14 Shades of Grey [PA] by Staind (Cassette, May-2003, Elektra Entertainment)

Staind positively clogged the airways in 2001 with It s Been Awhile, complete with melody to make even those claiming to hate the Massachusetts fourpiece subconsciously tap their foot to the catchy tune. To follow up to that hit, and indeed the 7x platinum album Break the Cycle, there s notable changes in both execution and songwriting. It s not as though Staind have undergone a makeover; the shaved heads, angry look and pain are all still present, but the title alone, 14 Shades of Grey, represents uncertainty between black and white, and there s a degree of hope which must be applauded in...

One of the most passionate bands in the current music scene, Staind has been lumped into the dreaded nu-metal music category, but their sound is significantly more mature and emotional than many of their counterparts. Staind evokes a wide range of emotions from the listener, in part from their brilliant and convincing lyrics, which are some of the industry's best. Staind's newest entry, "14 Shades of Grey", takes the classic nu-metal formula of hard hitting songs combined with slower, melodic tunes and ramps up both the quality of their already stellar lyrics and their intensity, to create an.

With the massive financial and critical success of their first two studio albums Dysfunction and Break they Cycle, Staind was on a roll only they could stop. How'd they get this far in the first place? Intense and catchy guitar riffs, packed with emotional, angry, and oft-depressing lyrics combined to create several songs that absolutely lambasted the radio airways in the late 90's and at the turn of the millennium. Now lets get into chief songwriter Aaron Lewis's head at the beginning of this album. He now knows what type of songs will be successful, probably not going to change that much....

Summary Staind's second album, 14 Shades Of Grey, has by far surpassed the success of their first commercially successful album, Break The Cycle. However, I think that while the average performance of Shades of Grey is better than the first album, Break The Cycle had several better songs than anything you will find on 14 Shades of Grey. Aaron Lewis' new found love for his daughter and usual deep lyrics shine through on this album, and while the band loses a little of its kickass attitude, I find that it's a tasteful adjustment. The rhythms and melodies are equally aesthetically pleasing and.