Read a lot of the reviews on this album, and thoughts on some of the ones that preceded it...a little insight perhaps. If you'll take note this album was released on a new label...the band was in a contract/artists rights dispute with their original label. They were trying to get out of a contract that left them with little to nothing money wise and minimal control over the product. They didnt take the PRINCE route, and completed their obligations without much fanfare.

The lyrics to Counting The Days go into this a bit...and the lyrics to which one reviewer stated made no sense (Perfect to Stay) are mostly a reference to the label rep that sold the bill...

Anyway, overall i really like the effort and can appreciate the Artist struggle revealed in it.

Now a days when most CDs are lucky to have 1 or 2 decent songs, its great to have a CD full of emotionally powerful songs. "Better Now" is the best followed by "Feels Like" but the rest aren't far behind.

I don't know how anyone can compare it to the disappointing "Blender", "Youth" is far superior.

This by far their best CD. Highly recommended. Put it in, push play, crank it up and hit repeat! My favorite CD of 2004.

Some Collective Soul fans were bothered by the minor left turn their sound made on 2000's "Blender." I didn't mind it so much; I think "Why, Pt. 2" and "Vent" are among their better songs. Nonetheless, "Youth" is definitely a more completely satisfying effort, in line sound-wise with 1999's "Dosage." The band replaced a guitarist without missing a beat (pardon the pun), and has churned out nine punchy, punctuated, arena-ready rockers to go along with two well-crafted ballads, "How Do You Love" and "Under Heaven's Skies." It's a pull-back to their strengths, which is not surprising considering the personnel shift, but it's fun and it delivers.