ATTENTION ATTENTION, Shinedown’s sixth studio album will undoubtedly do just what the title suggests. Produced and mixed entirely in bassist Eric Bass’ studio in Charleston, S.C., the album is something brand new for the four piece band. “(ATTENTION ATTENTION) was completely different for us,” frontman Brent Smith said in an interview for iHeart Radio this past week. ” (It’s) not a traditional album: where you may write 60 to 100 songs and narrow it down to 10 or 12 then release for the world to hear.” Smith and the rest of Shinedown wanted to tell a story throughout the 14 song list. “There’s a rhyme and reason,” Smith explained. “There’s a beginning, middle and a finale to it all.”
ATTENTION ATTENTION is the full package; loud and intense, and also uplifting and encouraging. Taking a different approach; Shinedown takes their dedicated listeners with them inside the new album with a story. It’s an individual’s psychological journey; from their lowest of lows to their highest of highs.
With more and more people breaking the stigma of mental health these days, ATTENTION ATTENTION takes on Shinedown’s boldest chapter yet and takes the listener through the mind of anxieties, fears, doubts, and reconnection of the human spirit.
Released on May 4, Shinedown celebrated the album with Carolina Rebellion mixing tracks off ATTENTION ATTENTION that merged seamlessly with songs that fans have been jamming to for years. The record is a step in the right direction for the band. The quartet strikes a firm balance between the alt rock that they showcased early in their carrier and the radio-friendly direction that Threat To Survival took.
“Devil,” the energizing lead single kicking off ATTENTION ATTENTION hit No. 1 on the rock charts last week and soon after landed on the Spotify Global Viral 50 Chart. Surprising, yet not surprising. “Devil” has more than six million streams worldwide plus more than four million views on Youtube. ATTENTION ATTENTION follows suit of what Shinedown has been all about throughout their illustrious career. All of the band’s 23 singles released have reached the top 5 on mainstream rock radio play; that has never been done by any other band out there.
While “Devil” may highlight what ATTENTION ATTENTION is all about, the rest of the album features a solid mix of Shinedown worthy material. Highlights include the second single “THE HUMAN RADIO,” “EVOLVE” and “PYRO.” While each is what fans have come to expect from Shinedown at their best - fast-paced, energy-driven rock, there’s also a few slower ballads such as “MONSTERS.” Overall ATTENTION ATTENTION sticks to the script, giving listeners more of what Shinedown has been about. It’s an album that could persuade new listeners and surely one that won’t alienate life long fans, which is always a fear to some upon the release of new records.
