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By GREG MAKI
Odd that the hits are not the main attraction on a disc with “The Singles” in its title. All of Staind’s best-known songs are here, including the breakthrough single “Mudshovel,” the acoustic “Family Values” version of “Outside” and the megahit “It’s Been Awhile.” Strangely, not every song here was a single (“Come Again” from the band’s independently-released debut, Tormented) and a pair of singles has been omitted (“Fade” from 2001’s Break the Cycle and “How About You” from 2003’s 14 Shades of Grey). The songs effectively illustrate Staind’s rise from a nu-metal act that got its break with help from Fred Durst to a hit-making hard rock machine. What they fail to do is show how the band returned to its more aggressive roots for much of its most recent effort, 2005’s Chapter V.
The appeal of this collection—and the reason why most Staind fans will want to add it to their libraries—is the handful of acoustic tracks recorded live earlier this year in New York City. Many of Staind’s biggest hits originated from Aaron Lewis and his acoustic guitar and the entire band is comfortable in this setting. After a rendition of Chapter V’s “Everything Changes,” we get a trio of covers acknowledging some of the band’s biggest influences: “Nutshell” by Alice in Chains, “Sober” by Tool and “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd. If you buy the disc at Best Buy, two more live acoustic tracks follow: “Schizophrenic Conversations” and “Reply,” both originally from Chapter V.
Like any band that has achieved a high level of success, altering its sound in the process, Staind has accumulated a fair number of detractors among metal/hard rock fans. The band that released Dysfunction is a thing of the past. More than anything else, this disc is a showcase for the talents of singer-songwriter Aaron Lewis. It may not feature all of Staind’s best songs, but the acoustic performances make it a must-own for Staind fans.
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