There are many rumors flying around the rock and roll world these days, some true, some utterly false. The rumor that this band is teaming up with Courtney Love to form a band called Collective Hole is mercifully untrue.

However, rumors that "Collective Soul" are back with another album are very true, and for fans of theirs, this is decidedly good news. "Collective Soul," the band, has been in or around the forefront of the modern music scene ever since hitting it big with their debut album "Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid" in 1994. With each successive album, the band has sought to expand it's musical range. This latest album, "Dosage," furthers their journay towards musical growth, while at the same time returning to the guitar heavy territory they blazed on their first album.

The CD opens with the track "Tremble For My Beloved," in which the band merges 70's experimental rock with a 90's electronic sound. In the past, the band has thrived on taking simple ideas and turning them into catchy enjoyable rock songs. Their sound has become a bit more layered and complex on this album, and the first cut illustrates that. This is followed by the guitar fueled scorcher "Heavy," which gives lead guitarist Ross Childress a chance to take center stage somewhat and show he's capable of dishing out crowd-rocking solos at times. Piano and guitar create a nice backdrop for the soft yet funky "No More No Less." The lyric writing of Ed Roland touches on spiritual themes on many songs, and he returns to this territory on this song when he sings "See I'm no more no less of an angel than you'd have me be."

On this album, there is a four-piece string section used to add weight and texture to several of the songs. They make their first appearance on the requisite ballad "Needs." By using outside elements occasionally in their songs, the band manages to keep their music sounding fresh, instead of forced or rehashed.

Probably the most listened to track on this album so far is the anthemic "Run." This track first started receiving airplay as part of the soundtrack to "Varsity Blues." It begins with a "Day In The Life" style piano intro, and features Ed Roland singing what could be a perfect sum-up of the 90's. "Are these times contagious? I've never been this bored before." After repeatedly listening to this track, I have yet to grow tired of it, and can't help but think one thing, "Thank God James Van Der Beek doesn't have a band."

Whether showing their electronic side, in "Generate" and "Compliment," or cranking out guitar-drenched songs like "Slow," the band manages to keep the music on this album fun and interesting. Songs that strike one as basic on first listen manage to reveal little nuances as they are played again. More importantly, there is no song on the album that makes me think "Why in the hell did they bother with that track?"

The album closes with the lush, spiritual-tinged "Crown." As the background music merges into a complete sonic picture, the singer questions "Who's gonna be my saviour now that I've learned to believe?" I personally am never sure of my beliefs from one minute to the next, but in this case I can safely say I believe this is a great album.