14 Shades Of Grey [PA] - Staind

Advantages: A handful of memorable songs
Disadvantages: It does almost exactly what it says on the tin

Staind – 14 Shades Of Grey Like so many bands before them, Staind released an album so close to perfection within it’s genre that they will never better or equal that album. Nirvana with Nevermind (although In Utero is an amazing album) and Oasis with What’s The Story? (Morning Glory) are two such examples and now Staind can be added to that list. Break The Cycle was a journey of emotive music which captured everything that a good album should do. ...
...the track listing of the 14 songs and a lot of small print concerning the producers and the fact that the CD is in fact copy-proof. The sleeve leaves a lot to the imagination as well but in my honest opinion the music means far more than any album sleeve. Simply containing 16 pages, including front & back covers, there are the usual collection of thanks from each band member, the band as a whole, individual pictures and the band picture on the centrefold. ... Read review

Advantages: continuation of a great band
Disadvantages: doesnt quite capture the magic of 'Break The Cycle'

...It Be 13. Blow Away 14. Intro Again, just as Staind did with 'Break The Cycle, this is like being on an emotional rollercoaster, going through every emotion in the book, sinking low and then rising back up. I don't personally rate this as highly as 'Break' but as its own record it is fantastic, but as I said earlier, people will always compare this to their mega-smash previous album, which you can understand them doing. However, if you look at ...
...follow-up, then what you will find is another incredible Staind album that I personally, am very proud to own. Yes I do like emotional songs, whereas some do not. But my point would have to be, that if music isn't going to get to your heart and play with your emotions, then really what is the point of it in the first place ? For me the best two songs are 'Price To Play' and 'How About You' purely because they are at complete opposites of the musical ... Read review

Advantages: More matured songs.
Disadvantages: doesn't rock anymore

...a less spectacular album in 14 shades of gray. Lead singer Aaron Lewis' perspective on life has changed quite a bit since the band conception, and it shows in his lyrics and the album as a whole. With each progressive album, the music got lighter, less angry, and more palatable. Break the Cycle had the perfect mix of heavier, angry aggression and softer acoustic-laced melodious tunes. Before that, Dysfunction was an amazing heavy rock album Price ...
...others. Overall 14 Shades lacks edge of their previous albums, it more than makes up for it in truly great music. Indeed, 14 Shades is one of the few albums released these days that you can listen to all the way through. EVERY song is good. Granted, it takes some getting used to if you expected songs like those from Dysfunction, Tormented, or Break the Cycle, but if you give it a chance, I think you'll like this album too. ... Read review

Advantages: If you like Staind's more mellow music then this album is perfect
Disadvantages: Could do with a bit more variation and a few more hard gritty tracks

By jingo this is good! Compared to their first album, Dysfunction, this is a vast improvement. The lyrics are excellent and, in my opinion, even better than 'Break the cycle'. Though it doesn't have the same range of music, it is Staind at their best. I'd recommend Break the Cycle for a first buy, but if you already own that album then this is far better than getting Chapter V. Whilst it's not as heavy as some of their newer songs, the whole album ...
...boring filler tracks (not that the other albums have any either), this is a must buy. Best tracks: So Far Away - originality with great lyrics Zoe Jane - If you've heard Epithany then you'll like this. If you haven't, you'll like it even more. Chilled yet dark. Sublime. No Staind fan could claim to be a fan without owning this album. Whilst I like their new stuff, this really is their best album. MUST HAVE! ... Read review