Shinedown - Us and Them

[Tryxx]

Whenever I first started listening to this album I was relatively unimpressed. It seemed a bit more generic than the first. I didn't feel it brought as much to the table as the first concerning the context of the music and the sound. Indeed, I thought it sounded like some strange hybridge of Audioslave/Muse. Not that those are generic bands by any means, but the album at first seemed first.

That said, now that I've listened to it in it's entirety several times my opinion is changing. I'm opening up a bit more to it. I'm starting to like the new feel of the music and the new direction it seems to be taking. "Tasteful" seems the word to use. From the guitar solo on "Save Me" to the acoustic and violin part on "Shed Some Light" it's just getting better. It's not the same, but I'm starting to like it.

Are there any other comparison opinions of this album to the first?

[Mr. M, Man of Muzak]

I think the first album was great. I downloaded Us and Them, but I found it to be pretty mediocre. I have already deleted it from my computer :-/

[Tryxx]

That's what happened at first to me, but I'm starting to get into it, just took time.

[Jom]

It's an alright album, nothing spectacular, but Shinedown do the rock-and-roll thing pretty well, for what it's worth. "Lady So Divine" is probably my favorite track, even though the solos and interludes are a bit tedious.

[Britton]

Shine down is pretty cool

I don't have anything just what I here on the radio

[Tryxx]

It's an alright album, nothing spectacular, but Shinedown do the rock-and-roll thing pretty well, for what it's worth. "Lady So Divine" is probably my favorite track, even though the solos and interludes are a bit tedious.

I don't know why I didn't notice it before, but it sounds like the bass on that track is fretless. That just scored major points in my book. :thumb:

[ween2424]

Whenever I first started listening to this album I was relatively unimpressed. It seemed a bit more generic than the first. I didn't feel it brought as much to the table as the first concerning the context of the music and the sound. Indeed, I thought it sounded like some strange hybridge of Audioslave/Muse. Not that those are generic bands by any means, but the album at first seemed first.

That said, now that I've listened to it in it's entirety several times my opinion is changing. I'm opening up a bit more to it. I'm starting to like the new feel of the music and the new direction it seems to be taking. "Tasteful" seems the word to use. From the guitar solo on "Save Me" to the acoustic and violin part on "Shed Some Light" it's just getting better. It's not the same, but I'm starting to like it.

Are there any other comparison opinions of this album to the first?
If you were to take Brent Smith out of the recording of Leave A Whisper, it would have been the epitome of generic modern rock. Us And Them, on the other hand, is not. The instrumentalism, vocals, lyrics, and blend of styles makes it way better than their debut IMO. My favorite tracks would be "Heroes", "Your Majesty", "Trade Yourself In", and my very favorite "Atmosphere"

Brent Smith is an incredible vocalist. He has that Chris Cornell sound to his voice, but it's much cleaner sounding. You can tell there is a Soundgarden influence on the new album. Their style has got so much groovier, and that's the kind of thing I'm into.