As for this CD, this a simple and nice start to their music. Its has a collection of their better known hits plus two new tracks. Collective Soul has built a carreer on singles and this CD cover all the bases in this regard. As for the booklet, its has lyrics, track information and tells you from what record each track was taken from. If you do not have any of their records and are a casual fan you will probably need no more. If you have their work already you have to decide if two new tracks are worth the expense.


Good music, good project, some bad choices   September 21, 2001
 17 out of 33 found this review helpful

Collective Soul's greatest hits effort marks a major point in their career: it is evidence that they have had enough hits to warrant such a project. Just because Collective Soul doesn't get the airplay they deserve on Top-40 stations or because the band isn't always placing singles in the Hot 100 doesn't mean that they aren't popular or deserving of a greatest-hits disk. In fact, Collective Soul continues to "Shine" above other contemporary acts based on sales alone. The two new songs "Energy" and "Next Homecoming" are typical guitar-laden and guitar-driven songs, and if I had to choose one of them, I would say that I prefer "Energy." However, I was disappointed in the track selection for this CD. I did not expect "Heavy" to make this CD, especially considering that I never have heard it on the radio except on stations that play album tracks; I would have preferred (and expected) either or both of "Needs" and "No More, No Less," partly based on the fact that these DID get airplay on mainstream radio. I also was disappointed in the selection of "Forgiveness"; to me it is not a particular good song, at least not compared to other Collective Soul tracks. I think that "Maybe" or "Link" would have been a better choice if they wanted a third track from Disciplined Breakdown. However, I think that an overall better choice for inclusion is Perfect Day, even if it had been the version without Elton John.
I commend Collective Soul, their recording company, and their agency for embarking on a greatest hits project. It must have been difficult to decide which songs to include given the groups tremendous success; however, as a devoted fan, I feel that some bad choices were made. In the end, that is the reason why I rate this CD only at 4 stars.


Metamorpho-Let Your Light Shine Down....   July 23, 2007
 8 out of 14 found this review helpful

After the Cleopatra episode (which has happily embedded itself into my conciousness) I had another dream whereby the all elusive premier ultimate force of the Universe spoke to me. "You realize that you are a part of the eternal conciousness and collective soul of all". Said with total aplomb, I might add. "Yes. But what does it all mean?", I asked with equal aplombably. "Oh nevermind", was the exasperated reply. "Here's a c.d. , pop it into your dune buggy tomorrow"! Now folks, you have to remember that I envison the Ultimate Force as wearing a Seer's hat. And why not? Certainly the Universe has to be user-friendly, and something I can relate to. Then again, they say that universal remotes are user-friendly as well. I think it's time to beckon Cleopatra to reappear.
That said, we have hear the Best of Collective Soul 1994-2001. I took it and indeed played it in my dune buggy, happily motoring past mimes, Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, and starfishes of reknown. A sunny day. The winds flowing through my grey (but substantial) Seer's hair. The music was certainly a rush. And I cannot offer a better remedy to listen to while stuck in rush hour. The traffic is not a rush- but this music is.
Be advised, this music is not for the faint of heart-but it is very well done accomplished rock.
It is hard for me to zero in on any one song here. Probably because the tunes, for the most part, offer up enigmas that cannot often be easily answered. And yet, there are songs that prod one to think about reality in more meaningful terms. "Why can't you listen? Why can't you hear"? from "Listen". "I was blind, but now I see", from "Precious Declaration".
In many ways- the lyrics try for a breakthrough of the mind. Excellently written in concise and short verse, it is also home to many an alluring hook. This is not metal. This is not soft-rock and easy listening. This is rock at some of it's finest and most listenable. So very well done.
I think that if you start this and listen all the way through , you will find fine arrangements, nice accompaniment, and substantial rock grooves to make you move. The ballads are grand and the rockers can be hard and insistent. In all, not a bad job at all.
I would say, though, that this band is not classic-thus the four stars. But, if you like good rock music-it certainly deserves 4 and 1/2 stars.
So good. And let's not forget the l.p. scratchiness of "She Said". Funny that c.d.s, with their ability to give pristine clarity should want to imitate the l.p. But, that is a touch that gives this album just another reason to like it.
Now it is time to put the pedal to the metal and see what this dune buggy can do. Whoa! Is that the beach police gaining on me? Time to contact that ultimate souce! Now-where did I put that cell number?

