“It’s been awhile” since Staind’s put out some new sh*t on the radio. And I say sh*t because that’s what it is- good, hard, rockin’ sh*t. Okay, foul language aside, Staind knows how to rock and the new album doesn’t give me any reason to doubt them. They maintain a melodic presence by means of driving power chords, passionate vocals and an instantly recognizable alternative rock sound. That sound, so familiar from the contributions of “Break The Cycle” renews itself again with 14 Shades of Grey. And it can get repetitive but I’ll break it down for you rockers.
There are some real winners on this album. Aaron Lewis does not fail in belting out his personal truths about life. In paying close attention to the lyrics, one really gets a good glimpse into how he’s feeling. In turn, you’ll either relate to him or be compelled to feel the opposite- either way, these songs are gonna get you thinking about your own life. Price To Play (theme song for WWE Vengeance), Fray and Reality are examples of hard alternative songs with meaningful, although somewhat downtrodden themes. But, hey, life isn’t always flowers, candy and smiling faces. And so, Staind does a consistently good job at being honest, at telling it how it is. And how it is keeps listeners nodding their heads, either in agreement with the words or in sync with the beat.
Staind’s first single “So Far Away” is already out on the radio and moving up the charts. That song alone makes the cd worthy of a glance in your local record store. There are a few softer songs, but soft for Staind isn’t really soft so much as soft content. Zoe Jane, about his newborn daughter, reflects that, as do songs like Layne and Could It Be. Overall, quite a few of these songs do end up sounding the same but I give them the benefit of the doubt. They’ve found a sound that works and they’re getting as much music out of it as they can. Their words express real feelings artistically, their music often catches the ear and, if you give Staind a chance, you’ll find the same too.
By: Cousy
