Collective Soul 'Rabbit' album

More than 15 years after lighting up the post-grunge musical landscape, Collective Soul continues to "Shine." The Atlanta-based group is co-headlining a new tour with "I Don't Want to Be" singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw and preparing to release its eighth studio album on a new label.

"We're just kind of getting our groove, because we were in the studio for almost three months just finishing up the new record. But so far, so good," said Collective Soul guitarist Dean Roland. "It's what we love to do, it's our passion, so we just play our music and enjoy it and love it," he said. "And hopefully, people can share in our experience."

For their set, Collective Soul can pick from a plethora of past hits, from the band's 1993 breakout "Shine" to power ballads "The World I Know" and "Run" to guitar rockers like "Heavy," "December" and "Precious Declaration." But the band - Roland, his singer-guitarist brother Ed Roland, bassist Will Turpin, guitarist Joel Kosche, and new drummer Cheney Brannon - also is introducing songs from their second self-titled album, due out August 25th, at their shows.

"When you're playing new music, or songs that people haven't heard before, there's always a little bit of a look. You know, you see the eyes kind of like squinching, going, 'hmm,' kind of thinking a little bit. But the response has been great so far," Roland, said. "People are starting to become more familiar with them now, so it's fun to see that process happening."

If the first two singles are any indication, the band is continuing to build on the lush melodies, snazzy guitar riffs and hooky pop-rock songs that have been their hallmark since shining onto the mainstream music scene.

The album, nicknamed "Rabbit" because of the cover art by Atlanta artist Joseph Guay, will mark the rockers' debut on Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The first two tracks, the earnestly catchy "Staring Down," about finding the bright side after a bad relationship, and the driving "Welcome All Again," based on the band's recent studio experience have been released to pop and rock radio, respectively.

"Our approach in the studio from the start was, like, let's go away for the first time in years, isolate ourselves, hang out, write songs, play

music, not worry about checking into a studio. Let's try not to make it a business and do what we did 15 years ago when we were kids just starting to make music," Roland said.

They recorded the album in Lake House studio, on the second floor of his brother's house on Lake Keowee, S.C. The house is big enough for the bandmates and engineer to all live together during the process. They were able to collaborate organically, particularly on the song "You," which got the whole band working together.

"That song definitely is kind of special to us 'cause it was us sort of going back to where we came from and the way we used to record. And that was one of the first songs that came out of that process, so it sort of like laid the groundwork for the rest of the record," he said. "It was a nice creative space; there was no distraction besides our selves."

Unlike many bands to emerge in the post-grunge heyday of the early '90s, Collective Soul has continued making music over the years, with a few personnel changes.

"Obviously, it's a business and you want to sell records and you want to make money, but you can't compromise your art to point that you're following, like, current trends. I mean, you can blend that in a little bit, but you've got to stay true to yourself. You've got to try to make your own way and make your own sound," he said.

In the past year or so, the band has received exposure that has helped bring new fans to the fold. Their song "Hollywood" was used as theme music for the 2008 season of "American Idol," and Season 7 champ David Cook, a former Tulsan, covered "The World I Know" on the reality show. Then, their ballad "Tremble for My Beloved" was featured on the hit soundtrack to last year's blockbuster "Twilight."

"It's great. It's totally cool," said Roland, who also frequently chats with fans on the micro-blogging site Twitter. "We see it now, getting back out on the road ... some of the audience is younger. And that's fun to see when you've been around for 15 or 16 years; it's fun to connect with a younger generation."

The second single "Welcome All Again" is now impacting Rock.

Collective Soul tour dates
August 11 Mt Clemens, MI Emerald Theatre*
August 13 Newport, RI Newport Yachting Center*
August 14 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino*
August 15 Chatham, ON Chatham Rockstock
August 17 Danbury, CT Ives Concert Park*
August 20 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom*+
August 25 New York, NY Fillmore NY @ Irving Plaza*+
August 28 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte*+
September 1 Houston, TX House of Blues+
September 2 Dallas, TX House of Blues+
September 4 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
September 11 Las Vegas, NV Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
September 12 Wendover (Reno, NV) Peppermill Hotel Casino

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Collective Soul - Rabbit