Dozens of indistinguishable bands emerged in the wake of the grunge movement, and for a while it looked like Collective Soul might become one of them. Now on their fourth album -- "Dosage," due in stores Tuesday -- the Georgia quartet reveals a sophisticated rock sound that has become uniquely their own.

Their smooth, lush combination of pop hooks, smart lyrics and rough guitars continues on "Dosage," an album which offers up a balance of crunch-rock tracks and pretty ballads. It kicks off with the psychedelic-tinged "Tremble for my Beloved" and the aptly-titled "Heavy."

Frontman Ed Roland takes a major role, not only producing the album but co-arranging a string section for the pretty "Needs" and the first single, "Run." The latter is a Beatlesque rumination with layers of piano, guitars and shuffling rhythms that percolate into a lush and understated composition.

"Dosage" closes with the waltzy "Not the One" and "Crown," a subtle tune which builds itself into a powerful anthem about finding faith by losing it. This album proves Collective Soul as a mainstay, a group who can weather their musical adolescence and wear its maturity with grace.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.