Us & Them

Shinedown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000B5KRTI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,648 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Naysayers take note: Shinedown’s Us and Them does not disappoint. Longtime fans and a horde of new and faithful followers will revel in heavy, swaggering, bloozy stomps ("Heroes," "Atmosphere"), anthemic radio-ready ballads ("Beyond The Sun," "Some Day") and the tracks that fall somewhere in between (including the pop-ish "I Dare You"). The quartet evokes a different mood on virtually every track here, whipping out Led Zeppelin-esque riffs one moment, then moving onward to delightfully bloated classic rock fodder (the finely flawed "Lady So Divine") the next. Us and Them does hit two bum notes, albeit gracefully, toward the album’s end with the forgettable "Fake" and "Begin Again," but even those tunes fail to ruin the celebratory vibe found elsewhere. Easily one of the most memorable rock releases of 2005. --Jedd Beaudoin

Product Description

Rising from the swamps of Jacksonville, Florida, Shinedown is her to stay. The engaging starpower of frontman Brent Smith combined with the dynamic guitar prowess of Jasin Todd and the powerful rhythm section of Brad Stewart and Barry Kerch have proven to be one of the most potent in rock music today. The lead single "Save Me" is an anthem of hope that will ignite the bands starving fanbase and realize a whole new audience for Shinedown. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the naysayers...this album rocks!!!!, October 11, 2005

By 

sbrozo (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Us & Them (Audio CD)

Wow, I am really enjoying this album. I cannot believe all the complaints. First, you can't compare this one to `Leave A Whisper'. Duplicating or surpassing that album would be very, very difficult because that album is a masterpiece. So you need to judge this album on its own merits. This album is just growing on me. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I must admit, when I first listened to it, I thought I would only listen to a couple songs and skip the rest. Well funny thing, when I went ahead to start skipping, I didn't want to. Even the songs I thought I wouldn't like that much, I find myself singing in my head. These songs are catchy.

I will call out a few songs: "I Dare You"--What an up-tempo fun song, it has to be the next single. It kind of reminds me of "Better Version". "Shed Some Light" and "Beyond The Sun" are slower deeper ballads, reminiscent of "In Memory". "Some Day" and "Save Me" are also a couple my favorites. I do not skip a song, all of them are enjoyable to listen to. I even don't mind the poem "The Dream".

In short, very, very well done Shinedown!!! Thank you for another great album!!!

31 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rate it on what it is, not what you expect it to be, October 16, 2005

By 

Fly Guy (Eastern Shore, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Us & Them (Audio CD)

If I didn't admit I wasn't disappointed after first picking up this album, I would be lying. I was expecting, like most everyone else, another "Leave a Whisper". This is not Leave a Whisper by a long shot, but the songs are intriguing and a different side of Shinedown. It took me a few listens, but I think that this album will be in my CD changer for a long time for the mere fact that the more I listen, the more I enjoy it. Some albums you play to death once you get them, and in about six months' time you're ready to trade it in.

For the people who are pi**ed that this wasn't Leave A Whisper II, I give you Staind and Papa Roach, two examples of bands who never really left their style and have just become boring. For those of you who have listened to the album and gave it a chance, I give you Zakk Wylde and the voluminous projects he has completed. Most retain the brutality he is known for, but a couple of album and side projects really present a different side. I think this is Shinedown's 'different side' and fully expect another crushing album when project #3 is due.

The album sort of reminds me of Audioslave, and I wouldn't be surprised if they toured together at some point in their careers. Some people may knock it, but I think they pull it off pretty good. The music is quite good, and something to pull out when you just want to kick back and relax.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You one star guys are on crack., October 13, 2005

By 

dennis b "[e-mail]" (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Us & Them (Audio CD)

I have to start this out by saying I have been dying to hear this album for quite some time. 'Leave a Whisper' was one of the best albums to be released by any band in years. I could not wait for Shinedown to pump out there next album.

I got my hands on Us and Them about 2 weeks ago, and will admit when I first listened to it - I was not impressed, at all. It just wasnt what I was expecting somehow - and the funny thing is, I had no idea what to expect. The music then grew on me, literally - and I have to say, this album completely rocks.

I think somehow it is a little different than Leave a Whisper, but thats what bands do - they evolve just like everything else on this earth.

How anyone could give this album 1 star is beyond me, unless they have britney spears posters on there wall.

After listening to it solidly for about a week now, I cant stop listening to it. I find myself humming the tunes in my head at all times of the day.

It is different than Leave a Whisper, but I cant quite put my finger on to it as what makes it so. All I can say, is if you liked Shinedown before, give this album some time to grow on you before you toss it in the garbage.

Tracks I find great - Lady So Divine, Fake, Shed some Light, Beyond the Sun, Yer Majesty, I dare you, Save Me, Heroes - so thats like, 80% of the album. And damn, those songs all roooooock.

Thank you Shinedown for another awesome album.