Staind

I agree with other reviewers that Aaron Lewis is one of the best songwriters alive today. I loved the early Staind albums and thought they went too soft and too shallow with 15 Shadews of Gray. The singles on this album (eg; All I Want) are not my favorite and seems a bit of a sellout, but there are otherwise some amazing tracks on here (Tangled Up In you, Raining Again). There may never be another song like "It's Been Awhile" (Break the Cycle), but I am enjoying this album thoroughly.

This is a great album and Staind's best since Break The Cycle back in 2001. It seems like theyve gotten back on track after two lackluster albums in between. I'm very pleased with this album.

All songs listenable and fluid.

I bought this audio disc without having previous works to compare it to. I really only recognized one song in particular that is played a lot "All I want" but I do like several other songs including "The way I am" "Believe" "Break away" and "Raining Again". The more I listen to this album the more I like it. After this purchase I am for sure going to sample some of their earlier pieces of work. I would recommend this album for anyone who is a fan of staind will love these songs.They have a style that unique and different from others.

I'm an older music fan. I've lived thru the Classic Rock era, Prog Rock, Punk, New Wave, Pop, Glam, Hair Metal, Speed Metal, Reggae, etc. And I enjoy everything from Jazz to Black Metal. I've seen it all, boys and girls. And I have to tell all you fake, pseudo, poser, music reviewers, this is probably one of the worst eras for Rock music I've ever witnessed in my life. Most of the Metal and Rock has absolutely nothing to say! And no way to say it! There is almost no originality anymore. The bands all sound exactly the same. British Synth Pop, Death Metal, Post Metal, Metalcore, Mathcore, and yes, especially Nu-Metal. And songwriting? Forget it. It's gone the way of the dinosaur. No more Black Sabbath, Zeppelin, Robin Trower, or Bad Company. I can sample a 100 new Metal or Pop albums and I hear maybe one that sounds unique. No one will remember the bulk of these bands. I'll remember Staind.

"Hey, man. It's not cool to listen to Staind anymore. Dude, they've lost their edge." Afraid of what your friends might say? Maybe your friends are fools. So, to you music snobs that make it a hobby to bash this band because it's not the kind of music you enjoy, you wouldn't recognize a well crafted Rock song if it jumped up and bit you on the nipple. I fart in your general direction, sirs. It all sounds like sour grapes to me. You wish that they would continue recording in the style of their first two albums over and over, but you complain that they're recording the same album over and over. You wish you were making the kind of money that this band is making. (I know, I know, "It's not about the money. It's about the music." Yeah, that's what musicians say when they're not making any.) You only wish you could affect people with music the way that Aaron Lewis does. What a bunch of frustrated musicians and welps. You complain that all Aaron does is whine. Take a look in the mirror. If you're all so self-righteously happy in your musical proclivities, I have a Doris Day album you can have. Right now.

For my money, along with Travis Meeks from Days of The New, Aaron Lewis is probably one of THE greatest straight-up singer/songwriters I've heard in Music in the last twenty years. PERIOD! I know that's a bold statement, but I STAIND behind it. (Oooo, sorry.) I'm in my 40s, and the last time I broke up with a chick, I wasn't listening to a Frank Sinatra album, Radiohead, Tool, or Emperor's Anthems to The Welkin at Dusk. I was playing a Staind album. Me, I'll take Aaron Lewis and Staind when I'm feelin' down. Everytime.

How many artists can write a song about their daughters, and make it work? Do any Rock artists know how to just sing a simple song, anymore? Not many. Aaron Lewis' lyrics are tragic, sad, tender, cathartic, heartfelt, painful, and just downright beautiful. His words are full of alienation, hope, despair, love, longing, frustration, and life. All the things that are required for a songwriter to speak to this music fan.

