Casey Caison
Correspondent
Songs such as “Shine,”
“December,” and “Heavy,” have
been staples on rock radio stations
for over a decade, yet Atlanta band
Collective Soul has not released an
album in three years. Fans rejoice;
one of the greatest post-grunge
bands to emerge out of the ‘90s is
back and doing things their own
way.
Known for their hard rock riffs
and soulful melodies. Collective
Soul (right) was formed in 1992
by brothers Ed and Dean Roland,
Will Turpin, Ross Childress, and
drummer Shane Evans. The band
signed with the Atlantic Recording
Company in 1994. and since that
time, the quintet has made quite a
name for themselves. They released
six albums in seven years and along
the way racked
up more num
ber one main
stream rock
hits than any other rock band in the
United States during the ‘90s - even
more than Pearl Jam and Metallica.
Two of these songs, “Shine” and
“December,” both won the Billboard
award for “Album Rock Song of the
Year” in 1994 and 1995, making
Collective Soul the only band to win
two years in a row.
On Nov. 16, 2004,
under their own label El
MusicGroup,Collective
Soul burst back on the
scene with their new
est album “Youth.” The
first smash hit from the
album, “Counting the
Days,” can be heard all
over the radio and has
become a top ten sin
gle. “Better Now,” the
second song released
from the album, has
already been featured
on the soundtrack of
Wes Craven’s movie
“Cursed,” which recent-
,ly came out in theaters.
Although Collective
Soul has accomplished
much in their career, it
is the quality of their
music that makes them
Courtesy of coiiectivesoul.8m.com
Collective Soul rises from beyond the dial
great and “Youth” is a prime exam
ple of this. The album has a sound
different from any of the band’s
previous recordings. The new music
touches on the band’s roots and
displays a very upbeat and positive
sound.
Ed Roland is a brilliant song
writer who is known for his ability
to write catchy lyrics and beautiful
melodies, and he definitely out
does himself here. The last track,
titled “Satellite,” was written about
Roland taking care of his young
son and is one of the most touch
ing songs that the band has ever
produced. Other great songs on the
album include “Feels Like (It Feels
All Right)” which many compare
to songs written by David Bowie,
and “Under Heaven’s Skies,” a fan
favorite and instant classic. The
album title reflects the “rebirth” of
* the band, as if the band were starting
over again with their independent
label and a fresh start.
Collective Soul has been on the
road traveling to sold-out ven
ues all over the country and
plans to tour Canada in an
effort to promote their album.
“Youth” has been doing
extremely well and many con
sider it the band’s best album
to date. But Collective Soul is
not stopping here.
A new album entitled
“From the Ground Up” will
be released on April 26 and
will feature acoustic versions
of some of their past and cur
rent hits. Later this year, to
answer the requests of their
loyal fans, the band will be
releasing a live CD and DVD
boxed set which will include
bonus features and behind
the scenes footage. The CD
and DVD will be recorded
with the Atlanta Symphony
Youth Orchestra and will
be called “Collective Soul
‘Home’ with the Atlanta
Youth Symphony.”
Throughout their career,
Collective Soul has had many ups
and downs, but they have stood
strong and are now better than ever.
Make sure to be on the lookout,
because Collective Soul is back,
and their best music is yet to come.
Hip-Hop dance group brings their
moves to UNCW
Rennie Harris' choreography pays tribute to the
true heritage of hip-hop culture.
Andrea Cavallier
Staff Writer
Day after day, col
lege students spend
extensive hours of
their life in a vocif
erous world called
MTV. They see many
different genres of
music but most of the
time they stick with
whatever is climbing
the charts. They watch
them sing and dance,
but where is the soul?
The passion?
The Rennie Harris
Puremovement is an
original dance group that depicts
hip-hop with exactly that kind of
genuine passion. Choreographer,
Harris, and company will per
form Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. in
UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium. This
is the final event of UNCW’s seven-
part Arts in Action Performance
Series.
“By bringing Rennie Harris
Puremovement to campus, we hope
to introduce students to the fact that
art isn’t only found in museums
and concert halls, but expression
and creativity can be found on the
street, such as hip-hop, and is very
much a part of our everyday lives
and culture,” said Shannon Hooker,
assistant director for Programs &
Marketing. “Through his stage per
formances, Rennie Harris presents
hip-hop as a powerful art form.
Before heading out for a compel
ling night at Kenan Auditorium,
many will also be able to take the
hip-hop class that is being offered
earlier that day. Harris himself
will conduct a hip-hop dance class
Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. in the
Student Recreation Center. An RS VP
is required and can be obtained
through artsinaction@uncw.edu.
UNCW students are not the only
ones who take advantage of these
enthralling events. Sara Short, a
sophomore at Cape Fear Community
College conveys an avid interest in
going to this event.
“I have been trying to attend
one of these events for awhile now.
The Rennie Harris Puremovement
is definitely one I will be at. I’m
really interested to see their style of
dancing, one that expresses themes
beyond racial or religious bound
aries. I think other students will
also really appreciate this type of
dance that has that perfect mixture
of African American roots with a
modem day spirit,” said Short.
Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris found
ed Puremovement in 1992 with the
goal of reintroducing hip-hop to the
world. Founding his company on
the belief that hip-hop is the most
important expression of a new gen
eration, Harris is an advocate for
disseminating and renewing hip-
hop culture today.
Tickets are $6 for university
and area students, $14 for UNCW
faculty/staff and senior citizens,
and $18 for all others. Call Kenan
Auditorium at 910-962-3500 or 800-
732-3643 outside the Wilmington
area. Box Office hours are 10 a.m to
6 p.m., Monday through Friday.