Staind
14 Shades of Grey

Release Date: 2003 | Tracklist

Artist: Staind
Album: 14 Shades Of Grey

Aaron Lewis - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Mike Mushok - Guitar
Jon Wysocki - Drums
Johnny April - Bass

Released: 2003 (Elektra)

Staind were discovered by Fred Durst. The bands relationship started with an argument with the Limp Bizkit front man over cover art for an EP but would grow into a relationship. Fred would invite them to Jacksonville, Florida where they would record 'Dysfuction' their first full studio album.

Well not to be derogatory to homosexuals or anything but somehow I think this album would have been better named '14 Shades Of Gay'. This is Stainds third studio album and probably their weakest. I've been listning to this for about two weeks now (I picked it up in a bargin bin for $5) and now I can understand why that was.

So what's wrong with this album? Well it does start off promisingly. 'Price To Play' the first single from the album is pretty interesting and has a cool intro and both 'How About You' and 'So Far Away' are pretty good tracks. They have good melodies and the lyrics are pretty decent. 'Yesterday' the fourth track really highlights Aarons vocals and it's a pretty track.

Now with this promising start you might be fooled as a listner into thinking what's the reviewer thinking first time you listen to the track. But even within the four tracks you will start to notice the thing that really kills this album.. Repitition! The lyrics are all towards the negative side of life and they all follow a somewhat repititive formula of large chorus, quiet verse and large bridge (Much like label mates Blindside on their album 'Silence').

Now we get to the fifth track 'Yesterday' oh wait I ment 'Fray' they both sound the same. Yes now your in for a repititive ride of songs. The sixth song 'Zoe Jane' sticks out a little bit and lyrically it's above par (It's a ballad for Aarons new daughter) however that same quiet, loud, melodic formula is there! 'Fill Me Up' is much the same. Very much a filler track. Aaron doesn't strech his vocals and it sounds much like any other song on the album. The chorus sounds like Aaron is falling asleep with his level of enthusiasm. Now we come to 'Layne'. If there were ever two songs in a row in the history of music that sound almost identical Staind here would be in with a great chance for the award. 'Layne' is a nasty song. I could probably write a paragraph on it but I want to let this review be readable. I could easily say it's the albums worst song and probably one of Stainds worst.

'Falling Down' is better. A lot better. Aaron decides he actually wants to put some energy in his voice and the melody in it is great. The chorus is a fantastic chorus and the formula Staind oh so often stick to is broken. As you can tell by the song title it's no song about walking in the park either (But is anything on this album?). Just when they have a good song they try and repeat it and come out with something called 'Reality'. It's almost exactly the same song just well it sucks. It's bland and doesn't have any X-Factor.

More of the same on 'Tonight'. Starts off promisingly, ends pathetically. By this time i'm nearly always reaching for the off button on my discman but for the reviews sake I will carry on. 'Could It Be' is another press of the skip button. I swear I just heard the same three songs in a row. 'Blow Away' is slightly better. It sounds different to the previous three songs and the singing is better than usual to. The lyrics are good in parts "Unzip my skin and leave in here" Bleak but interesting. I like the guitar riff during the verses it's very pretty and melodic. FINALLY the last song and it's called 'Intro'. Backwards logic I guess. It kicks in with drums and a very low bass riff for about a minute. Guitar slowly comes over but I don't like the melody it uses. The vocals come in with an echo effect. It's the final song and it's pretty boring. Much of the same you experience with the rest of the album.

So really if you like Staind and their previous work chances are you will enjoy this album but you will still be disapointed. Their previous efforts have been alot stronger. It's alot of bleak lyrics (Few exceptions like Zoe Jane) and rather samey songs (Reality, Tonight, Could It Be). It's mediocre nu-metal and it isn't anything that hasn't been heard before.

Rating - 1.75/5 :(

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2.8 good

Rank: #0 for 2003