I have to agree that these other bands are just copycatting this dreaded Nu-Metal style. Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Evans Blue, etc. (This sub-categorization of music is the dumbest part of Rock music to ever come down the pike. What a bunch of alienating nonsense, invented by music snobs with nothing better to do.) There is nothing wrong with enjoying different styles of music. As long as you can appreciate the best that a particular genre has to offer. Staind is THE best at what they do. They are original. Everything else is a pale imitation. The bands that progress beyond the limits of their nature and experiment too much, usually fold. If I like Staind, I wanna hear Staind. I'm pleased that I can count on Staind sounding like Aaron's cries in the night. So what if people call it Nu-Metal or Emo? For some, life is painful. For others, the world is on fire. "Bartender, I'll have a Xanax and a Red Bull." You never get depressed? Yeah, right. I bet you never get any chicks either. So what if the heavier edge is gone from their music? You should have figured that out by now, spendthrift. Aaron Lewis and Staind are mellowing. And maturing. (Yeah, I said it. Wanna fight? Anytime, music snobs. I'll run you over with my Harley.) And unlike the last Cannibal Corpse album, I can actually sing along with their music. Which just becomes more dignified with every album they put out.

Thanks, for gettin' me thru some tough times, Aaron. I dig your music, man. This is a f$%king GREAT album! Keep making goods ones. And I'll keep buying 'em.

As long as you turn it way up, this album is heavy enough, in all the right places. Constructed around Aaron's lyrics, this one definitely contains the softer, soulful side of their sound at times. Which I prefer, seeing as how I'm as old as Methuselah and all. When all is said and done, it's a beautiful mix. (Another music snob fallacy: If music has a commercial feel, it's worthless. An absolutely closed-minded and ludicrous viewpoint.) It would be apropos to take Staind out of the sticky morass of Nu-Metal and place them in the wide open field of Music. I see the album title as a tongue-in-cheek stab at critics that accuse them of making the same music over and over again. Or Aaron has discovered a hard truth about getting older: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Works either way. It moves me enough to give it Five Star status. Best Riff: Rainy Day Parade! Best Song: It's a TIE! Tangled Up In You! Wow! and Raining Again! If you APPRECIATE Staind, you don't want to miss this album. It's one of their BEST, and a worthy addition to their catalog.

Everyone that hates this band, your buddies just voted you out of the band, and your mom is yelling at you to clean up your room.

Everyone else,

ENJOY.

...This CD has it's track or two but I think Staind has gotten to soft with this one. I still like the music but if you are looking for the old staind, they have gone AWOL..

I can't say much more than what's already been said by everyone - fantastic piece of work, indeed. But after downloading, I was disappointed to find that "It's Been Awhile" was not the explicit version, like the album advertises. I wrote in and it was explained to me that they don't have the explicit version of this song for download - just the radio friendly version. I got a credit, and that's fine, but wanted to give everyone a heads up on this.

Just the kind of cd I needed to hear before seeing this band in concert. This is an awesome mix of Staind's best works yet. I did hear that a new album is due out soon and can't wait for that! A must have for any fan or for anyone who has yet to become one.

I was really disappointed that Fade was not included on the CD. That was one of their biggest hits. Perhaps the band doesn't like that track as much. It would have been a stronger effort with Fade.

This CD is something you don't find often. It's something that you can listen through in whole, again and again. I prefer the live/acoustic songs. I am an alternative/hard/metal fan, and this album covers them all. I ecspecially love the live/acoustic cover of Alice In Chain's Nutshell.All in all, this is a great CD. Go out and buy it now.

I have never really been a big fan of Staind, however I have loved certain songs of theirs here and there, but I am an overall Alternative rock fan. So I came across this album and it had all the greats that I really liked plus a few I like from others in acoustic versions so I got it. Wow, this is one compilation that will be tough for Staind to ever overcome! I would say the absolute best album they have ever compiled! This rarely comes out of my CD player!

