On We Are Not Alone, Breaking Benjamin's sophomore effort for Hollywood, the Philadelphia quartet still enjoys coursing the downcast dynamics and dour cerebrals of early Tool through post-grunge's more accessible melodics. Vocalist/guitarist Ben Burnley channels Maynard James Keenan throughout "So Cold" and "Simple Design," and fills their shadows with scary roars. But the choruses are as uplifting and hopeful as anything from 3 Doors Down, and the latter even features a quiet acoustic interlude. It's this baiting of the darker mental animal while realizing the power of a cool hard rock riff that drives We Are Not Alone. "Why am I so pathetic?" asks Burnley in "Sooner or Later." "Help me break my conscience in," goes "Break My Fall," "To free us from our innocence." Both cuts stick to the familiar formula of introducing huge chords before dwelling on the personal struggle in the verses, only to surge toward hopeful choruses. In this, Breaking Benjamin is quite capable. They understand that it can't be all gloom and doom all the time -- that the people need some light at the end of the tunnel. Alone's choruses offer that urgency throughout, but "Forget It" takes it to heart. With its whispering synthesizers, layered guitar effects (Billy Corgan guests), and filtered harmonies, the cut is a warm departure from the album's bruised push forward. We Are Not Alone has its moments of genre-aping filler, and Burnley's delivery does at times seem forced -- he just sounds so much like his peers. But We Are Not Alone is still a solid second effort, with plenty of appeal for fans of groups like Crossfade, Default, and Smile Empty Soul.
This song takes me back, to a field problem we had back in Feburary of 2005. We had roving guard in three hour shifts and it was cold as fuck. I would walk around with my mp3 player in one ear(which I just happened to buy for one week and then return to the store, a little trick I have picked up) and listen to this song along with Muse's "Hysteria" and "Time Is Running out", over and over. F...
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I don't think I'll ever be putting this CD out of my reach for the next couple of years...//Rob//
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This song takes me back, to a field problem we had back in Feburary of 2005. We had roving guard in three hour shifts and it was cold as fuck. I would walk around with my mp3 player in one ear(which I just happened to buy for one week and then return to the store, a little trick I have picked up) and listen to this song along with Muse's "Hysteria" and "Time Is Running out", over and over. F...
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Take a photograph,It'll be the last,Not a dollar or a crowd could ever keep me here,I don't have a pastI just have a chance,Not a family or honest plea remains to say,Rain rain go away,Come again another day,All the world is waiting for the sun.Is it you I want,Or just the notionOf a heart to wrap around so I can find my way aroundSafe to say from here,You're getting closer now,We are never sad...
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The lighter kind of Papa Roach's song Last Resort. Melancholy but same old Breaking Benjamin.
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I don't think I'll ever be putting this CD out of my reach for the next couple of years...//Rob//
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 So Cold |
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| 2 Simple Design |
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| 3 Follow |
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| 4 Firefly |
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| 5 Break My Fall |
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| 6 Forget It |
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| 7 Sooner or Later |
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| 8 Breakdown |
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| 9 Away |
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| 10 Believe |
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| 11 Rain |
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| 12 Rain [Alternate Version] |
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 "We Are Not Alone")
