In a feat similar to its predecessor, Collective Soul received positive reviews with praise handed to its strong melodies but also indifference for an alleged lack of musical innovation. Paul Evans of Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

gave the album 3 out of 5 stars. He noted "Roland

Ed Roland

Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul. He is the primary songwriter and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering....

's flair for McCartneyesque

Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...

 melodic detail" and summed up with "the band proves it has the goods to continue to shine on brightly."

Allmusic's Tom Demalon chose "The World I Know" and "Gel" as AMG Track Picks. He, too, commended the strong melodies and stated "While not exactly ground-breaking, Collective Soul delivers the goods with a dozen, hook-laden songs for which they were awarded another multi-platinum outing."

Track listing

All songs written by Ed Roland

Ed Roland

Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul. He is the primary songwriter and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering....

, except where noted.

1. "Simple" (Roland, Ross Childress
   Ross Childress
   Ross Childress is a guitarist and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock band Collective Soul from 1993 to 2001...
   
   ) – 3:45
2. "Untitled" – 4:01
3. "The World I Know" (Roland, Childress) – 4:16
4. "Smashing Young Man" – 3:45
5. "December
   December (Collective Soul song)
   "December" is a song by the American alternative rock band Collective Soul, released on the band's 1995 eponymous album. Written by singer/guitarist Ed Roland, the song peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart for 9 straight weeks, as well as peaking at...
   
   " – 4:45
6. "Where the River Flows" – 3:35
7. "Gel
   Gel (song)
   "Gel" is the first single from Collective Soul's self-titled second album. The song was featured in Jerky Boys: The Movie. It charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart at number two and peaked on the Modern Rock Tracks chart at number fourteen. The song didn't chart on Billboard Hot...
   
   " – 3:00
8. "She Gathers Rain" – 4:31
9. "When the Water Falls" – 3:40
10. "Collection of Goods" – 4:14
11. "Bleed" – 4:03
12. "Reunion" – 2:35
13. "That's All Right" (Arthur Crudup
    Arthur Crudup
    Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
    
    ) - 2:09 *Bonus track on Japanese edition (Atlantic AMCY-803)*

Personnel

• Greg Archilla - Engineer
• Bertram Brown - Vocals (bckgr)
• David Chappell - Viola
• Ross Childress
  Ross Childress
  Ross Childress is a guitarist and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock band Collective Soul from 1993 to 2001...
  
   - Lead Guitar
• Bob Clearmountain - Mixing
• Janet Clippard - Bass
• John DiPuccio - Violin
• Luis Enrique - Percussion
• Shane Evans - Drums
• Jackie Johnson - Vocals (bckgr)
• Geremy Miller - Violin
• Alfredo Oliva
• Dean Roland - Guitar (Rhythm)
• Ed Roland
  Ed Roland
  Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul. He is the primary songwriter and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering....
  
   - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
• Becky Russell - Vocals (bckgr)
• Steven Sigurdson - Cello
• Malcolm Springer - Second Engineer
• Will Turpin - Bass, Vocals (bckgr)

Album

• Billboard (North America)

  Year	Chart	Position
  1995	The Billboard 200	23

Singles

• Billboard (North America)

  Year	Single	Chart	Position
  1995	"December"	The Billboard Hot 100	20
  		Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
  		Modern Rock Tracks	2
  		Adult Contemporary	14
  		Adult Top 40	11
  		Adult Top 40	19
  		Top 40 Mainstream	7
  	"Gel"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	2
  		Modern Rock Tracks	14
  	"Smashing Young Man"	Modern Rock Tracks	8
  	"The World I Know"	The Billboard Hot 100	19
  		Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
  		Modern Rock Tracks	6
  		Top 40 Mainstream	8
  		Top 40 Mainstream	35
  1996		Adult Top 40	18
  		Top 40 Adult Recurrents	1
  	"December"	Top 40 Adult Recurrents	3
  	"Where the River Flows"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	1