Jeremy
Jacksonville, FL

"Break the Cycle" was the first Staind CD I ever bought. And I'm glad that I own it. It's a very powerful album: while not as powerful as Dysfunction, it does have the same meaningful lyrics found in the last album. This is where Staind was at its peak. The five singles (Outside, Fade, It's Been Awhile, For You, & Epiphany) deserve to be heard all across the globe. The other songs are very good, too. "Open Your Eyes" and "Waste" can't be missed. "Suffer," "Pressure," and "Changes" bring about what makes Staind a brilliant rock band. "Can't Believe" is nothing but screaming, but I still like it. Overall, it's an excellent album that I grew up on.

Grade: A

Staind are one of the finest bands... well, of all-time! "Break The Cycle" has to be one of the best albums I've ever heard, almost on-par with "St. Anger"! The impressive drum fills, face-melting riffs, crazy bass and superb vocals make this album a classic! "It's Been Awhile" is, without a doubt, a timeless song that will NEVER get old.

When Staind dropped `Mudshuvel' they immediately built a fan base, but it wasn't until the solemn `Outside' hit airways that they became a household name. Now, it doesn't matter really who you are, you've heard of Staind in one way shape or form. Their songs litter the radio waves; they appear on countless magazine covers and back up plenty of soundtracks and film trailers. Staind has become an international hit, thanks to `Break the Cycle'.

That said, this may be my least favorite album they have released.

When I say this, I don't mean it in an extremely negative way, because truth be told, Staind is my favorite band out there today and everything they put out I listen to and adore in its own respect, but the one thing that put me off from `Break the Cycle' was the fact that it seemed (at least to me) that the band was trying way too hard here. Even if collectively the album is better than `14 Shades of Grey' I tend to prefer the latter only because it seems to come a little more natural to the band. On `Break the Cycle' Staind was trying to find themselves, that balance between the brutality of `Dysfunction' and the melodiousness of their latest effort `The Illusion of Progress'. What happened, as a result, is an album that feels strangely uneven.

So, lets start with the good. `Outside' sounds completely natural and pristine on all levels. This is the band that Staind was always meant to be. Don't get me wrong, I love the raw intensity they brought to `Dysfunction', but the truth of the matter is that this band was never meant to be savage, and the effortless way they sink into the groove of `Outside' is major proof of that. Same can be said for the massive hit `It's Been Awhile'. The song is beautifully constructed and highlights the bands massive talent. It is vocally brilliant and musically impressive. Following in this same line of melodic passion is `Epiphany', which may be the most beautiful song this band has ever penned. Aaron Lewis and an acoustic guitar; you can't get any better than that.

The there are some tracks that are decent, yet not superb.

The album opens up with `Open You Eyes', which is much more commercial than anything off of `Dysfunction' but it sounds as if it fits well. It seems a little too simple to me, but it is not a bad track by any means. `For You' was a huge hit for the band, and I can see why, but upon multiple listens it becomes more and more obvious how clichéd this track really is. This is not a song to become rooted it. Yes, it is a good song and it is easy to grab hold of (it is the heaviest song that sounds right on the album, since the other `heavy' tracks sound forced and unnatural, and this does not) but this is not a `great' song. `Fade' and `Change' possess (possibly) the best vocal work on the album. The way Lewis allows his voice to caress each and every word can illicit chills, but the fact remains that the tracks themselves don't really hold up over time. The verses are superb, but the generic commercial way they crafted the chorus lines is a major drawback.

Then there are the songs that fall somewhere in the middle.

`Safe Place' is a song that I really want to like, one that has a lot of potential, but the downplayed vocals take away from the power this song could have had. Aaron has one of the greatest voices in the world of rock and roll, yet he doesn't capitalize on them here. He always appears to be holding himself back. `Pressure' tries far too hard to be the band Staind was in the beginning, and the end result is less that it could have been. I abhor the chorus; I like the verses; I love the bridge...in the end I'm indifferent. The concept behind `Waste' is great, but like `Safe Place' Lewis continues to sound restrained, and restraint is not something this song should have possessed. If he had just let go a little more the song could have really been a highlight of the album.

