![14 Shades of Grey [CASSETTE]]()
| In grand rock & roll tradition, Staind now have their grey album--14 Shades of Grey--just as the Beatles had the white album and Metallica the black album. While lumped in with the often indistinguishable nu-metal crowd, Staind stand out, thanks in part to memorable ballads, such as the pained and beautiful "It's Been a While" and "Epiphany" from the quartet's 2001 breakthrough Break the Cycle. Their latest offering represents a natural progression; realising the commercial potential of the poignant but heavy rock ballad, they've penned a slew of them. The light and cheery "How About You" is radio-ready, while the layered, string-backed "So Far Away", an honest and grateful musing on success, is another get-out-the lighters showcase for singer Aaron Lewis. Lewis's beautiful ode for his baby, "Zoe Jane", a tribute to late Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley ("Layne", which intentionally and effectively cops Alice's signature sound) and the grandiose thank-you note "Intro" are stronger, overtly introspective entries in Lewis' sometimes mushy, sometimes touching album diary. --Katherine Turman |
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