Calling collect---your desperate Metamorpho



Not the definitive collection of hits.....   June 12, 2004
 7 out of 14 found this review helpful

Released September 18, 2001, this is Collective Soul's only compilation available to this date.(June 12th)

Without a doubt, one of the most sucessful and well-received bands of the 90's had to be Collective Soul, with their unbelieveable 8 #1 hits, which still stand the test of time to this day. Even around other Post-Grunge and Modern Rock bands, Collective Soul stands as one of the best or maybe THE BEST, so it's not surprising a compilation has recently been made for Collective Soul. So how does 7even Year Itch measure up? Read on to find out!

PROS-
-CHEAP!-Since this is the only Collective Soul compilation available today, it is a good thing it's cheap and affordable to the casual fans!
-"SHINE" AND "HEAVY"- Since "Shine" off Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid... is The ONLY good song on that album, and "Heavy" off Dosage is the ONLY good track off that album, these two tracks are on 7even Year Itch that makes getting the less-than stellar albums that contain them unnecessary, and is the MAIN reason to get this album.
-7EVEN YEAR ITCH HAS SOME OF THE BIGGEST COLLECTIVE SOUL HITS-7even Year Itch contains such smash hits as "Shine","The World I Know", "December", and "Heavy". All these songs are instantly recognizeable among anybody, and are some of the biggest hits to emerge out of the mid 90's.
-"She Said" IS A VERY HARD SONG TO FIND- Although not that great of a song, "She Said" was originally released as a soundtrack single and it was very hard to find, but thankfully it was helpfully included on 7even Year Itch.
-THERE ARE SONGS OFF EVERY SINGLE COLLECTIVE SOUL ALBUM- This compilation manages to cover every single album this band ever made, which many compilations fail to do. You get songs off the albums Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid...,Collective Soul, Dosage, Disciplined Breakdown, Blender, and two new bonus tracks.
-MANY UNDERRATED SONGS GET A PLACE ON 7EVEN YEAR ITCH-Songs that aren't as popular yet still were Modern Rock hits like "Gel", "Precious Declaration", and many others get their rightful place on this compilation.
(That's about all I have to say good about this album)

CONS-
-WHERE IS "WHERE THE RIVER FLOWS"?! WTF!- "Where The River Flows", One of Collective Soul's most famous songs, and in my opinion their second best song behind "Shine", is CASUALLY LEFT OFF HERE! What were they thinking? This song ommision takes off one star all by itself!
-NUMEROUS OTHER SONGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON HERE!-Did the people who made this album even think about the Major Modern Rock hits "No More No Less," "Where the River Flows," "Smashing Young Man," "Untitled," and "Maybe," when they made this compilation? OBVIOUSLY NOT!These obvious ommisions knock off One Star too!
-THE TWO NEW SONGS SUCK!-"Energy" and "New Homecoming" are two of the least inspired songs Collective Soul has ever made, and sound even worse than the "Boy-Band" crap songs off Blender.
-"FORGIVENESS"?-OK, whoever made this compilation is an idiot! This song, off Disciplined Breakdown, wasn't a hit or even a fan-favorite, in fact, IT'S ONE OF THE WEAKEST TRACKS OFF DISCIPLINED BREAKDOWN! WTF! They add this song instead of actual hits!
-ALTHOUGH IT'S ABOUT 14 DOLLARS, THIS CD SHOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER!-Come on, this album has been out for 3 years, and the price has not been dropped once! Amazon's price is actually not the usual store price, as this album at Best Buy goes for 14.99$!
-THIS ALBUM IS ONLY 52 MINUTES LONG!-The makers of 7even Year Itch could have easily used the maximum time of 80 minutes up by adding all the songs I listed above!

Overall, this is not a very good compilation for Collective Soul, and I only recommend this for the very casual fan. The only reason to get this would be for "Shine" and "Heavy".

RECOMMENDED ONLY IF YOU ARE A "VERY" CASUAL FAN! INSTEAD, DOWNLOAD "SHINE" AND "HEAVY" AND BUY THE ALBUMS COLLECTIVE SOUL AND DISCIPLINED BREAKDOWN! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BUY THE BOY-BAND JUNK THAT IS BLENDER! Thanks for reading!