Us and Them

A child's whispering voice in the opening song title ironically caught my attention and made me listen to the words this kid deftly spoke. "...and all the plastic people have now become your friends," set the tone for a deep, provocative group of tunes.

Lead vocalist Brent Smith and his gravely voice tear Save Me to pieces, making it a distinct high point of the album. I Dare You closely follows, tempting the listener to "...walk through fire" and "...call me a liar." Shinedown prove to their critics that they have the talent to produce a quality follow-up to their debut hit Leave a Whisper. The significance of each lyric is an acknowledgment they have produced something from the pit of their emotions and that what they scream is a genuine insight into Shinedown's pounding heartbeat.

Loud and bashful they do well, but with Shed Some Light they highlight they have the capabilities to spread their range in a meaningful and poignant way.

Shinedown's sound is maturing... and with some added time and assurance I have no doubt their light will shine bright for some time to come.