Shinedown: Amaryllis

"No one needs you after all

That little social scene

It’s just a hate machine

No one’s here to take your call

And now your self esteem

Ain’t what it used to be

You’ve inspired

The birth of ignorance

The death of innocence

Guess who’s back and mad as hell

The nowhere kids that wished you well

Nowhere!

Kids

Nowhere!

Kids

Nowhere!"

Label(s): Atlantic (US), Roadrunner (International)

Genre(s): Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Post-Grunge

Year: 2012

Track List:

1. Adrenaline

2. Bully

3. Amaryllis

4. Unity

5. Enemies

6. I'm Not Alright

7. Nowhere Kids

8. Miracle

9. I'll Follow You

10. For My Sake

11. My Name (Wearing Me Out)

12. Though the Ghost

Quite possibly one of the best things to come out of Florida, Shinedown hails from Jacksonville. They're sound is a force to be reckoned with and they're live shows are something to behold. I've never personally seen Shinedown live, but from the people that I know who have, they've told me that it's an experience they won't soon be forgetting. Shinedown always goes above and beyond the call in order to make they're fans happy. Because, let's face it, in the music industry, if the fan's aren't happy, nobody is happy.

Shinedown has had major success in the WWE Universe, having songs such as "I Dare You", "Adrenaline", "Sound of Madness", "Energy" and "Devour" have all been used in one way or another by the sports entertainment giant, with the song "Energy" being used as the show's newest theme.

I heard Shinedown several years ago with the song "Devour". If I remember right, it was another stumble find for me. But ever since, Shinedown has been one of my favorite "generic rock" groups I listen to. The sound, the passion, everything about this band screams "for the fans!". And the fourth record, "Amaryllis", is no exception.

From start to finish, this record hits hard and plays harder. With a couple of breaks into power ballads such as "Unity", "Miracle" and "Amaryllis", this record has a little bit of something for everyone. But if the power ballads aren't your thing, they've got some harder songs for you such as "Bully", "Adrenaline", "Nowhere Kids" and "Enemies" to name a few.

Overall, this album is a must have for your collection. Unless you are a die hard metal fan, then, well, I got nothing for ya. At least, not yet. But to put this album in a nutshell, I would have to say what I've been saying: Hits Hard, Plays Harder.

Shinedown's "Amaryllis" gets a 9.8/10. Why? "I'll Follow You". Not my favorite Shinedown song on this record...But it got a great score, so no reason to complain.

As always, I'm your host, M. Watts. Keep Rockin'!

Thousand Foot Krutch: The End Is Where We Begin

"We are the ones, we are the guns

And we will ride, we are the voice of a song unsung

We are the change, we are the chains that hold us

We are the choice, we are the strong

We are one"

Label: Independent

Genre(s): Hard Rock, Nu Metal, Alternative Metal, Christian Metal, Rapcore

Year: 2012

Track List:

1. The Introduction

2. We Are

3. Light Up the Sky

4. The End Is Where We Begin

5. Let the Sparks Fly

6. I Get Wicked

7. Be Somebody

8. This Is a Warning (Intro)

9. Courtesy Call

10. War of Change

11. Down

12. All I Need to Know

13. Fly on the Wall

14. So Far Gone

15. Outroduction

Where the heck have I been? Well, let's just say life got in the way and this became less of a priority. But, seeing that I have nothing going on today, I figure I might as well make a post. 

And what better post than for one of my favorite albums of the year?

The band is TFK, Thousand Foot Krutch. The album is "The End Is Where We Begin". I'm M. Watts, and this is Musicville U.S.A.!

Formed in 1995 in Canada under the name "Oddball", Thousand Foot Krutch is a christian metal group who has grown in popularity over the years. Recently the song "War of Change" was featured in the Pay-Per-View event WWE: Over The Limit 2012 as the official theme song for the event. In regard to the record, vocalist Trevor McNevan said:

"the record is some of the heaviest stuff we've done and some of the lightest". I couldn't agree more. This record is heavy from start to finish. When I first caught wind of it, I was a little hesitant of it.

Why? A simple question that deserves a simple answer: I don't like rap metal. But with the opening song, "We Are", I was hooked from first listen. I couldn't stop the record from playing and listened to it in its entirety the first day I got it. After listening, this album shot up into the Top 5 of my favorite albums of the year (a list I will be releasing closer to around Christmas time probably). 

As far as sells for TEIWWB, it bebuted at No. 14 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 23,000 copies. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

I think one of my favorite things about this albums is how bass heavy it is. I've always loved having bass heavy music, and this record is no exception. As for my favorite tracks, I would have to say "Yes". I love every song on this record. Another thing I like about this record is that it is completely fan made. What I mean by that is people had to donate to TFK in order for this record to be made. To me, that shows you just how loyal your fans are when that happens.

Now for the rating!

TFK's The End Is Where We Begin gets a 9.7/10. While I do love every song on this record, I don't really care much for the track "This Is A Warning". Other than that, awesome record.

As always, I'm your host, M. Watts. Keep Rockin'!