09:54 pm: STAIND CHAPTER V

Title: Chapter V
Release date: 9 August, 2005
Record label: Atlantic Records
Single: Right Here
Website: Staind

Tracklisting

1. Run Away            
2. Right Here            
3. Paper Jesus            
4. Schizophrenic Conversations            
5. Falling            
6. Cross to Bear            
7. Devil            
8. Please            
9. Everything Changes            
10. Trippy            
11. King of All Excuses            
12. Reply

In the ever-unfolding and expanding musical lives of multi-platinum Massachusetts-based band STAIND, CHAPTER V opens the book on a new phase of their journey. The 12-song album, produced by David Botrill (Tool, Godsmack) features the first single, the classic, mid-tempo and dynamic “Right Here,” as well standouts like the edgy, dark “Falling,” the poignant, retro-feeling “Schizophrenic Conversations,” and the soaring “Everything Changes.” CHAPTER V is Staind at their best, with songs ranging from forceful to quiet, from industrial-tinged to melodious, often within one song and with singer Aaron Lewis’ instantly recognizable voice heartfelt and fervent. Lyrically, Lewis isn’t afraid to look deep, and what he finds—the good, bad and ugly—is translated into soul-baring songs that he often agonizes over. “I’m my own worst critic,” Lewis admits. “The personal songs; it’s a way for me to get those things out, because I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying them to anyone. I’m pretty bad about being an internalist—I hold everything down and then explode. It’s better for everyone around me that I put that explosion down into lyrics rather than just exploding on somebody. “
As for where CHAPTER V fits into the band’s legacy, Lewis puts the CD into perspective: “It’s the fifth chapter of feelings in a six-year long book; a narrative of feelings. The title makes people go, ‘wait a second; Dysfunction, Break the Cycle, 14 Shades of Grey, Chapter V… that’s only four?’ So it will make people look for the fifth one.” (Which, for the record, is 1996’s independent release, TORMENTED.) On Chapter V, as on previous albums, Lewis says, “Lyrically, I always try to be as perfectly vague as possible. I mean, do you really want the director’s exact interpretation of what the movie is given to you?” That said, it’s clear that Lewis does lay bare his emotions, and on the album’s apt closer, “Reply,” those are feelings of thankfulness expressed to the band’s legions of faithful fans. In the song, Lewis sings, “So thank you for the letters that you thought you wrote in vain/And for the times you choose to stand out in the rain and wait for me…The life I live would never be the same, without you here.”

Many of those fans have been with Staind for more than 10 years. It’s been a decade since Staind played their first gig in February, 1995, and the ensuing years have been an escalating cycle of musical and personal growth and increasing success, without the accompanying blown-up egos that destroy so many bands. TORMENTED, Staind’s self-released debut, came out in 1996, and, playing the New England area over the next several years, the quartet came to the attention of Flip Records. DYSFUNCTION came out on the label in 1999, achieving platinum-plus status thanks to songs like “Just Go,” “Mudshovel” and “Home.” A cut on the FAMILY VALUES TOUR 1999 CD, “Outside,” became a #1 rock single, while a hit version also appeared on Staind’s next album, 2001’s BREAK THE CYCLE. That CD entered the Billboard Top 200 albums chart at #1 and has sold more than eight million albums to date. The songs “Fade,” “For You,” “Epiphany” and “It’s Been Awhile” from BREAK THE CYCLE made the band certified superstars, with “It’s Been Awhile” spending 16 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart. A gold-certified MTV Unplugged DVD followed in 2002, with 2003 seeing the release of the critically-acclaimed 14 SHADES OF GREY, a CD that was praised by the New York Post for its “intense, propulsive melodies” and lauded as a “slow-burn collection” with “staying power.” 14 SHADES OF GREY marked the band’s second #1 entry on the Billboard “Top 200 Album Chart.”

Staind felt 14 SHADES OF GREY was their high-water mark to date, but were ready for the challenge of beginning work on its follow up in 2004. Band co-founder MIKE MUSHOK found that the process of making Chapter V played into the album’s ultimate sound. “We did our last two records (BREAK THE CYCLE and 14 SHADES OF GREY) with producer Josh Abraham, and we were thrilled with them, but we felt it was time to change things up; maybe take it somewhere different and get a new outlook.”

MUSHOK continues, “There has been progression from record to record; some were greater than others, and I think this is one that has made a larger step. We were able to capture what we do better than we ever have before. We can still play more aggressive songs, yet softer and prettier stuff. The highs are higher, and on each song, I asked myself, ‘what can I do to make certain parts jump out, how can I add textures or layers that make me--and someone else--want to listen to it again?’ When you listen to it again, you’re like, ‘I never heard that little melody dancing around in the background! The first time, they’ll hear the riffs, then the lyrics and melody, but later, they’ll hear other things going on.”

Bassist JOHNNY APRIL also found that working with producer Botrill pushed the band to new sonic heights. “A song that would normally take me four hours took me a whole day with David--he was going for perfection,” recallls April. April feels the sound on Chapter V is “a touch brighter,” and is happy with the dozen songs on the CD, even though three stellar songs were cut from the album.