And then there are the downright bad tracks.

`Suffer' just doesn't work on any level. Aaron's heavy breathing is annoying and out of place and the chorus is so far removed from the track it borders ridiculous. As bad as `Suffer' is, `Can't Believe' is even worse. This song tries so hard to be heavy that it just comes off as a really bad garage band trying to be heavy. Aaron really needs to stay away from screaming. This is so odd to say, because his brutal vocals in `Dysfunction' were so appropriate and natural, yet here he sounds so out of his element.

The album closes with `Take It'. Now I was really excited when this song kicked into the first verse because it just felt so right. The guitar work, the bass lines, Aaron's vocals; it just all seemed to fit. That said; the chorus drags it down a bit. I won't say it ends on a bad note, but I can't say that it ends as well as I was hoping for. The chorus almost stops the brilliant progression they were establishing. Thankfully the bridge actually nails it. The whole album they were attempting to straddle the fence of heavy and melodic and finally they managed to get it right, to where it felt comfortable. I just wish the chorus would have done it for me, for then it would have possible been the best track on the album.

So, we all know I am a huge fan (like I said; favorite band) but I have to be honest and objective. Do I like this album? Yes. Do I own it and listen to it regularly? Yes. Do I consider it a fine testament to the band Staind has become? Not really. `Break the Cycle' is a transition piece for me. It contains a few really good songs and a slew of decent ones with potential, but the bands shaky legs can be seen on many of the tracks as they try to find themselves musically. I think that `Chapter IV' and `The Illusion of Progress' are more definitive of the band as a whole. `Break the Cycle' is the bridge to get from here to there.

This album kicks some serious a**. Aaron Lewis really pours it out. When I heard the song Waste, maaaan I was shocked. At about the 2:50 min mark he unleashes like a beast. His aggression drives me. Warm Safe Place is Aaron at his best as well. His lyrics make you really think, he has me rewinding like crazy. Not to mention he does it behind some insane guitar riffs and hectic drum lines. I think this is their best album and i truly recommend it.

Staind's Break the Cycle really pushes the boundaries of metal in terms of power. Singer Aaron Lewis' lyrics are the foundation for this album. It's filled with pain, despair, and real problems without the annoying "f*** everything kill everyone satan blah blah" heavy metal stereotype. Staind's music is haunting, to say the least, but at the same time, delicate. The guitars and drums blend perfectly with each song. Then again, some of the music could be better. I loved the song "Waste", but the instrumentals didn't fit with the words. With topics ranging from broken friendships ("Fade") to teenage suicides ("Waste"), Staind dares to be real to its audience, and has done so for the past 11 years.

Back in the day, I bought Staind's "Break the Cycle" before I listened to "Dysfunction". I liked "Cycle" so much, that I decided to listen to some of Staind's earlier works. "Dysfunction" is the band's heaviest and most depressing. "Illusions of Progress" is nowhere near as dark and haunting as "Dysfunction". The songs 'Mudshovel' and 'Just Go' are full of anger and pain. "Suffocate" and "Crawl" are powerful, while "Home" offers a different and slightly major-key approach.

This, along with "Break and Cycle" and "14 Shades of Gray," are what makes Staind special and powerful as a rock band. Their most recent "Illusions of Progress" may be very weaker compared to the first three albums, but I can handle the lighter tone pretty much.

Grade: A

If you've enjoyed Staind from any of their other releases and expect something similar in Dysfunction you'd be mistaken. It'd be an understatement to say "it's a little more gritty". However if you expect something good in relation to say korn or maybe even some of Drowning Pool's better stuff then you've hit alternative metal gold. This is their only album as far as I'm concerned. It's disappointing to see them go from this to immediately sounding like 3 Doors Down or Nickelback etc. etc.
Alot of reviewers seem to be ecstatic about the song Mudshovel, and while that song is excellent, the four tracks preceding it are of equal if not greater value. Give this one a chance if you're big into the 1999 metal scene.

