For my creative writing class, i was assigned to review anything of my choice. So it was only necessary that i picked my favorite album of all time, Amaryllis by Shinedown. This here is my review, transferred from a word document off my computer straight to this here blog page from my phone. Please do enjoy, and without further ado, Aub takes on Amaryllis!
Amaryllis; how the name of beauty and grace correlates to rock n roll heroes, Shinedown.
In 2003, hard rock outfit Shinedown confronted the scene with something to prove. Stemming from Jacksonville, Florida, Shinedown graced the southern lands with their musical ability far before they showcased their once in a generation talent to the rest of the world. With now seven studio albums released, their discography is packed to the brim with hard hitting rock, twisted with a serene strand of ballads and meaningful messages. Within this once in a lifetime sort of repertoire, a singular album stands alone, enough to make a lasting impression still 11 years after its release. Amaryllis is the fourth studio album released by Shinedown, and by far a standout in their incredibly curated lineup of music material.
From the brittle chill to the soft of spring; transitioning from The Sound of Madness era to the Amaryllis era.
Released on March 27th, 2012, Amaryllis sent shockwaves throughout Shinedown’s incredibly loyal and impenetrable fan base. Before March of 2012, the world had been left with a tough taste in their mouth, something resembling the feeling of pop rocks and the scratch of gravel, by their third studio album, The Sound of Madness. The Sound of Madness broke high records for the guys of Shinedown (lead singer Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Myers, bassist Eric Bass, drummer Barry Kerch) and placed them at the top of the rock hierarchy. The album spawned hit singles, classics regarded in the realm of the hard rock resurgence of the 2000’s, and fame to their names beyond anything they may have known before. It’s a flawless album, from start to finish, you’re enveloped in the story of it, sung to perfection by lead singer, Brent Smith. So, the question arises; how does Shinedown take the dark and jaded image they’ve tied with TSOM, and form it into something, almost delicate, with the Amaryllis album. In the pivotal years of TSOM era, Brent Smith had battled his weight and inner demons. When the band took their respective breaks after touring for the album was complete, on an instagram live video, guitarist Zach Myers had said he did not see Brent for many months. Smith had been taking the time to build back up everything he’d lost for himself. Myers goes on to say that when Smith showed back up at his door months after having not seen him, he looked like an entirely different person. Shredded, lean, and ready to work. The work effort and A-game had only grown stronger within Smith and had come to a powerful creative front. He was ready to step into the highest version of himself and his musical abilities.
Intricacy, like the petals on a flower, placed in deliberate order; The makeup of the Amaryllis album.
I believe, the main reason that the Amaryllis album resonates so deeply with not only myself, but the millions of other Shinedown fans out there, is that it’s a message of hope. It signifies rebirth, growth, and a journey to discovering your true potential; an overall lyrically riveting piece of work. It captures the hard rock essence of who they each are as individuals, while all the while capturing the story of a flower blooming in an ever-changing world. Said flower being a sort of symbolism for the listener changing throughout their own life. Throughout the album, the passion of vocalist Brent Smith rings through like a church bell. This is his story; his fight to have gotten where he is. The troubles and the strifes he’s faced. And not only him, but Zach, Barry and Eric as well. The album begins with the in-your-face anthem that is Adrenaline. They take us back to their harder rock roots here, with a mix of a pop elemental style in the production, with the guitar and drum work especially. This trend continues throughout the second song, titled Bully, the lead single off the album and ultimately a huge hit for the band. Bully features clever lyrical ability, a strong bass line from bassist Eric Bass, and a message of power and triumph, with a sense of unity intertwined, to address the message of bullying. Slot three belongs to the title track, Amaryllis. This overall beautifully timed and written song grabs you and doesn’t let go. It is accompanied by wistful guitars and strings, and a message of inner strength. The fourth track on this album, titled Unity, has cemented its spot in the Shinedown concert set list. After having seen the guys of Shinedown live twice now, Unity is a not only a crowd favorite, but produces an actual sense of unity between the crowd and band whenever its performed. “Put your hands in the air/if you hear me out there/I’ve been looking for you day and night” as hands across the arena shoot into the air and form a view for all. In an ever changing world of their music, Unity holds its own and is personal to all who hear it. While featuring strong drumming from drummer Barry Kerch and compelling lyrics, Unity is able to make a lasting impression among the many other pieces of work put out by Shinedown. After the slower, softer feel to tracks 3 & 4, we are brought back to where we started; hard hitting rock. Enemies, a personal favorite, and an incredibly strong addition to this album, is the punch to the face you’ve been dying to be hit by. It’s