Like his bandmates, drummer JON WYSOCKI left no stone unturned while recording CHAPTER V. “I pushed a lot harder on this record with my playing. With technology, you can make anything sound good, but we don’t fall back on that. Bands with mediocre talent can sound good (with technology), but live is where you see if they have ‘it,’ so we rely on our own skills in the studio.” While he acknowledges that the music industry has changed over the life of the band, he says that Staind “remain true to what we do. This new record is where we’re all at right now as a band and as people.”

That being the case, a careful listen to CHAPTER V will reveal some of Lewis’ inner workings and current fascinations. Though he says it’s hard for him to grasp the fact that people hang on to his every word--and he takes that responsibility, but not himself, seriously--he is unafraid to write what he feels.

Staind is happy with the growth evinced on Chapter V, and while they know fans worship Tormented and Dysfunction, to mine similar musical or lyrical territory would be to regress, Lewis feels. “My life, up to a point was shit,” begins the frontman. “But I’ve come a long way. I grew up in a trailer park in Vermont. That was the shit I got out of me in Tormented and Dysfunction, and tailing into BREAK THE CYCLE. But the title, BREAK THE CYCLE, says it all.” Still, Lewis admits on Chapter V, as with every new record, he feels apprehension as the process begins: “The beginning of Chapter V I was feeling uninspired. But pressure helps me out. I set myself up to be under extreme duress. The only record we’ve ever done that I’ve been ready for was the first one.” But as the dozen songs on Chapter V bear out, the pressure certainly worked to the band’s advantage. In some ways, the song “Falling” sums up Lewis’ – and the band’s – development and current state of mind, as he sings, “the falling is easy, it’s getting back up that becomes the problem.” Lewis concludes: “I can’t keep talking about how easy it is to fall. Life is about getting back up and brushing yourself off after the fall.”

Members

AARON LEWIS – vocals
MIKE MUSHOK – guitar
JOHNNY APRIL – bass
JON WYSOCKI – drums

08:33 pm: Birthday Card

Happy Birthday
Doesn't seem like enough
To say to someone
Who means as much to me as you do...
Someone who floats
In and out of my thoughts
All day long
And shows up in my dreams
At night...
Someone who makes life
Exciting and unpredictable for me,
Who talks me into
Doing crazy things
That wouldn't be fun with anyone else.
I can't described the feeling I get
When I see you from a distance
With that smile of yours
On your face.
It's part excitement,
Part anticipation,
Part nervousness-
Sort of like a first date...
Anyway,
Back to this birthday thing...
Let me just say I love you
And that on this special day
When you were born,
I'm so very glad that you were!

Love Always,
Cara

01:03 pm: Okay so lastnight was great for me and my baby. I had finally given her a ring that we had seen at a zales in Baton Rouge. We were walking around the mall about a month b4 I gave it to her and we were walking around jewelry stores. Well we had went into Zales and she had spotted this ring, but for some reason didnt want me to get it for her. oh well her loss. Well that was like the chance in a lifetime because from there out the ring was out of stock everywhere...I mean no one had it. I had managed to buy it offline when it came back in stock for like 2 days...heh...good move. So from there on She kept telling me things about how she wish she would have got it...yadda yadda ya...and so on. Little did she know that I had this ring sitting on my dresser for a month. Anyway i had went by her house lastnight to spend the night and we were watching movies. Well while we were laying down I managed to slide the ring on my finger and hold it there. At this time she was hiding her head under a pillow and she kept looking at me and hiding her face. Well once she hid her face i told her to look again....she seen the ring on my finger but had to look a few times to make sure she wasnt seeing things. So then i slide the ring on her finger and got the hug of a lifetime. I had never had anyone hold me so close nor have i ever notice i made anyone that happy.

03:00 am: Okay well today was a great day...on my way to work today I just happened to be stopped a fucking state trooper...yay for him. The car next to me was driving alittle bit faster than me...so when the cop on the other side of the road turned on his lights...jumped the medium and then proceded to chase me down...I tried to slide in front the civic that was on side of me so that we would both be pulled over but that didnt work, the civic slowed down and the fucker pulled me over. Now let me tell you...I have never seen a cop write a ticket so fast in my life. Two minutes later I was back on my way to work with a ticket in my hand for doing 71 in a 55. I made it to work , where the day went pretty well. After work at 7pm...me phillip and tony went to go shoot pool and have a few beers. We drove to the treasure chest casino where we all won money...me making $350 off of nothing because I borrowed $100 off of tony. We then drove back to the Lucky Cue to get our cars because phillip drove. We had decided to play a few more games of pool. Well while I was waiting I slid a few bucks into the poker machine and hit 5 jacks....cashing out with $50...good night considering the day started off so shitty.

Peace out...

