Break the Cycle [PA] by Staind

Introduction:

I have read other people?s opinions such as Nic60 on this album- Staind- Break The Cycle and if I seen mixed reactions to it, some like it others just don?t seem to like it, personally I think this is a wonderful album with the exception of one song ?Can?t believe?, which is to deafening for my personal tastes! I think that when people see that it a Rock band (of sorts) they don?t really want to know as they have a stereotypical view that all rock bands are rubbish and that they?ll listen to the music and just not get into it or listen to the meaningful words, that Aaron Lewis and the rest of Staind have soulfully written. Anyway enough of the boring stuff lets go onto a good part.

Where and why I bought this album:

Up until a few months ago I hadn?t heard of Staind, but then I started to hear one of their songs ?It?s Been Awhile? on MTV2, the alternative music channel that shows all of this rock and indie music. I thought hmm this band seems to be good; good lyrics, Aaron Lewis has a very good singing voice and the whole band can instruments very well indeed, so I decided to head out to The V Shop and listen to a couple of their songs. Well I was amazed they were fabulous!! So straight away I got out my solo card went onto the Internet to www.cdwow.com and I bought myself Staind?s album at a fraction of the cost that other stores sell it as, it was only $13 with free postage and packaging and it comes all the way over from Hong Kong brilliant huh?

Staind have become very popular over the past year or so, after their Break The Cycle hit the number one spot on both sides of the Atlantic as Nic60 (one of my many friends here at Epinions and at home, please check her out) pointed out in her excellent review.

There are many good songs on the album and I am here to point them out to you so that you know there are advantages to buying this album and so you also know that they aren?t a rubbish rock band that writes rubbish songs, as I have heard so many people say, so here are the best songs on the album:

Fade:

Fade is the third track on the album and is the second single to be released it will be out sometime next month, if you are interested. This track begins quietly and quite softly and then it gets louder as it goes into the main introduction, then it calms down again as it gets to the verses. I love this song and this song and the others I am about to mention are my favourite. It?s a rocky type song however it rather sad (not as sad as Epiphany though boo hoo) as Aaron Lewis (how has a sad voice anyway) sings it in a really mellow but rocky kind of way, it very good and you just have to sing along to it (after you?ve learnt the words of course).

It?s been awhile:

This song has been on the music channels for ages has I must has had it?s fair play on the radio, so everyone should have heard it by now, if you have not where have you been for the past? well ever?. As I mentioned above it has been play a lot, but it never get boring you never say ?oh not this song again? like you do with steps songs (mind you I wouldn?t dare listen to them anyway, no offence to you steps fan out there, it?s just my opinion) all you do is either sit and listen and enjoy the good tune and the brilliant guitar playing or you dance around your room singing the words (and just to let you no I don?t do that? well ok so maybe I do sometimes when I?m bored, we all do it from time to time, or at least I hope so, so I?m not the only one) Like Nic60 says and I totally agree ?no matter how many times you hear the words "It?s been awhile," you can't help but love this song.? It has wonderful lyrics, and the guitar playing at the beginning, well lets just say I wish I could do it, it?s just a great track and it?s definitely an enhancement to this album. Aaron Lewis has worked well and hard.

Epiphany:

This is one of my highest favourites of the album. I makes me cry and if you men out there heard it you?d probably either want to cry or just breakdown and cry, I mean it you really would. There are several parts that are the saddest these are:

?Cause I can't take any more of this I want to come apart. Or dig myself a little hole, inside your precious heart. Ohhhhhhh, cause it?s always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said.

See what I mean really sad, but well thought out and personal words, wonderful! Aaron?s voice makes this a very calm and soft song, with soft music, no hard electric guitars playing. What a sad song, and yet such a masterpiece. You can never listen this song to much, unless you become depressed with the sound of Aaron?s voice, which is easier done than sad (not easier said than done, I must remind you).

Outside:

(Taken from Nic60?s review and she?s at my school, so she wont mind, I took it as she knows everything about everything in the music world) Outside could be Staind's most famous and most popular track to date thanks to Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit joining forces with them and singing as well as Aaron in the chorus of this song. This album- Break the Cycle includes live version (with the gorgeous Fred Durst If I may say so myself) and a studio version (which unfortunately doesn?t include Fred). ALL of the verses were improvised, can you believe that? To be able to write to improvise such a good song like this one you must have talent and Aaron sure does have talent I can tell you that.

Overall:

Just a small overall thought about this album. This is such a good album. It has so many well-written and personal lyrics, wonderful vocals from Aaron Lewis that must be sung along to. Limp Bizkit were Staind?s A&R men, Staind could never go wrong with becoming popular. The only thing that I would change about this album is the fact that there isn?t any tracks on this album, not even one that is happy and vibrant.