Song Of The Week: 3/23/14

Song: "Something Like Me"

Artist: Staind

Album: "The Illusion Of Progress" (Japan version & Itunes Deluxe Edition)

Year: 2008



"Something Like Me" is a song that was written by Staind vocalist Aaron Lewis and was written about his two daughters. Basically, it's about the unconditional love they show their father and he's sometimes in disbelief that anyone could love him this way. It's that love they show that gives him his strength and gives him a sense of what life is really about. Staind formed as a band back in 1994, hailing from western Massachusetts. At first, Staind was nothing more than a cover band, playing songs from Pantera, Alice In Chains and Tool, but eventually they began to write their own material and in 1996, they released their debut album "Tormented", a really dark and heavy album that showed influences from bands such as Pantera and Machine Head. In 1999, the band signed with Flip Records and released their second album, "Dysfunction". This album was co-produced by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst. Six months after it's release, the album peaked at #1 on Billboard's Heatseaker chart, thanks in part to the singles "Just Go", "Mudshovel" and "Home". 2001 was a major breakthrough for the band and it's release, "Break The Cycle". This album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, featuring the singles "It's Been Awhile", "Fade", "Outside", "For You" and "Epiphany". "Break The Cycle" has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, making it Staind's most successful album to date. 2003 saw the band release "14 Shades Of Grey". This album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, but it also marked Staind's most mainstream album to date, as heard from the singles "Price To Play", "So Far Away", "How About You" and "Zoe Jane". In 2005, the band released "Chapter V". Thanks in part to the singles "Right Here", "Falling", "Everything Changes" and "King Of All Excuses", this album would go on to be certified platinum. In 2006, Staind released a greatest hits collection called "The Singles: 1996-2006. This album featured all of the band's hits as well as three live acoustic performances of Tool's "Sober", Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and Alice In Chains' "Nutshell". In 2008, Staind released their sixth album, "The Illusion Of Progress", featuring the singles "Believe", "The Way I Am" and "This Is It". Further cementing the band's move towards the mainstream, Staind did tours with both Nickleback and Creed, a move they may not have made back in the "Tormented", "Dysfunction" and "Break The Cycle" era of the band. Thankfully, in 2011, with the release of "Staind" marked a return to their heavier roots, a welcome return in my view. This more aggressive style is definitely heard in songs like "Not Again" and "Eyes Wide Open". By 2012, the band decided to take a bit of a hiatus. They had pumped out new albums almost every two years and decided they needed a little break. Lewis took this time to focus on his solo material, which was geared towards country music. Currently, after two years away from each other, Staind announced they would be playing a few festivals in 2014, including Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion and Rock On The Range. No word as of yet about any new material being in the works.