unnervingly hard hitting; all the while being strangely satisfying in the sense of the beat and breakdown. I’m Not Alright follows, and don’t be fooled by the high praise Enemies received; what’s next is just as good. I’m Not Alright takes it up a notch in an entirely different direction. It’s whimsical essence will have you feeling as if the weather is no less than 85 degrees and sunny. Once again, lead singer Brent Smith sings it to faultlessness, soaring over notes, plus brass and string instruments in the wide array of musicality on this tune. Nowhere Kids is next, and it’s what you’ve been waiting for. The intense fast paced makeup of Nowhere Kids will have you on the edge of your seat. “Guess who’s back and mad as hell/the nowhere kids that wished you well”. “The new face of an old distraction/another victim with the same reaction/a catastrophic contradiction at best/I know you’re hanging onto zeros ‘cause you’ve got nothing left”. Miracle keeps the album moving with its beautiful vocal essence from Smith, and as always, wonderfully written lyrics that convey a strong sense of feeling and a message for the ages. Miracle features great string work from guitarist Zach Myers and a powerfully crafted beat from drummer Barry Kerch. Cruising forward is I’ll Follow You, an insane hit for the band and possibly their most popular love ballad. This piece of the album features beautiful backing vocals and an overall everlasting feeling of love. “I’ll follow you down to where forever lies/without a doubt, I’m on your side/there’s nowhere else that I would rather be/I’m not about to compromise/give you up to say goodbye/I’ll guide you through the deep/I’ll keep you close to me”. I’ll Follow You goes through the story of a passion so deep; you’ll be feeling the story for yourself even having never experienced such a love. Just as you’re feeling hit in the heart from I’ll Follow You, For My sake takes an entirely different route, one that has yet to be seen on this album from the previous tracks. If you thought the songs before were well written, For My Sake has you in for an even bigger surprise with just how intricately crafted the story is here; how well the lyrics weave together to create something magical. “Maybe the sun that wouldn’t shine should be taking the blame”. It seems as if we always would like to place blame on anything other than ourselves, therefore things as minuscule as the sunshine seem fit enough to take the weight. “let’s be honest/your promise/was never meant to last/so I’m taking you on/I’m calling you out/there’s nothing left for us here now/let’s be honest/I promise/I’m never looking back for my sake”. This latter half of the chorus is the center of the song and the backbone of what it really is; for my sake, I can’t go back. I can’t look back. I can’t even think about any way that isn’t forward. “Tell me something that’s poetic at best/make me believe there was a time you weren’t like the rest/and I’ll never ask you again/and I’ll never ask you again/for all the moments and the memories/no one could ever say we never had a history/but I’m leaving that all behind/and there’s nothing gonna change my mind”. This singular chunk of lyricism is one that I believe is some of the strongest of the Shinedown discography. The story of this broken relationship, the feeling of knowing there’s so much baggage but in order to unpack it all would cause too much distress. You have to just pull yourself together and tell yourself that it’s for your sake; it’s for your well being, you can’t look back. That’s what For My Sake predominantly follows; a shattered heart and a newfound desire to move on. That, for my sake, I can’t keep letting you hold me back. After For My Sake, My Name (wearing me out) follows with a different kind of attitude, a very intense buildup to the first verse which ultimately kicks in with fast paced guitars and drumming. “you’re the fake fallen force of nature’s sick mind”. My Name is a story of taking back what’s yours. Instead of letting the outside sources have you, you take it all back. You retract anything that’s been given and put it back into your name. It’s the last fast paced song of the album before we transcend into the final track that is Through The Ghost. Through The Ghost is a beautifully haunting edition to the Amaryllis album, and the 12th and final track. It’s a very moving piece, with a singular acoustic guitar and a whimsical blend of strings and light bells. For the final track, Shinedown usually closes their albums with a lasting message behind a ballad- and Through The Ghost does it wonderfully. “The world will never know you like I do”.
From dandelions in the summer sky to a dream in your eyes and a smile on your face; Amaryllis and my final thoughts and opinions.
Alas, we reach the end, and the impression Amaryllis leaves starts to unleash itself into your mind, body, and soul. You don’t just leave with a light feeling in your heart, but an emotion which resembles that of carefree joy. In just 44 minutes and 15 seconds, you’ve been changed. Whether you know it or not, whether you can feel the mechanics of it all working deep within your mind or not, it’s there. Just like the flower itself, something has bloomed within you, and it’ll take a strong force of nature to eradicate it. This album of being at the strongest point in your life, of an awfully strong sweetness, of a rock n roll band tapping deep into what’s possible, is something that cannot be described as anything but cathartic. In the words of Shinedown, in regard to their stunning fourth studio album, don’t be delicate; be vast and brilliant.
