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It is with great pleasure that I introduce Shinedown as February's Band of the Month. A currently four man band from Florida, Shinedown has quite recently released their 3rd complete album; "The Sound of Maddness". Naturally, an excelent collection of music. However, I really take a strong dislike to how some of the album's songs are played on the radio as "Top Twenty's". There is no easier way to tire of something than to hear it EVERYWHERE. It really takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the music.

For the most part, Shinedown has a modern rock based sound that may even lean towards the heavier side. However, they do vary their music through the introduction of some slightly slower and "poppier" songs that really work in spreading over just who likes their music. I find that main vocalist, Brent Smith often sounds just a little bit like Fuel, though I'm probably just imagining it!

I was introduced to this band approxamatly 4 years ago, When a previous friend of mine sent me a little email telling me that if I didn't click the link below, she would make an attemp to sneak through my window and slit my throat while I sleep. Needless to say, I was pursuaded! However, I was not expecting to be introduced to a band that would later change my life for the better.

Over the past few years, Ive found myself in a lot of really difficult situations, which I am now sure that I never would have gotten through in one piece without Shinedown. Whenever I was feeling particularly down or alone, I would give them a listen and suddenly, I was okay! I could relate to everything that Brent refered to in his lyrics. It felt like I had a friend, someone who could really understand how I was feeling about my life. In time, it got to a point where I began seeing the world through different, more understanding and mature eyes. Everything that was going on around me started to make sense. All the anger and hard feelings that I made my home in were suddenly becoming recognizable demons that if I really wanted to, I could slay. So with some help from many large amounts of listening to whichever Shinedown songs my iPod decided to crank out, I suppose I got through it all.

Again, this month I'm presenting Shinedown - not because I found and liked them, or because I find their music particularly admirable; but because I believe that as this is my very first Band of the Month, I think I should be going with a group that holds importance to me.

I often find that Shinedown's music holds a dark edge that can only be heard in some genres of music. Unfortunatly, this causes some of their music to sound awfully simalar. They do have many songs that sound quite original and fresh as opposed to the others, but there will always be that "Havn't I heard this before?" type of aspect.

Even after this is counted, Brent's lyrics always remain interesting and unique, even if the instrumentals are very simalar. He uses an extremely advanced selection dialouge where many other musical artists may use a dull, and painfully uninventive choice of words in their work. After listening to some of their music, I'm sure you'll agree with me that Shinedown is not a band at which to turn up your nose.

Linzy's list of five Shinedown songs you should go check out right now:

1) Crying Out
2) Trade Yourself In
3) What a Shame
4) Carried Away
5) Beyond The Sun

Shinedown is one of those bands that I've known of for quite some time (because of, like many other of the bands that I know of, our very own darling Caity). I don't know too much by them, but I know I like what I know. Songs like Burning Bright, I Dare You, and .45 are the ones that I know that are near and dear to my heart.

But that's old Shinedown. So to give you a real opinion on what I think, right this very second, I'm waiting for their MySpace page to load so I can hear some new stuff!

The first song that's playing is "If You Only Knew", and yup, that's definitely Shinedown. They have a very distinct sound, and It's nice to hear that it hasn't changed all that much. "Devour" is on now, and I really like this one. It's fast and catchy and I'm bopping my head along with it.

I like the sound of all the songs on their MySpace, so yes, I can still safely say that give Shinedown a shot. They have a couple of very distinct sounds, but they all sound like Shinedown. So if you don't like one of their faster songs, try finding some of their slower stuff, and you may like that.

But like I say every month, just give them a listen. That's the only way you'll ever find out whether or not you like a band! (But these guys get a recommendation from me!)

So apparently it's February. Fells like last week I was writing about Melee. With a new month comes a new band, and a band that is still pretty new to me.

I first heard Shinedown when Caity. Manda and myself headed to New Jersey for Bamboozle last May. Caity had 'Burning Bright' on a cd that she had on in the car and -Okay wait, I just read Docs and I feel like an idiot because I honestly had NO idea Shinedown is played on the radio. I don't listen to the radio ever...like ever. And if I do it's the 'Friday night 80's', 'Saturday night 70's' or 'Sunday morning oldies.' on MAJIC 100 in Ottawa when I'm at my moms place. My bad! Sorry Shinedown!

Well, since I had no idea they were on the radio, I am still able to listen to 'Second Chance,' even though I overplay it quite a bit. But like Caity pointed out, Shinedown has a way with lyrics and I find Second Chance to be a very powerful song. (Side note, anyone else think lead vocalist Brent Smith sounds a little tiny bit like Elton John, just a lot heavier? Believe me, Brent, that is no insult in the slightest. At least not from this girl.) I do enjoy their more ballad-y sounding stuff, but I also agree with Doc. Their harder, more metal sounding stuff is really great.

I have no reason to believe Shinedown doesn't put on a good show. In fact, I remember Caity telling me about it when I first asked her who was on the CD she was playing. I would without a doubt jump at the chance to see them

I strongly recommend giving them a listen, if you haven't - Apparently they're on the radio!!!

Shinedown and I have a love/hate relationship. As in, I love them, but hate the fact that their ballad-y songs get played to death on the radio. Remember last summer's "second chance?" Yeah, the repeat play of that made me want to bang my head against the wall.

If you had the same experience as me with the overplay of "second chance" or "if you only knew" don't write Shinedown off that quickly. Their harder, more metal sound material is really, really good. I hadn't heard some of it before Linsey introduced this month's band, so I jumped over to their myspace and just jammed out (after I got past the overplayed songs.) My favorites based on the myspace are "devour" and "sound of madness," both from their most recent release, The Sound of Madness.

As Caity says, Shinedown is most definitely the elusive entire package. I'm discovering that the songs that I've loved and jammed out to in my car when I've heard them on the radio are actually by Shinedown. The only other band I've had that experience with is Guster. And you all know how much I love Guster.

So, after this rambling adoration for Shinedown, please, please, please go see them live. They are currently touring the US, and will be jumping between Canada and the US in April and May (Toronto show April 8th!) While I haven't seen them live, if they were coming anywhere near me, I would drop everything to go see them (similar to the We The Kings roadtrip with Caity.) Go see them.

Oh Shinedown... you've been so good, and so cruel to me. We have one of those relationships where my friends keep telling me I'm better off without you... but those who know us... TRULY know us... they know we're good together.

Okay readers, here it is: Shinedown is awesome. I mean, Shinedown is freaking AWESOME. They've got the entire package, killer lyrics, amazing vocals, songs that literally force you to sing along at the top of your lungs... and above and beyond that, passion. The first time I saw Shinedown play was with my roommate Samantha in Chicago 4 years ago. Shinedown and Seether together... it was amazing. I had never seen Shinedown before, and I had only casually heard them before, so I was excited to get to see how their live show stacked up.

Oh. My. God. Shinedown was phenomenal live. I mean... they killed it! Singer Brent Smith is unlike any vocalist I've ever seen live, he cares so so much about what he's doing, and it comes across in every movement, every note, and every breath he took on stage. It was an amazing evening.

Other times that I've seen Shinedown, they've been just as amazing on stage, it's just that sometimes they get me beat up by seriously drunk, redneck Pro-Wrestling fans... that's all I'm saying.

You will be doing yourself a grave disservice if you don't check out Shinedown, and if you enjoy what you hear on the record, it is in your best interest to find a live show near you and check out Shinedown in their natural habitat, on stage.