|
| The Sound Of Madness | 
 enlarge | Artist: Shinedown
Label: Atlantic
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $8.14
You Save: $10.84 (57%)
New (36) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $8.14
Avg. Customer Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 347
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 511244
UPC: 075678993244
EAN: 0075678993244
ASIN: B0017I1FO4
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Complete with original case, disc(s), and artwork. In stock and ships right now. 10% chance the case has small spider cracks in it.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Disappointed, but still fairly decent July 28, 2008
3 out of 11 found this review helpful
I was expecting another "Us and Them" from Shinedown, or at least something in that musical direction. However, Shinedown decided to go a different route. I can't really pinpoint which direction that is, since this record is all over the place. The first single, "Devour", sounds like a Disturbed song, and is almost in a 'Metal' category. No lie, I actually thought it was a new Disturbed song when I first heard it. However, then on the same album, you have a song like "What a Shame", which is very slow.
This album is decent, but no great shakes. "Second Chance" is far away the best song on the CD, followed semi-closely by "If You Only Knew", which is also a great song. Those are 2 songs that are still in line with what the band was doing on "Us and Them", and for Shinedown, it works. There are a few absolute stinkers on the album. Matter of fact, nearly half the album are below average songs. Hence, the reason I say this album isn't all that impressive.
I've been reading reviews about maturation, the band growing and expanding, etc. All I have to say to that is, Wow! The people who are saying that CLEARLY don't have a clue what they're talking about, as this album is no more complex than the previous one. In fact, it's taking a huge step backwards, both artistically and creatively.
All in all, good for a Shinedown fan, but if you're trying to get into the band, buy "Us and Them" or the debut CD.
P.S. I'm trying to rate this 3 stars, but I made a mistake and amazon won't let me correct it. This review is 3 stars, not 2.
 This album is truely half bad... and half good. August 26, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
First off, I think Brent has probably the best voice for rock ever, and I absolutely loved the first two albums. Unfortunately half of the tracks on this album are TERRIBLE. Not just poor or otherwise unexciting, but flat out ridiculously horrid.
1) "Devour" has idiotic lyrics to go with it's pop-like sound. This song makes me want to swing my arms back and forth and do the "Happy Days" dance, and this dance isn't out of pleasure but mocking the song and the brain dead lyrics. It makes me want to point and laugh at wanna-be renegades. This song says "Look at me, I'm such a rebel!" ACK!
2) "Sound of Madness" - Mediocre song.
3) "Second Chance" - Pretty decent. I can kind of get into it, even though again the lyrics are kind of dumb, but who cares this is ROCK right?
4) "Cry For Help" - Would have been better without the counting (Personal pet peve: I hate when artists count in songs)
5) "The Crow And The Butterfly" - Great feel-good song. Could do with less repetition of words, as with many of the other songs. Lots of repetition. It's like hey, let's just repeat ourselves again. Repetitively.
6) "If You Only Knew" - good song.
7) "Sin With a Grin" - Finally some good lyrics to go with good rock.
8) "What A Shame" - BRILLIANT. This is an amazing song. Easily the reason enough to buy the album.
9) "Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide" - Another very good song coming from a completely different direction. I love that they've mixed it up a bit.
10) "Breaking Inside" - ehh, good lyrics but the song never quite gets to a point that I would call "good"
11) "Call Me" - A pretty EPIC ballad. Not the hard core rock that I would love to hear from Shinedown but a very good song none the less.
I had read from the band 6 months ago or so that they were going to be more hard rock on this album, which I was eagerly awaiting. I would say this album was a supreme let down. There are a few redeeming songs however. I would reccomend to only by the few songs that are good or buy the CD if you get a good deal (under $11)
 Shinedown's masterpiece: a long time coming June 24, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Shinedown's debut album, "Leave a Whisper," was an extremely accomplished piece of hard rock musicianship. It showcased the band's undeniable talent and ear for melody, and set them apart from the crowd of faceless mainstream musicians.
2005's "Us and Them" was, at least in this reviewer's opinion, a mis-step. It had no truly high-caliber material to match masterpieces such as "Fly from the Inside" and "45" from their first album.
Shinedown's latest, "The Sound of Madness," finds them at the height of their powers despite several personnel changes. This is Shinedown at their absolute best. "The Sound of Madness" is the very best Shinedown album yet, and indeed, one of the best albums to be released this year or in years previous.
The album is full of hard-hitting songs that are heavier than anything the band has ever done ("Sound of Madness," "Sin with a Grin," "Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide") but also has a refreshing number of slower (but no less intense) ballads, including the beautiful "The Crow and the Butterfly," "If You Only Knew," and the stunning closer "Call Me." Shinedown have not only discovered the depths of their talents, but also their incredible versatility.
Shinedown have a masterpiece on their hands, and the current best record of the year.
Album of the year! June 25, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
After Shinedown's brilliant premier album "Leave a Whisper", their second project "Us and Them" was a bit of a disappointment. Of course, for any other group, a Gold album with a couple of hit songs wouldn't be that bad, but considering how good their first album was, their second one simply wasn't that good by comparison.
Brent and the boys stepped up to the plate for their third attempt "The Sound of Madness", and promptly hit it out of the park. From hard, in your face rockers, to soulful ballads, this one has it all. "What a Shame" might be the best new song I've heard in several years, and just about everything on the album is excellent. It won't be long before the awards and accolades start rolling in. Better see them on tour while you can still afford the tickets, because after this one, they'll be touring stadiums and arenas, not local clubs.
A Different Side of Shinedown... June 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Compared to the two previous albums by this Jacksonville group, "The Sound of Madness" provides a much darker and evolved sound that really keeps the Shinedown faithful on their toes! I know that when I first heard this CD, not all the tracks caught my attention right away but the ones that did (The Crow and The Butterfly, Devour, Breaking Inside) really gave a different sound then what I expected! If you're the kind of person that thrives on consistency between albums than you are probably going to be disappointed but the new smell of this album, with Brent's high pitched vocals, and his undeniable energy as a singer, which really engages your listening ears! I have had this CD in the CD player of my car ever since I purchased it Tuesday and have no thoughts of removing it.
There are slower songs like Call Me, Second Chance, and What A Shame, that are more powerful in lyrics and melody than anything else Shinedown has produced, which reflects the total makeup of this album, as it is a little slower in pace compared to previous albums.
For anyone that refuses to acknowledge the quality of this album because of commercial appeal, well then you need to take a second look at why music is made...to entertain and appease! Just because some good rock music is popular is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for the popularity of the band.
On a final note, I highly recommend that you go out and pick this one up because there is a certain "Sound of Madness" that rings through this disc and you should thoroughly enjoy it, especially loyal Shinedown fans!
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
