Staind’s sixth studio album may be titled The Illusion Of Progress, but there’s no mistaking just how far the band has come since the release of their major label debut less than a decade ago.
Look no further than the array of Staind “firsts” that earmark the new release: It’s the first album where guitarist Mike Mushok solos, as well as the first where he wrote and recorded on a standard guitar, rather than his customary baritone. Despite the band’s heralded run of ten Top 10 hits at radio – including four No. 1 singles – it’s the first time that they have recorded a song that they almost feel can be classified as a pop song, and it is also the first time that frontman Aaron Lewis has taken a political stance lyrically. On that same lyrical front, Mushok is proud to point out, with a laugh, that “consciously, I don’t think Aaron says the word ‘pain’ once throughout the record!”
Make no mistake, Lewis still feels the torment and anguish that, in many ways (and often unfairly), became Staind’s trademark as they rose to prominence to become one of the biggest rock bands of the new millennium, but The Illusion Of Progress boasts a lyrical maturity and songwriting aptitude matched only by the band’s musical depth and insatiable desire to get better and better with each release. “When you finish a record, you have to feel like it’s the best job you’ve ever done and they are the best songs you’ve ever written – if you don’t feel that way, then you didn’t do your job and your job isn’t done,” says Mushok. “We think this album is a big step for us. Both lyrically and musically, it’s a little bit of a departure.”
A departure maybe, but only in the sense that it propels Staind’s evolution to heights they have only hinted at on previous releases. While the humble Lewis readily admits that the lead single, “Believe,” is in line with everything fans have come to expect from Staind over the past decade, even he can’t deny the sense of optimism that shines through the track’s musical familiarity and vulnerability. “It’s definitely there,” he says of the album’s more upbeat lyrical tenor. “It’s a different timeframe in my life, and it is what it is.” Adds Mushok, “Aaron and the band have always taken a rap for being dark and gloomy, and it would be nice to try and get away from that – songs like ‘All I Want’ and ‘Believe’ are ways of doing that, hopefully.”
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more It turns denial into acceptance chaos to order, confussion to clarity It can turn a meal into a feast a house to a home, a stranger to a friend Gratitude makes sence of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow
Enjoy your holiday with the love of family and friends l
This is the time of year that we need to stop what we are doing and help those that are left alone for the Holidays, There are many suicides this time of year because people are lonely, this is not right and we all know this {makes ya fell kinda shitty huh?}, so I would like for you all to concentrate on someone you know will be alone and do something about it! Its not hard to help someone in need, you do it because you would want someone to do it for you! I also want to say if someone does you a good deed try and do as many as you can so it starts a ripple effect! I smile when I meet a cashier even if he/she is not happy and not smiling, when you speak with them on a human level then it speaks volumes about who you are and what your’re made of! I think maybe I should not babble on but just remember we all are not really much different than each other, we laugh, sing, love, dance, & share just like we are supposed to. We need to connect with each other a lot more and show what we are made of!!!!!!!!!!
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” With that I bid you adieu’ In Love, Light, & Laughter, Angell:ll aka Theresa
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, 'Do these turkeys get any bigger?'