A lot of fans hate what Staind has become but they can't deny that their debut album `Dysfunction' is virtually flawless. Short and sweet, the albums 9 tracks leave no room for filler and deliver track after track of pulse pounding, ear bleeding rock. From the opening `Suffocate' to the closing `Spleen' `Dysfunction' proves that this rock quartet as the goods to survive this rocky business.

There is a lot of edge here; starting with the opening track `Suffocate' which immediately grabs the listener's attention. It's heavy and straight forward and delivers the goods. `Raw' is another blunt force object that burrows itself in your eardrums. The slowed down verses help create an unsettling that all but erupts when Aaron starts screaming "raw" and the chorus ignites. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has heard the masterclass that is `Mudshovel', one of the greatest rock anthems ever. The musical arrangement is catchy and instantly recognizable (when that bass kicks in my stereo automatically goes up) and Aaron Lewis' vocals are impeccable.

`Just Go' is one of the best rock songs out there. It showcases perfectly what Staind would ultimately become, ditching the crushing guitars and pulsating drum lines for a more subtle and emotional musical experience. One thing that must be mentioned is that Aaron Lewis' voice is perfectly suited for this style of music and so it becomes elevated by the delicate flaws within his voice. `Me' is similar is style but not as emotional on impact. Next to `Home' it comes off the whineier of the tracks here. Neither is a bad track but neither are as strong as the balance.

The album ends with a string of very impressive tracks, `A Flat', `Crawl' and `Spleen' which showcase the strength in Staind's metal side. `A Flat' is my favorite of the three mainly for the brilliant closing with Aaron's overlapping "And I" and the crushing bridge. `Crawl', which can be heard on the `Scream 3' soundtrack, is also brilliantly constructed. `Spleen' closes the album on a strong note; the verses constructed to build anticipation before impact. The hidden track `Excess Baggage' is downright perfection. With Aaron Lewis alone with an acoustic guitar you have a beautiful and stirring song that reaches deeper than anything on the balance of the album. The man is genius.

There is a lot to love in this short album. All 9 tracks offer something, some more than others but none falling into that `filler' category of worthless of non-important. Staind may have changed their style in the years that followed this impressive studio debut but they have always stayed true to themselves and deserve recognition for that. They have yet to recapture the brilliance of `Dysfunction' but one day soon I expect them to.

I was dubious about Staind when they first came out. However, when I finally took the time to give this album a listen it really grew on me rather quickly. This is great music for when you are driving alone at night, or in a dark and brooding mood. The music is well produced and reasonably well written, and the few mistakes they make are easy to ignore or forgive. It is too bad that Staind completely lost all their edge (even when they were trying to be heavy) after this and never released another good album.

I bought this back in my middle school day's and it blew me away, needless to say, lol. Then Aaron Lewis had to pick up an accoustic guitar and they pretty much went on to play more mainstream radio ballads which had me lose interest in this band. With this album they reminded me of Deftones but with a different edge, I dunno... sucks they started over looking this album, it was indeed their best.

"The strength of a tree begins in its roots." This lyric sums up the basis of this album. As usual, Aaron Lewis is able to blow us away with his lyrical abilites with indepth views of his own self-conflicting battles. He shares with us more of his inner torment through great, flowing lines, accompanied by the bands perfect synchronization. Staind continues to impress with smash hits without losing touch with some of their previous heaviness. Whether enjoying brilliant lyrics, harmonious melody, or an occasional thrash sound, this ablum is an excellent additon to any rock collection.

