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Collective Soul: Home (Live) Label: El Music Group Released: 2006

Today, we examine the Ree-Ray band and its effects on modern rock music. You may now be asking yourself, "What is a Ree-Ray band"? Well, simply put, a Ree-Ray band is typically a four or five-piece rock band fronted by a singer obsessed with his own ability to over-enunciate every damn syllable that escapes his pretty little mouth. So much so that all syllables wind up with a "ree" and/or "ray" sound at the end of each word. Studies have shown that this phenomenon occurs mostly in male singers, many of whom are shirtless for long periods of time during videos and live performances.

A bounty of Ree-Raying examples exist in modern music. A prime example lies in Collective Soul's track "December". Listen closely to this track and you'll notice in the chorus when Ed Roland sings "Turn your head now baby just spit me out", he actually elicits an "R" sound from the word "baby". I mean, holy shit, that is incredible.

Collective Soul could be considered the grandfathers of Ree-Ray rock. The torch was picked up by Creed in the late ‘90s, and I believe if you look closely enough, you can see that torch in the background of the recently circulated Kid Rock/Scott Stapp sex tape. Maybe it's just camera glare.

In an attempt to reclaim the Ree-Ray crown, Collective Soul presents Home (Live). This double-disc set was recorded at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. It's hard to imagine what thoughts must have been going through the minds of the kids in the orchestra. Especially considering they were playing with a band who's last hit was probably in heavy rotation in the year of their birth. I can only venture a guess that the entire scene must have been as uncomfortable as a fart in church.

So, it goes without saying that this record is by no means their best effort. From the packaging to the actual musical content, this release feels more like we're listening to Collective Soul’s internal ego boost than a true attempt at showing the world they're still relevant.

But hey, things are not all bad for Collective Soul. Dolly Parton recently covered Collective Soul's hit "Shine" on her album, Little Sparrow. And, straight up, if Dolly is biting on your shit, then you've solidified your place in music history.