Customer Reviews

Us & Them

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

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!!!

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.

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.

You knew the vocals were going to be top notch. But let's face the facts here. Yes, the first album was decent...held afloat by about three excellent songs, really. But anybody with any taste could tell that Shinedown would be just the same as all the other trend-following bands that one sees these days were it not for the phenomenal voice of lead singer Brent Smith. I myself thought that Leave a Whisper was just not very good, and could have done without everything but Fly From the Inside, Burning Bright, and 45. The band didn't bring much that was really dynamic to the table. Boy have they made a complete turnaround. Apparently the rest of the band decided to play catch-up with their lead man. Everything about this album is improved, from the guitar playing to the drums, heck even Smith shows that he has a little more diversity...which is impressive considering what he showed off last album. I'd say this is a job well done for Shinedown. Way to say the heck with the trend following and expand musically rather than stagnate like the rest of todays bands. This CD is a must-buy.

This is my first review, so I wanted to choose one of my favourite C.D's to start off with. This is one of the best contemporary rock of 2005, a must buy for lovers of decent music. Almost every song on this C.D is incredible, not to be missed.

These are my ratings for the songs on 'Us And Them'

1. The Dream: N/A Not exactly a song, a unique way to start the album off.

2. Heroes: 9/10: I love this track. The vocals in this song are awesome, real catchy track.

3. Save Me: 10/10: Another catchy track, builds up really well. Cool solo.

4. I Dare You: 9/10: Definitely was one of my favourites when i first got this C.D, slightly overplayed it - still love it though.

5. Yer Majesty: 10/10: My favourite track on this entire C.D. Great guitaring, really really catchy. Nice beat.

6. Beyond The Sun: 9/10: I love most rock/metal ballads - you really get to see another side of a band. Beyond the Sun is an awesome track, if it wasn't for this song, I probably would never have discovered Shinedown.

7. Trade Yourself In: 9/10: Kind of reminds me of 'Yer Majesty' another catchy track.

8. Lady So Divine: 10/10: I'm just learning to play the guitar, so of course I love this song. The solo is incredible, kinda sounds like a 'Santana' solo - a must hear for all guitar players.

9. Shed Some Light: 9/10: I love this song. Another ballad, quite a mellow track.

10. Begin Again: 8/10: Not one of my favourite's, nothing really that memorable about it - some good screaming though.

11. Atmosphere: 8/10: Eh. Good Song... but not as good as any of the other songs on this C.D. Decent guitar solo though.

12. Fake: 8/10: Another O.K song, sounds like a bit of a filler.

13. Some Day: 9/10: Great closing track, another nice ballad.

Seriously, buy this album, you won't regret it.

Note: This rewiew took forever to write, so, even if you found this even the tiniest bit helpful, or interesting, please just take a second of your time to vote this as being helpful.

Thanks, ThE mEtAl MaN

Shinedown really put a lot of effort in this CD to make it a new CD, as opposed to just a continuation of the first. I really like some of the lighter tunes like Beyond the Sun, which starts up quiet and goes on to a powerful chorus. Don't get me wrong, you'll still get the dark power-rock that your used to in songs like Heroes and Yer Majesty, but they definately did some experimenting with songs like Trade Yourself In and Lady So Divine. I like how the CD is mixed up so that it takes you to the peak of Shinedowns hard rock one song, then takes it back a notch with some great but more relaxed songs the next. It's not exactly what I expected, but it turned out to be an awesome CD. I can't decide which I like better, this one of their first. Overall, if you even remotely like this type of rock, pick up any Shinedown CD and you will be delighted with the sound. Five stars hands down.

Don't listen to these fools. Why don't they like it? Cause they're not screaming the lyrics on every song. Come on this is a great album, great lyrics, great music, and the best vocals I've ever heard from a rock band. Brent Smith is the man. This album has a lot of solid songs and a few great ones.
1. Dream 4/5 It's a poem
2. Heroes 5/5 Definitley great song
3. Save Me 5/5 Also great
4. I Dare You 4/5 Good track
5. Yer Majesty 4/5 Hard track
6. Beyond the Sun 5/5 Awesome song
7. Trade Yourself In 4/5 Not that bad
8. Lady So Divine 3/5 Not one of my faves
9. Shed Some Light 5/5 Close to the best
10. Begin Again 4.5/5 Very Good
11. Atmosphere 4/5 Another hard song
12. Fake 4/5 Not the best
13. Some Day 5/5 IMO The best song on the album

I was a big fan of the first album, and like most people here I think this is an even better example of their sound. I am currently listenting to it for the umpteenth time and have not gotten sick of it yet. Only other album I can say that about is 10 by Pearl Jam. Very good company in my eyes.

I am really impressed with Brent's voice in this album. Might be altered in the dubbing, who knows, but this album highlights more than the first album that this guy can truly sing and not just belt out lyrics to some guitar rifts. All the tracks are solid, but I could do without the poem. One blemish on a very good album.

It is certainly not as heavy as the first album, but I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. It is a somewhat different sound, but certainly recognizable in light of their first album. I think the mood of the songs fit in well with the tone of the lyrics. It may not be as polished as their first album, but I like this a lot.

I think this is the best CD of have purchased in a long time. It pisses me of to see those reveiws knocking this CD. These are killer songs, not just a guitar riff with some words and then next song. There last album was like that, I listened to it a few times and then put it away. I can't seem to take this one out of the CD player, it totally ROCKS!! Keep this killer music coming fellas!!! Also, I have to say he is one of the BEST rock singers out there today.

Finally an album that does not consist of the same EMO rubbish. I love the southern rock/blues feel to it. I can tell a lot of the reviewers are young here.
What makes this CD work is that there are guitars & drums and you can hear them both! Unlike the repetitive noise of most music that is out there now.
The lyrics are not clique. I like the return of the guitar solos.
Nice to see music getting back to it's roots.