With just about every
hard rock
band issuing collaborations with symphonies (
Metallica
,
Kiss
Scorpions
, etc.), it was
Collective Soul
's turn to do the deed in 2006, with the release of the CD/DVD
Home: A Live Concert Recording with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra
. But unlike some of the other bands that have taken the "symphonic plunge,"
's sound was always heavily orchestrated -- most noticeably on their 1995 hit
"The World I Know,"
so it's not that big of a stretch for the band as you might assume. And as a result, it all comes off sounding more natural than usual -- unlike some of the other symphonic
rock
experiments that sound extremely forced musically. Recorded in their hometown during April of 2005, many of the songs are actually improved in these orchestrated versions, also something that can't be said about your usual
/symphony hybrid. Name a
favorite and it's here --
"Listen,"
"December,"
the aforementioned
"Gel,"
and of course, their breakthrough hit
"Shine,"
which serves as a set closer. Regardless of whether you like
or not, after hearing and viewing
Home
, it should be widely agreed that they're one of the few
acts that successfully pulled off the symphonic
experiment. ~ Greg Prato