Shinedown - Us And Them

Blurb
Shinedown are the best new-gen rock band out there today. Take my word for it. No band has the complete vocals-lyrics-guitars-drums package that they have. If you expected this album to be a reworking of their first album 'Leave A Whisper', that it is not. What it is though is a peek into the soul of a band that is not afraid to grow and learn. Some songs on this second album show the cost of this development; after all, to appreciate the sweet we must taste the sour too.

Some songs on this album jump out at you. 'Beyond The Sun' and 'I Dare You' are the radio-ready ballads while 'Trade Yourself In' has the staccato vocals that have become a Shinedown trademark. 'Beyond The Sun' and 'Lady So Divine' are slower, but easily my favourite songs on this record. They have the depth of feeling that the first album made you perceive. Somehow you wish this album was recorded as part of the first, like a double album, to give it a more well-rounded feeling.

I am so glad they are trying new things, attempting to explore and not put out records which sound like rehashes of their previous work. That alone makes this album worth listening to. I cannot wait to see them on April 15th, I have a gut feeling about these guys that should be vindicated then.

Track Listing
1. The Dream
2. Heroes
3. Save Me
4. I Dare You
5. Yer Majesty
6. Beyond The Sun
7. Trade Yourself In
8. Lady So Divine
9. Shed Some Light
10. Begin Again
11. Atmosphere
12. Fake
13. Some Day

Overall Rating
Was wishing for something more, but 8/10 is a good rating for this album.