CHAPTER V LIMITED EDITION
Staind 4 liFE | NY USA | 11/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok Guys this is one of the Best staind Discs that there is in the case it has all of the song lyrics for all of the staind Cd's TORMENTED CHAPTER I DYSFUNCTION CHAPTER II BREAKTHECYCLE CHAPTER III 14 SGADES OF GRAY 4 AND OF COURSE CHAPTER V this is amazeing Plus if you are a really big staind fan they have a bouns DVD that comes w; showing Life out side of the staind on the STAGE You Have to get this DISC STAIND 4 LIFE"
The best that Staind has to offer is here!
Petar Vodogaz | Sydney, NSW Australia | 01/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have purchased all of Staind's albums and am in the process of purchasing all their single's releases through Amazon.com. Staind is now number 2 behind Lifehouse as most listened to artist in my extensive musical library. 'Chapter V' is the limited edition CD with a bonus enhanced DVD. I will discuss both CD and DVD separately. Staind has been around since 1995 and in the decade since their birth they have matured as a band through experience and gaining wisdom in the cut-throat music industry. Aaron Lewis as the frontman/lead vocalist of this 4 man band has such a powerful and amazing voice. The song topics are excellent and based and rounded on today's societies issues and pains. Staind is J. Mysocki, A. Lewis, J. April & M Mushok.
The CD/DVD comes enclosed in a book version with a full written history of the band from 1995 to present. Also each page has thoughts from different members of the band and reasonings behind the songs as well as full song lyrics for all well-known Staind songs. The booklet covers the 5 CD releases as well as pictures from tours and live concerts and promotional materials and posters. This is truly amazing and I am in awe of this booklet.
Secondly the DVD is packed with bonus material that will make any devout Staind fan happy. I thoroughly enjoyed the DVD and it was lengthy and full of band trivia, and interviews with each member of the band individually as well as a group. The documentary went for a bit over 30 mins and shows the everyday life of the band and what they do for a living. It shows how each member has to make sacrifices on the tour road but also reveals how they love performing for the fans. The end of the documentary was very touching where it cut to Lewis at the back of one of the concert stage rooms and he thanked the fans for their loyalty and said this fighting back tears. Staind is a group that are still grounded and show loyalty to the fans. The DVD also shows a full video of 'Right Here' at one of the concerts in Boston. And live perfomances of 'It's Been Awhile' & 'Falling'. This DVD is a must for any Staind fan - it gave me a smile and made me realise how STAIND is such a wonderful group and only made me strengthen my support and love of the band.
The CD covers the 12 songs of 'Chapter V' including the hit singles 'Right Here' and 'Everything Changes'. For me the songs of 'Falling' and 'Cross To Bare' are my favourite songs of this album being sung at a highly emotional level by Aaron Lewis. However what stands out on this CD is the 5 bonus songs that are included. I was excited when I learnt of the bonus songs and listening to them I am not disappointed but very stoked. The bonus songs included 'Let It Out' a cover for Peter Gabriel's hit song, 'Novocaine' a rare song by Staind that was until now just a demo. 'Reply: Original Version' this song is better than the album version and quite different as well. I find listening to this song it has helped me clear my head and the song beat is soothing and yet vibrant. 'Its Been Awhile' is acoustically sung by Aaron Lewis who also does guitar. 'This Is Beetle' is also a rare song from demo stage that is acoustically driven. Excellent songs and I listen to these bonus songs regularly.
In summary, Staind has excelled again in another release with 'Chapter V' ensuring that this is just another brilliant stepping stone for this talented band. Long live Staind!"
Number Five is Alive
J. Miller | Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 | 12/29/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a big fan of today's rock, and Staind was one time one of my favorites. When I heard their first mainstream album "Dysfunction," I was mightily impressed. With my hopes high, I very much anticipated "Break the Cycle," and it was a decent album. Nothing spectacular. The rebound I hope for in "14 Shades of Grey" disappointed me so much I threw it away. That optimistic pish-posh is NOT Staind.
Enter "Chapter V"; though it is no "Dysfunction," the band is definitely back on track. It's not perfect, but the album has a solid to-hell-with-pop feel, and fans need to rejoice in this.
Song breakdown (out of 5 stars):
1. Run Away...3 stars... melodramatic and yet snappy. Slightly above average.
2. Right Here...4.5 stars... it's pop-oriented, yes, but I still think it's a song for the Staind fans who've stayed with them over the years. We're still "right here waiting."
3. Paper Jesus...3.5 stars... heavier (though no Lewis screams disappointed me), but "the reason for your anger" (chorus) is what all of Staind fans need of this band. I can see a lot of the new Staind fans hating this song. Kind of like "A Flat" from Dysfunction.
4. Schizophrenic Conversations... 5 stars... wow... Think of "Outside" paired with "Me" (from Dysfunction). About looking at two sides of a coin, and just how difficult it is.
5. Falling... 3.5 stars... the second single off the album, it's like "Fade" meets "Home." Good riffs - much like any track on Dysfunction - and a kickin' chorus, but the lyrics in between are a bit lacking.
6. Cross to Bear... 4 stars... heavier, chunkier. the salt to "Right Here"'s pepper, this is about leaving when things go awry (compared to the first single's waiting around).
7. Devil... 5 stars... my favorite song on the album. It's about two people who have reached their end, finding the other person at fault - they are the devil, and they know the other feels that. So sad, so intense. This song really twists off the cap and let's it loose, like Bush's "Alien" or Pearl Jam's "Jeremy."
8. Please... 5 stars... simply awesome. I think this will be the fan favorite from the album. It's about learning the faults of some one and getting disgusted with them; the chorus is "tell me please, who the f*** did you want me to be?"
9. Everything Changes... 3.5 stars... Acoustic, slow, but upbeat about a drab topic. Your typical Staind filler song. I think this will be the next single. It's good, just not as amazing as the two songs preceding this track.
10. Trippy / Take This... 2 stars... You'll like this if you need words to break up with your girlfriend/boyfriend, but it's far from "Trippy." Not a fan of this one. To blah.
11. King of All Excuses... 3.5 stars... A great grunge feel in the depths of this song. This type of song is the same thing as "Falling": good riffs, good chorus, terse lyrics in between.
12. Reply... 4.5 stars... I think this song is one of the best last songs I've heard on a CD. It's about a person who is making a lot of sacrifices for the other, but it's only "writing in vain." A solid track, but yet there's nothing spectacular about it - which is all a true Staind fan could ask."