I've always kind of liked Staind, but from a distance. They are one of those buzz-rock bands, that are either hot or cold with me. I've bought a few of their releases over the years, but they are not a band I follow on a regular basis. I usually wait to hear something on Octane (Sirius/XM) before deciding whether or not to pluck down the money for the CD. To me, Staind fell into the same pattern, as so many of their contemporaries, by scoring it big with a ballad, and then going more commercial. The funny thing about this band, is that they can turn it up when they want to, but unfortunately they only get recognized for their more commercial material. That being said, the band has just released their first live CD, Live from the Mohegan Sun, which proves that they are more than just a pop band.
I got to say I was very impressed by this CD. The band comes off sounding aggressive and pissed off. This recording demonstrates just how heavy these guys can get. Also while listening, I realized just how much of their material I knew. I knew just about every song on the disk. Of course, all of the hits are there, and there are quite a few, but there are a few hidden gems included as well. The band sound well, which makes for a stellar live recording. I never thought I would say this prior to listening to the disk, but I cannot wait to see this one on DVD. They made me a believer.
Bottom Line: Staind showing that they can sound heavy, while still crossing over to the mainstream. A killer 16 songs set played to perfection.
-Ragman was surprised with this one.