09:34 pm: Ok so as far as today has been its been shitty and someone what good and then just shitty again. I had to be at work this morning for 7am. Yes so I had to be awake at 6am then off to the Depot. Just fucking great...I spent my whole day with idiotic customers who call me and ask the most fucking annoying questions...one in which I still can not get over "Is the generator electric or gas?" Gimme a fucking break.....the key fact of a generator is to "generate" electricity...where do these people come from? Honestly....thats like asking if i need water to make ice....holy shit...not going there. Oh wait here's another one...

customer: "what does the generator run on?"
Me: "Gasoline"
customer: "where can I get gasoline from?"
Me: "At a gas station???"

At that point I kinda has this look on my face like..."you gotta be shitting me right?" But hey, customer service....held my cool...anyway the day moved on to me putting out 12 42" drum fans by myself...keep in mind its a pretty big fucking box...well they wouldn't fit into the machine we put our boxes into to be crushed...yeah...I had to cut the fuckers down one by one little by little..which i didnt finish...so then i finally got my lunch break 3 hours after I was suppost to take it. Wendy's never tasted so good....hahaha nuggets and a double stack with a large frosty. Pimptasticly good eating for a few bucks. Anyway...back from lunch then back to th boxes....dude i hate cardboard now...omg fuck cardboard! Okay its cool...got home and went to blockbuster...got Million Dollar Baby...and Hide and Seek...which i heard sucked but i still wanted to see it. No food in the fridge...had to go to my moms and get some frozen chicken and some rice and some peas and drool over the food as it cooked. I popped a beer in the fridge and never drank it. Besides that I barely talked to my baby today cuz she has been at work all day and then she had a few things to do at home and then oh...heh thats her on the phone now. Okay I'm out for now...peace...its like 9:20 and I'll just find something to do.

03:28 pm:

It was good to see my baby again. It had been almost a month since I last seen her. We have just been so busy in our own lives with work that it gets hard sometimes to see each other. Well we finally caught a chance to see one another. It was for only 2 days but it felt like forever. Heh...I like it when we hold one another...especially when we sleep. We both feel so safe in each others arms. I hope that every couple feels the same way about one another. Love, happiness, hope and trust is all you need in a relationship. Its like something I have always said...its the "little things" that count, a simple "hey how was your day," or "hey baby let me get that for you." I found someone to be with that makes me happy in everyway way someone can be happy. I feel that what I have is rare...I felt like my relationship evolved from a dream. Unexpected and perfect in everyway. Met...fell in love...kissed on the beach with the water rushing at our feet, held each other close at nightfall and awake to still see that the dream had become reality. I miss my baby every night....we only sleep well when we are with one another. Four months later it gets harder to say good-bye...but I'll see you soon...I promise. Love can't wait...

03:08 pm:

All I want is to love you for the rest of my life...
To wake up every morning with you by my side,
Knowing that no matter what happens,
I'll be able to come home to your loving arms.
All I want is to share everything with you...
To talk to you about ideas,
Our dreams, the little everyday things that make us laugh,
and the not-so-little things that we can't help worrying about.
All I want is to give you my love...
As a place you can always come to for acceptance
Or the simple comfort that silence brings
When things left unspoken can still be undestood.
All I want is to grow old with you...
To watch our life unfold, our dreams one by one, come true...
All I want is to love you forever.

--Renee Duvall

I love you too Cara!

Card given - 7-11-2005

02:57 pm:

I can't get you out of my mind.
I keep thinking about how much I enjoy talking to you,
How great you look when you smile, and much I like your laugh.
I daydream about you off and on all day,
Replaying pieces of our conversation...
laughing again about funny things you said or did.
I've memorized your face and the way you look at me...
It melts my heart every time i think about it.
And I catch myself smiling when I imagine what will happen,
The next time we are together.
You must be something really special,
Because i can't remember the last time
I felt so strongly about someone.
Even though neither of us knows what the future holds,
I know one thing for sure...
...you're one of the best things that's happened to me in a long time.

--Renee Duvall

I know this card expresses your feelings towards me, and I feel the same way you do...I love you Cara

Card given 4-21-05

02:30 am: Poems

Sitting here, bored as can be

Wishing you were here with me

To laugh, to hold, to kiss, to touch,

Baby you know I miss you much

Fall into my arms, and let me comfort you

Whether your happy or need to cry

Run to me, dont be shy

Here's where you belong

You should have know it all along

02:19 am:

I just want to take your pain away

The pain that i caused

You have no idea the way i feel

My life came to a sudden pause

You took yourself away from me

To a place where i cant go

To a place i cant be

Jealousy is the enemy

One in which i have fought with all my life

Please dont run from me

I've always had the best of intentions

Let me show you the person you miss

The person you once loved

Let me hold you in my arms and tell you things are going to be ok

Let me regain your trust so it can become better again

Let me regain your love

I want to be more than just your friend

I really loved you from the bottom of my heart

And also from the top

The thoughts of us never stop

Its like an on going slide show

Let me hold you while its raining on sunday

Ive given myself to you unconditionally

Things like me and you just dont happen everyday

I love you baby