Chapter V is not a big steaming pile of dog poo. There. I said it. And believe me after 4 Shades of Grey, it makes me extremely happy to say this. Just a few short years ago, I thought Staind was the greatest rock/heavy band known to man. Then they went pop on us. So when this new discc came out, I was worried. I'll admit it. I borrowed it from a friend before I decided to take the plunge and buy it. And happily it has been a good purchase.
On "14 Shades Of Grey", all the fire that made Staind = Staind, was gone. With the exception of "Price To Play" there was nothing with any zest at all. Now "V" has that in spades! From the hammering "Paper Jesus" to the in your face "Schizophrenic Conversations" this disc is a moving step in the right direction. The fire is partially back. Staind still do explore their new found pop sensibilities. For example "Falling" is enough rock to make you stand up and take notice. But still radio friendly.
So there you have it. Staind might never be the pure power house of rage and angst we so loved on "Tormented" or "Dysfunction". But you have to give kudos to Staind for every album being different. And cheers to them for finding their rock n roll voice again. Good cd. Worth buying.

I only like 4 songs on this album and the tracks are 1 2 6 and 11 the rest i did'nt like so this was an okay allbum.

It is very rare that you find a cd that has really good music throughout. This is one of those rare finds for me. I still listen to the cd all the time.

The early work from Staind was more aggressive and progressed into more positive and somewhat lighter music more recently. But on all of the previous albums, the mood felt honest. You really got pulled in by it. This one feels contrived, almost as if they didn't know how to move forward, so they went back.

Unfortunately i was waiting more of Staind but thats Life. Our expectations are somtetimes more that reality! lol

Despite what other reviewers have said this album was not better than Break the cycle infact 14 Shades is a more slower and mellow album from Staind and it has gained more mainstream success from songs like So far away and Price to play which are not bad but I've heard alot better from Staind, the rest of the songs range from average to pretty good like the song Layne which is a tribute to Layne Staley from Alice in Chains and Reality which has a good chorus line, Zoe Jane was a very boring acoustic ballad which was dedicated to his daughter yawn!. The problem with 14 Shades is that it doesn't rock hard like the previous albums even though the singer Aaron Lewis is still able to write some good lyrics and the band is very talented unlike other Nu-metal bands out there.

Excellent CD, the bonus DVD was a very nice surprise! Even if you already have this CD, it's worth buying again to get the DVD! STAIND!!!

I'm a huge fan of this band and i must say that this rivals 'Dysfunction' as being their best record i think. It's an efficiently written record that i was sorry to see limp in at no.22 of the Irish music charts back in 2003 but then it's the fans that keep the music alive anyhow.
Definitely worth buying.

This is a long overdue review. I have had this album since it came out a few years ago. Bought it for "So Far Away", which I loved the first time I heard it. At first, I thought it's just gonna be like one of those countless songs that I once loved. The love affair usually lasts anywhere from 1 day to a few weeks, then I will get tired of it. Either that, or the song would only sound good again when I was in a specific mood.

Now years later, I found this one song turned out to be the ONE & ONLY song that have this lasting magic power over me. When I put headphones on and play this song at night, it will grab me from where I am, happy, sad, or anywhere in between, and move me to almost tears, every time. And strangly, I couldn't even tell whether the song made me happy or sad, considering it's about finally finding happiness. I think it just takes me to another world.

I like pretty much all kinds of music, except rap and hip-hop. And if I can only listen to one song for the rest of my life, this would be it.

The rest of the album seems a little boring to me, as well as Staind's other albums. Since the rating is for the album, so I can only give it 4 stars. But if there's ever a case that you should buy an album just for one song, this is it. Of course, this is all subjective, just like all music reviews. And I have friends to whom this song doesn't do a thing.

"The Illusion Of Progress" is excellent! An excellent CD by an excellent rock band.

