I know!
Not much to really excite you, here. But I suppose I wouldn't turn away from it. I can handle four minutes of it.
I like it....
:roll: eh :roll:
Originally Posted by russianjim: Formula Rock - or Corporate Rock - of the 90's but sadly this is like solid gold compared to most of the crap today.
Amen. Compared to much of the crap then too. Not great, but good enough. And at least their songs are distinguishable from each other.
The phrase \"Ho-Hum\" comes to mind :roll:
it\'s a decent cut, but it\'s like a too-young wine that\'s better appreciated when it\'s brought out after being in storage for a number of years (hint, hint) :roll:
Damn near one of their best tunes. HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE THIS?!?!?!?!
I like rock, I know rock and Collective Soul you are no rock. (Apologies to the late Lloyd Bentsen) ;)
I am surprised to like this. I have never liked Collective Soul, but this just snuck up on me. Never too proud to be wrong.