We Are Not Alone [ENHANCED] [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Breaking Benjamin

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2004)
• Original Release Date: June 29, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Hollywood Records
• ASIN: B0002A2VS2
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (277 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,561 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. So Cold

2. Simple Design

3. Follow

4. Firefly

5. Break My Fall

6. Forget It

7. Sooner Or Later

8. Breakdown

9. Away

10. Believe

11. Rain

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

All sharp hooks and hefty beats, We Are Not Alone starts off with the Middle Eastern melody of the roaring lead single "So Cold," a riff-heavy track that showcases the fretwork of guitarist Aaron Fink, an expressive guitarist with a flair for both color and crunch. Employing a palette of quirky pedal effects, distorted textures and throttled power chords, he amplifies the emotion in each song, be it the confrontational rage in "Believe" or the sweeping emotional plea of "Break My Fall." "Aaron really stepped up on this record," says vocalist/guitarist Ben Burnely. "He's not so much a riff guy as someone who creates atmosphere. His talents really shine through here."

The perfectly paced album is anchored by the propelling rhythms of drums and bass as well as being driven by Burnley, who brings each melody to life with a voice that's both graceful ("Rain") and Godzillian ("Away"). He soars over the mile-high chorus of "Follow," delivering the insistent hook with unbridled passion and grit. "Touring helped develop my singing ability and allowed me to try new things on this record," he says. "It gave me a sense of confidence that was really liberating."

The band credit producer David Bendeth for the album's adventurous spirit, saying that he encouraged them to reach higher by digging deeper. "David has a great ear and helped pull better performances out of us," says Fink. "He also added a lot of flavor to the record. Unlike the first album, which was all bass, drums and guitar, this record is filled with all sorts of tasty ear candy. It's definitely headphones-worthy."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking Benjamin Don't Miss A Beat, August 29, 2004

By	Mr. Censored (Maine) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Breaking Benjamin seemed to come out of nowhere with their 2002 debut, "Saturate." Their seemingly effortless knack for combining larger than life riffs and beautiful melodies were enough to win over anyone who was willing to listen. And now, just two years later, they follow up with an album that, shockingly, improves upon what was already in place with their debut. Everything you liked about Breaking Benjamin is still here, just taken to the next level; The anthems are more powerful and the ballads more potent. The first single, and opening track, the slow-burning "So Cold" gets "We Are Not Alone" off to a good start, as all eleven tracks go by with ease. "Sooner Or Later," "Break My Fall" and "Simple Design" are the standard for Breaking Benjamin, heavy but sensitive, while other riff rockers like "Breakdown" and "Believe" take things up a notch. Also of note is the band's collaboration with Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins/Zwan) on three tracks: "Follow Me" and the two stand-out ballads "Rain" and "Forget It." Maybe I'm biased, being a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan for so long, but these three songs are easily the high-points of an already incredible album. I really can't say anything bad about this release. Breaking Benjamin did nothing but improve. Their debut was extremely mature for a new band, and the fact that they can put out something even better for their sophmore release means that the next album from these guys will blow everyone away. If you loved their debut or just rock music in general, you owe it to yourself to pick up "We Are Not Alone."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Benjamin, Smashing!, October 23, 2004

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Well, wadd'ya know. After one promising album, Breaking Benjamin tighten up and refine their sound for a superb second album, and befriend Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan. Although "Saturate" had the occasional lighter musical touch, "We Are Not Alone" find the BB's really getting into the dynamics of recording. Even the rocking first single "So Cold" shows that they have figured out how to use the studio as an instrument. It still rips like a locomotive, but has a solid sense of texture. So does "Breakdown," which rocks hard but also includes a seriously catchy chorus.

Most indicative of this band's growth are "Forget It" and "Rain." Two of the songs co-written by Corgan, they are the ballads that find lead singer Benjamin Burnley jettisoning his nu-metal growl and actually singing. (They're also 10 times better than anything on Corgan's over-hyped Zwan project.) It makes for a grandiose touch to "Rain" and makes "Forget It" sound like a hit single. It also helps guitar hero in the making Aaron Fink show off his range on both the electric to acoustic leads. Breaking Benjamin beat the sophomore jinx here, and remain a band to watch.

(...)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WANA - It rocks!, August 6, 2004

By	Cynthia Marie Roth (Bethlehem, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album is a prime example of what a band should be...dynamic and not static. With all four members of the band contributing to the music, with some help from Billy Corgan formerly of Smashing Pumpkins, you can hear the band coming into their own. While not as hard and edgy as their first album "Saturate", the melodic heaviness on WANA leaves the listener wanting more. There is certainly nothing lacking from album to album. It shows the true talent of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Ben Burnley as he explores new options in his vocal range. Aaron Fink shows off his writing ability in the hard driving "Believe". Jeremy Hummel and Markus James, drummer and bassist respectively, keep the bass section as a part of each song, not as a backdrop. The songs "Simple Design", "Breakdown" and "Away", the three other heaviest songs, speak for themselves. "Rain" and "Forget It", the two slow songs co-written by Corgan, show a unique sensitive side not normally associated with Breaking Benjamin. The remaining songs are "So Cold", "Follow", "Firefly", "Break My Fall" and "Sooner or Later" are all somewhere in between as far as decibal wise, but they are all amazing songs reflecting the band's showmanship. In fact, listening to "Saturate" and "WANA" back to back makes for interesting listening.