Track Listing
1. This Is It
2. The Way I Am
3. Believe
4. Save Me
5. All I Want
6. Pardon Me
7. Lost Along The Way
8. Break Away
9. Tangled Up In You
10. Raining Again
11. Rainy Day Parade
12. The Corner
13. Nothing Left To Say

The band's fourth album sounds mildly different from "Break the Cycle", and drastically different from "Dysfunction." There are no depressing melodies or hard-hitting lyrics that are found in "Dysfunction" and sometimes in "Cycle", but we do get to see a major maturity from Staind. It may be bad to some fans, but I still admire this band even with the change in sound. 14 Shades of Grey contains the singles "So Far Away," "Price to Play," and "Zoe Jane". All three songs are great to listen to, and the other songs on the album, particulary "Fray", should not be missed.

Grade: A

Every artists album will not be the same. If it was they'd be boring. Granted, i preferred their first two. This one is good. At first i didn't think it was , but after listening more i started to like it. Staind has always been a band with soft vocals and heavy guitars at points. Most bands usually go from the opposite from when they started anyways. Nothing is ever the same. Trust me.

Again , if you don't own the best of CD , buy this one and the other 2

13 tracks from Staind and only 3 are any good, huge disappointment from a great band. Thank god Chapter V is a great album.

This CD was some how misfiled in the metal racks of the music store. A mistake, you'd have to think. The heaviest that 14 Shades of Grey gets is in the first song "Price To Play" which curiously was the album's commercial single. Maybe that says something in itself - the heavy stuff is (or used to be) what brought the fans in the door for Staind, not the 3 Doors Down-style rock.

Anyway, the album itself isn't a complete disaster. It hangs together with some reasonable melodies, but there's just a certain sameness, and slowness, that puts this release light years away from Staind's very good album, Dysfunction. Sure, bands mature and grow up, but that doesn't mean they have to put on the brown cardigans.

Vitamin records has been releasing these cd's like wild fires, just spreading orchestral music to the lesser audience of it. This cd will give you the rock music that originally started this who phenomenon (apocalyptica).

This cd is great for anyone interested in hearing the depth of a music genre. Typically when you hear a rock song, you dont hear really how the singer is supposed to influence the musical sense of the songs, but when the singer's role is put into a more balanced/equal role with the rest of the musicians, it contributes so much more to the musicality of the song. It is great for beginner musicians to understand that the singer has to be in tune with the band because he is added depth to the music, not just vocals. College music majors might also get a kick out of this album as it widens your music perspective.

These cds from vitamin really show how rock is the next evolution to classical music, it shows that although lyrics were originally added, the artists used the basic form of classical music to write songs. They all contain a theme that is repeated in the music, and most offer a "waltz" part to the song, as well as a lyrical bridge.

Good cd for every so often to change you from the norm. really neat to switch out the lyrics every so often with some classical music. Enjoy it!

Over the past five years, Vitamin Records has released more than fifty of these String Quartet Tribute albums. They have run the gamut from Metallica to Clay Aiken to Alison Krauss to their most recent tribute to 2Pac. This sampler focuses primarily on alternative/heavy metal/grunge artists. So what you get is a collection of songs made famous by Staind ("It's Been Awhile"), Linkin Park ("In the End") and Korn ("Freak on a Leash").

This album (and all of the others) veers awfully close to novelty status. On first listen, it's a real charge to hear teen angst anthems like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" transformed into sedate chamber music. But it doesn't really warrant repeated listenings. The main problem is that after a few songs, they all tend to sound alike. Twenty years ago, the Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet would include a Jimi Hendrix composition in live performances and the occasional recording, but they had the sense to know that this wouldn't work over the course of an entire album.

And the idea of juxtaposing classical instruments with popular music goes back even farther. In the sixties, the Hollyridge Strings released a series of albums performing the works of the Beatles, Elvis and the Beach Boys. Bottom line? This album will force you to hear these songs in a new way and might get a laugh or two if you slip it into the CD player at your next party, but there's little here to make you come back after you've heard it once. But at $6.98, it's an inexpensive gag gift for the alternative music fan in your life. [Running Time - 50:37]