Shinedown "Amaryllis" Album Review

[Jimmy III Tears]

SHINEDOWN
"Amaryllis"
Released: 27 March 2012
Producer: Rob Cavallo

Shinedown returns with their long awaited 4th studio album, Amaryllis. They soared to levels of success never before achieved with their last album, 2008's The Sound Of Madness, which produced a string of singles. Will their 4h effort match up to that?


The album starts out with the track ADRENALINE, which is about starting fast at something, and not stopping. Vocalist Brent Smith's lower tone voice kicks in shortly after a drum-based intro. Smith gets into singing in the chorus, before going back to the low tone in the verses. A nice technical, fast picked guitar solo from Zack Myers in this one, something out of the ordinary for him.

The lead single is next, and it's called BULLY. A song for a nation of the downtrodden, the youth of today that feels the only way out is to end their own life. That's not the answer, Brent says in this one, as evidenced by the line "We don't have to take this, back against the wall." And it's basically about putting bullies in their place, and saying no one will be sad when they die because of what they've done to others. Drummer Barry Kerch is really the showcase of this one, until the solo, which sees another cascade up and down solo by Myers.

The title track of the album is next, called AMARYLLIS. Anyone remember "Second Chance"? I liken this to Second Chance. It's a slower song, acoustic-driven, with emotional, passionate, soft vocals throughout by Smith. There is a decent solo here, where Myers backs off the acoustic and gets into a little bit, before going right back to the acoustic base of the song.

Up next is UNITY. See above. Unity is such a good song, and I could see this and Amaryllis being singles before the cycle is done for this record. You can definitely hear Brent's passion in his vocals. He is definitely one of the best in the rock genre of this generation.

ENEMIES is next, and we're back to harder songs with this one. Brent is singing about no longer being "on the same page" with someone here after said person gets everything in life, yet is still unhappy and wants more. I liken this to the earlier track "Adrenaline with how Brent sings.

I'M NOT ALRIGHT follows, and the chorus is one of my favorite parts of this one. It makes me wanna jump up and down during it, haha. Brent really sings through this one, nothing over the top with holding lyrics out as some Shinedown songs have done. This is a sleeper of the album, in my eyes. A nice almost jazzy trumpet backing of this one makes it a real feel good song.

Afterwards is NOWHERE KIDS. Another harder song here, kind of reminds me of "Cry For Help" off The Sound Of Madness here. Fast paced intstrument work here, led by drummer Kerch. In the leadup to the chorus, the way Smith is singing reminds me a slight bit of how country legend David Allan Coe sings on the Rebel Meets Rebel track "Time". Albeit, not as deep of a voice, anytime you can be compared to a legend such as Coe, that's a good thing in my eyes.

Shinedown slows it back down on MIRACLE. Another acoustic-based intro here, with Brent taking spotlight with his vocals here. And the acoustic based playing of Myers really continues into the chorus, as this song really isn't a heavy one at all. The laid back drumming of Kerch polishes off what could be another radio-friendly single for the album.

I'LL FOLLOW YOU DOWN follows "Miracle" with staying a slower tempo. An unusual song here, as this one is really piano based, with Smith singing over nice piano work by Jamie Muhoberac. Some violins, celli, and other big band instruments really add a beautiful touch to a great song.

Up next is FOR MY SAKE. Myers' work is good on the intro, before backing off and Smith takes lead with his singing. More pasionate vocals in the chorus, which is really a strong point of all Shinedown records. This album just further cements Brent's place as one of the better vocalists of this generation.

Next to last is called MY NAME [WEARING ME OUT] and this one is one of the more aggressive of last few of the album, because of how the music starts slow, and really low, with Smith coming over top with a low tone in his singing. The chorus kicks in fast paced with Kerch's playing, that basically leads the song.

And to close off the album, the song called THROUGH THE GHOST is the slowest song of the 12. Beautiful intstrumentals by violins, celli, upright bass, and violas lead this one with empassioned vocals by Smith, and a very deliberate acoustic picked guitar part by Myers.


OVERALL: This is a worthwhile follow up to The Sound Of Madness. And while it doesn't quite reach the levels of TSOM to me, it's still their 2nd best album, topping the debut "Leave A Whisper" and sophomore effort "Us & Them". My favorite tracks are Amaryllis, Unity, I'm Not Alright, and Bully. My sleeper picks are I'm Not Alright, and Through The Ghost. And if I had to pick one, the low point of the album would have to be For My Sake.

RATING: 8.5/10. I'd recommend giving this one a listen.