Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Come off of it..., January 6, 2002
......1. Open Your Eyes-Love the instrumental, the verses have a sick way of getting into my head and staying there. The chorus is so-so, but the song is definitely one of the better songs.2. Pressure-great song, verses and chorus are melodic and go together nicely. A good song to use to introduce someone to Staind. 3. Fade-One of my favorites. The chorus is incredible and I simply can't get enough. The song never gets old. 4. It's Been Awhile-Eh...i loved this song to death, but it got overplayed. Not the song's fault, however. 5. Change-At first I liked it, but now it just seems mediocre compared to the rest of the album. The verses are still good though! 6. Can't Believe-I didn't like this song, but you must hear the MTV Unplugged version of this song--damn incredible.. 7. Epiphany-Everyone's favorite...=) 8. Suffer - The verse's lyrics are kind of weak, not because I can't relate, but because one or two lines don't flow real nice..chorus is very catchy and melodic, and surprisingly optimistic 9. Warm, Safe Place - I love the bass line and the guitar melody but the song itself is weak. 10. For You-Ahhh, another incredible song. The whole song is well-rounded, very enjoyable if you hate your damn parents sometimes! 11. Outside-Definitely much better than the live version. Still as every bit captivating as it was. 12. Waste-Ah damn, now this is intense. About a fan's suicide...the verses, drums, and guitar melody are captivating, but the chorus is kind of weak. Wait till you get the parts after the second chorus...i almost fell over when i first heard it 13. Take it-Good song, but not much to really say about it...I do like how it ends though ! All in all, its an incredible CD, but the number one thing to remember about it is to listen to it over again even if you don't like it. I hated it at first, but i listened to it again two weeks later and I haven't stopped listening to this incredible album. If you're one of those people who hate albums just because you can't relate to their lyrics, then this album isn't for you. But its people like you who destroy great bands. If you enjoy an album because of what really matters, the MUSIC, then you'll love this album.
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26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never Meant to Fade Away..., April 1, 2004
Ever have a CD that you never really fully listened to when you first bought it? You know, sometimes you get that album for some specific songs, play those songs again and again, then forget about the rest of the album later. This has happened to me a few times, being that I have a very short attention span (gotta love the pure wonders of television, folks!). I'll listen to certain songs again and again, then forget about the rest of the album.This was the case with Staind's album, "Break the Cycle." There were a few songs that I'd listen to again and again, then not pay any attention to the rest of the album. This was not the band's fault at all. Just my own weak attention span. Well, after finding this CD in a pile of others (ones I don't even listen to anymore), I decided to pop it in and give the entire album a good listen. I was completely surprised by the results. It was as if I was hearing the album for the first time--well, in a way, I was. All of the songs are well balanced with emotions such as sorrow, anger and sadness. The lyrics are very powerful and strong, while the singing and the music is overall excellent. Each song has a feel and look of its own, which is important to create a successful album, as these guys have. While it's not quite as heavy as their past efforts, this album has plenty of anger and rage within. There are songs that are heavy while others are more mellow and somber. You're never facing overkill with a certain song style. While I love the entire album, my favorite songs are "open your eyes," "fade," "it's been awhile," "suffer," "epiphany," "for you," "waste" and "outside." Those are my favorites, but the entire album is a great listen. The band has really grown with this release, and it's very clear from the play list that is delivered on this masterpiece. If you're looking for something that is evenly heavy and mellow at the same time, you should definitely give Staind's "Break the Cycle" a chance. And if you're like me by already owning it but never gave it a proper listen, be sure to do that as soon as you can. This is a fine and outstanding effort from a very talented band that knows how to deliver power and emotion with each song. -Michael Crane
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Classic, June 7, 2004
"Break The Cycle" is basically Staind at their pinnacle. The album is flawless and each track is a hit. Aaron Lewis' introspective lyrics combined with Mike Mushok's wall-of-sound guitars build what was easily the best hard-rock album to come out 2001. The band explored more acoustic elements than before and the song-writing was put up front a bit more. Obviously, at the time, many fans brushed Staind off as sell-outs, which, in hindsight, I think everyone is realizing just how ridiculous that is -- especially when you consider the two biggest hits here ("It's Been A While" and "Outside") were kicking around in Lewis' head before Staind got signed. Sure, this album isn't half as aggressive or depressing as it's predecessor, 1999's "Dysfunction" (or their indie debut "Tormented"), but it is an overall professional and potent album, that is consistantly solid the whole way through. Acoustic (or partially) ballads (that have now become a staple of the band) make up about a third of this album. "It's Been A while" is already a modern rock classic, along with a studio version of "Outside" (original live version from the "Family Values 1999" disc) and "Epiphany," a touching song, dedicated to the fans. "Waste" is another fan dedicated song, but this one is more aggressive and is directed towards an individual fan who committed suicide. After being approached by the kid's Mother, Aaron Lewis penned this song. By closely listening to the song, a positive message is revealed, and marks one of the most mature moments of Staind's career. "Open Your Eyes" is a song about various global problems (i.e. pollution, homelessness, drugs...) while straight-out rockers like "Pressure" and "For You" tend to dwell on more familiar subjects. Some people may label this album or the band as "whiners," and it is true, there is quite a bit of self-pity in Staind's music, but the material is handled well and Aaron Lewis writes mature lyrics, that seem to be somewhat more constructive than that of his peers. Overall, everytime I listen to this album, I walk away feeling good, rather than beat down by the world. Which is exactly what music like this should do. Aside from this album, having seen Staind live, I can honestly say they have my full respect. I saw them on one of the coldest nights of this past winter. We had to wait outside for the doors to open (sold out, mind you) in the freezing cold of negative 25 degrees (with some wind to boot). It was pretty cold inside the venue too. But once Staind hit the stage, things actually seemed to warm up. It may sound corny, but their live show (and their music in general) sucks you in. For the hour or more they played, they put all their energy into it made the audience share the experience. Staind are a truly gifted band, and this is their best recording so far. I recommend it to anyone who loves music.
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