Published on Apr 26, 2005
From The Ground Up is an all-acoustic record. In that
respect, it isn’t much different from the “MTV Unplugged” records
that were released by a few bands back in the nineties, with the
exception that this album has been recorded in a studio, instead of
in front of a live audience.
This seven-song EP (or eight-song EP, including the hidden
track) finds the otherwise zesty Collective Soul in a relaxed mood,
with the songs having an eased tempo.
From The Ground Up does not try to be very ambitious. It is
not the “acoustic” record —
Jar Of Flies — that Alice In Chains had put up, which was
well laden with grand musical arrangements. It is just an album of
selected numbers from the band’s previous LPs, played without the
frills of electric guitars, and done with the bare minimum
instruments.
Speaking of bare minimum instruments, “December” and “Counting
The Days” are the only two numbers on the record having drums,
though in rather toned-down forms. “December” has pianos, but the
rest of the album is just plain acoustic guitars and basses.
Still, the album doesn’t prove to be a bore, even though it is
laidback and slow. Its stripped simplicity doesn’t sound crude, but
rather refined.
“December” and “Counting The Days,” the most decked-out numbers
on
From The Ground Up, are the album standouts. But, the less
adorned ones come close enough, so that they are not completely
overshadowed by the standouts.
Collective Soul is a band that has always been non-acoustic and
fast-paced. An album like
From The Ground Up sets a different mood to the act’s peppy
numbers, and for fans, it is an interesting collection of alternate
versions of songs they are familiar with.
Though this record would be best enjoyed by those who know the
original versions of the songs, others will like it too, though not
to the same extent.