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14 Shades of Grey

Field	Value
name	14 Shades of Grey
type	studio
artist	Staind
cover	Staind 14 Shades of Grey.jpg
alt	The gray words "Staind".
released	May 20, 2003
recorded	September 2002 – March 2003
studio	Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles
* Post-grunge<ref name	AMG/
*{{cite web	url	https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/music/albumreviews/unconstrained-nu-metal-staind-staind-14-shades-of-grey-20081201	title=Unconstrained, nu-metal Staind - Staind: 14 Shades of Grey }}
*{{cite web	url	https://musica.uol.com.br/lancamentos/2003/07/31/ult1475u270.jhtm	title=Staind faz nu-metal cheio de clichês em "14 Shades of Grey" - 31/07/2003 - UOL Música }}
length	62:13
producer	Josh Abraham
prev_title	Break the Cycle
prev_year	2001
next_title	Chapter V
next_year	2005
misc	{{Singles
name	14 Shades of Grey
type	studio
single1	Price to Play
single1date	April 8, 2003
single2	So Far Away
single2date	June 23, 2003
single3	How About You
single3date	December 23, 2003
single4	Zoe Jane
single4date	April 5, 2004

Post-grunge
nu metalMultiple sources:
Flip
Elektra 14 Shades of Grey is the fourth studio album by American rock band Staind, released on May 20, 2003. The album continues the post-grunge sound as seen on the band's previous album Break the Cycle, but the songs on 14 Shades of Grey have fewer pop hooks, focusing more on frontman Aaron Lewis's emotions. It is the band's last album to be released from Elektra Records.

The album featured four singles and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 220,000 copies. By July 2003, 14 Shades of Grey had been certified Gold then later Platinum.

Background

After finishing their tour schedule, Staind allowed time for Lewis and his wife to conceive their first child and adjust to being parents for a few months. The band then took about five weeks to write new songs before they began recording in Los Angeles, including a week developing the songs at producer Josh Abraham's house. Guitarist Mike Mushok noted it as the first time Staind has actually written in the studio.

In January 2003, Staind planned on a May 6 release date for their untitled fourth album. This date persisted into March during which an album title was announced. However, this would have to be delayed a few weeks.

Aaron Lewis elaborated on the lighter direction of 14 Shades of Grey:

Guitarist Mike Mushok described the album title in a 2003 interview:

I think it's kind of referring to how in life there's black and white and then there's this grey area. . . I think the older you get you start to realize that more things are grey and not so much black and white.

The song "Layne" is a tribute to Layne Staley, the late Alice in Chains singer. The song "Zoe Jane" honors Aaron Lewis' firstborn daughter. Some shots of Zoe Jane are featured in the video for "So Far Away".

Release

First editions of the album included a limited edition bonus DVD featuring home videos and footage of the band from their early years to the present, along with album lyrics and new band photos. For a time, fans could use the CD to download a bonus acoustic song "Let it Out" from the Staind website, but the page was later removed. The song was later included on the deluxe edition of the band's next album, Chapter V.

A DVD-Audio edition of the album was also released, featuring a 5.1 surround sound version of the album, at high resolution (96 kHz/24-bit).

Touring and promotion

The single "Price to Play" was released in early anticipation of the album's debut. Three more singles were released over the next several months with accompanying music videos.

Staind supported 14 Shades of Grey with a series of in-store appearances followed by free club performances. They also performed with Label mates Cold during the summer of 2003. Concert setlists incorporated songs from the band's previous two albums.

Reception

The album received mainly mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 41, based on 10 reviews.

Track listing

Personnel

Staind

Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Mike Mushok – lead guitar
Johnny April – bass, backing vocals
Jon Wysocki – drums

Additional musicians

Josh Abraham – keyboards (tracks 4, 14), programming (track 4), string arrangements
David Khane – string arrangements
Tony Reyes – keyboards (tracks 6, 7, 14)
Anthony Valcic – keyboards and programming (track 4)

Production

Executive producer: Jordan Schur
Produced by Josh Abraham
Engineered by Ryan Williams; assisted by Brandon Belsky, Jones G., Scott Gutierrez, Joey Paradise, Jeff Phillips, Mark Valentine and Darren Venditti
Additional recording by Anthony Valcic; third engineer: Jon Berkowitz
Mixed by Andy Wallace; assisted by Steve Sisco
Digital editing by Josh Wilbur

Design

Artist coordination: Cailan McCarthy
Art direction/design: Gregory Gigendad Burke
Photography by Anthony Mandlet

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003)	Peak
position

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position	US Billboard 200
64

Certifications

References

"Post Modern".
{{AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine
Since when is pairing Jewel's poetry outtakes with modern-rock riffs groundbreaking? [Aug 2003, p.102]
14 Shades is nominally heavier than the group's two previous albums, though the band tempers its harsher instincts to let Lewis ruminate unmolested. [Aug 2003, p.132]
Rogan, Josh. (May 26, 2003). "Staind - '14 Shades Of Grey'".
(20 May 2003). "Staind - 14 Shades of Grey".
Ousborne, Jeff. (June 13, 2003). "14 Shades of Grey Review".
PHerlich, Tim. (28 May 2003). "STAIND - 14 SHADES OF GREY".
Another dollop of rock sludge with a remarkably honest title. [Aug 2003, p.115]
Kot, Greg. (June 26, 2003). "Staind: 14 Shades Of Grey: Music review".
"Staind - 14 Shades Of Grey". [[Uncut (magazine).
[https://archive.today/20120715030630/http://new.music.yahoo.com/staind/news/staind-gets-good-news-on-the-home-front-goes-gold--12048066;_ylt=AsQy2wD1oneF74Hhj.3aCPkQxCUv Staind Gets Good News On The Home Front, Goes Gold] [[Yahoo! Music]] (July 23, 2003). Retrieved on 2-24-10.
Fuoco, Christina [http://www.livedaily.com/news/5956.html liveDaily Interview: Mike Mushok of Staind] LiveDaily.com (January 7, 2004). Retrieved on 2-24-10. {{webarchive. link. (July 13, 2010)
[https://archive.today/20120710173351/http://new.music.yahoo.com/staind/news/staind-aiming-for-may-6-to-release-break-the-cycle-follow-up--12037333 Staind Aiming For May 6 To Release 'Break The Cycle' Follow-Up] [[Yahoo! Music]] (January 20, 2003). Retrieved on 2-24-10.
(2023-05-20). "Staind's '14 Shades Of Grey' In Stores". [[Yahoo! Music]].
[https://archive.today/20120715115608/http://new.music.yahoo.com/staind/news/staind-shares-concept-behind-14-shades-of-grey--12027723 Staind Shares Concept Behind '14 Shades Of Grey'] [[Yahoo! Music]] (May 13, 2003). Retrieved on 2-24-10.
"Critic Reviews for 14 Shades of Grey". [[Metacritic]].
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003".

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