As a founding member of Collective Soul, guitarist Dean Roland has channeled the rawness of grunge into a radio-friendly sound for nearly two decades. Magnets and Ghosts, his new partnership with producer Ryan Potesta, debuts with Mass. It's both accessible and surprising, matching shamelessly catchy hooks with unexpected sonic twists and lyrics that range from plainspoken to oblique. MAG’s introspective moods and layered textured invite comparisons to R.E.M., The Cure, and Achtung Baby–era U2. Roland’s shapeshifting vocals move from the distorted yelps of the hard-rocking “Light My Flame” to the smooth, Sting-like delivery of “Like a Sunday” and the jazz-tinged caress of “Zealot.” Likewise, the production veers from symphonic flourishes (“Raveillon”) to sleek guitar grooves (“The Sea and the Sound”) and buoyant soul-rock excursions (“I Want You”). Though kept low-key, a spiritual undercurrent can be heard in several tracks, especially “Hearts of Everyone” and the title tune.