I don’t quite agree with every part of the review, which is to be expected, but I still think it was done nicely. I really like the “Cool Points” on Chad. I don’t think the other members of BB get enough recognition. I think I would give the album about the same rating overall, it may be my favorite from them so far.

Wow, I’ll give this a 6/10.

I’m surprised you didn’t like the title track. One of my favorites off the album. As a whole, I think it’s going to take some time for this album to grow on me after Phobia was so much more accessible. Good review though.

I have said this a million times and I’ll say it a million more. BB makes great ALBUMS, not just singles. All their songs are good. That said, what the hell is Without you about? I usually don’t care about the lyrics with songs like this being the reason why.

Holy crap 9 out of 10= too freakin’ much.Here’s my take:
-too many ballads (again)
-they kinda sound lke Red now (& no,I don’t like Red)
-I really don’t like the production,moreover,do they really want all their records to sound alike by hiring Bendeth yet again?
-Ben’s voice sounds kinda boring & overproduced on this one
-too many songs sound alike (again)
-also he sings about the same old things throughout the album
At least Phobia had a song like The Diary of Jane.Dear Agony seems even more generic than Phobia.Overall a solid 6.5 from me.

Yeah, it’s a decent album. Just average for me. 8/10 at best. Some songs have grown on me more since I first listened, but there’s a few that I just can’t get into either.

I think some of you guys are being a little overly critical. I think they stepped down from the last album .. but it still has their sound attached. I feel this album should have came last time. I give it a 10/10 .. kudos for Hollywood Records for appointing great producers like David Bendeth

My point coincides with flyfreak’s point.

Dave I’m trying to be patient, but I need to get some SS into my iPod. What’s the word?

Hi Flyfreak .. I apologize for the delay. We’re putting up “Little Things” up on our profile soon too. There will be an iTunes release soon .. I’ll let you know when we do. Thanks for the support.

Dave

This is getting oh, so close……

I don’t know how you could not like the song “Dear Agony”, its one of the best tracks on here(if not THE best). In my opinion this album is way better than Phobia. Don’t get me wrong, Phobia was great, but this album has more of a combo of their older stuff and Phobia which leaves something for every BB fan. My problems with Phobia are that it is too dark and gloomy and that many of the songs on it sound the same. This album however is an amazing album from an amazing band.

^Not me by the way.

I was just going to say Matt is singing a new song. This is that orph shit again, isn’t it?

BB stands for Bland and Boring. 6/10 at best

I agree with the score, but not with your opinion of the title track. People who say an album is bad due to too many ballads is a load of shit. If a song has all the right stuff, I could care less if it is heavy or slow.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this review Nick. Touche, sir.

This album is great! My favorite from BB!

relic, it sounds too much like Chevelle for my taste.

Dave, you believe BB stepped down but still give it a 10/10…which would put the last album at an impossible 11 or 12 of 10. I know someone said this in the forums, but this is why rankings out of 10…or any number…are stupid. Of course, I may have misunderstood what you meant by step down.

It seems like the lyrics borrow a lot from each other too, which I guess is cool because you can tie the songs together. But it’s also like, Ben should get more ideas before he writes. I still like the sound overall, and I did only listen to youtube for the songs. Maybe with more listens my opinion will change…but for now it’s a good but not great album…or a 7.5/10

All BB albums are great. I have yet to listen to a bad one.

Yeah, I don’t agree with much of this review either. I think “Hopeless”, “Dear Agony, and “Anthem of the Angels” deserve a lot more positive mentioning. Also the lyrics on this album are really dark, and well written. My roommate and I where looking over the lyrics and some of them suggest suicidal tendencies. It was brought up by someone else that it almost seems like he is laying out the groundwork for his own death. A terrible thought, but if you read the lyrics, you will see where I’m coming from. Personally I think it is just a way he lives through his own music. To get out all of those negative thoughts, and paint the images of what your feeling into the songs.

All in all, I’m extremely happy with this album. I like the fact that they stuck to their own unique sound. I appreciate artists changing up their style every now and then, but a lot of it isn’t easy to swallow (new Three Days Grace). Even though I didn’t agree with some of what this review said, it was still well written. I give “Dear Agony” a 9/10, and has become one of my favorite albums of the year along with, Chevelle-”Sci-Fi Crimes” & Seven Day Sonnet-”Reprisal”.

Honestly, the track that really isnt doing anything for me is “Dear Agony.” Something just seems off, although I do like it lyrically.

I give this a solid 8. “Fade Away” and the title track are two of my favorite tracks off this. I think far too many reviews dwell on the “potential” of a band or what could have been instead of focusing and appreciating what we, as an audience, have been given.

I agree with a couple songs being very boring. Ballads, or no ballads, there are some sick songs on this album; some of my faves being “I Will Not Bow”, “Hopeless”, “What Lies Beneath”.
7.5/10 (for the time being)

This album did seem to follow a “formula” but we are still with left some great songs even if they fall in familiar breaking benjamin territory lyrically. 3 songs on this album stood out to me. Like a few other the title track “Dear Agony” didn’t do much for me and is the only track I won’t listen to again.

LIGHTS OUT (great gutteral scream/singing by Ben in parts this song). IMHO the best harder track on the album. I’m of the opinion Polyamourous is still their best straight-up rock track.

CRAWL: Follows the modern rock formula (hard intro, soft verses, build into chorus.. rinse repeat) but it results in a pretty catchy tune. Cool breakdown around the 3 min mark.

WITHOUT YOU: A semi-ballad and one of the more positive songs. “Say something new. I have nothing left. I can’t face the dark without you. There’s nothing left to lose The fight never ends.I can’t face the dark without you.Holding the hand that holds me down. I forgive you, forget you the end”

GIVE ME A SIGN: Another ballad type song. For some reason the way Ben signs “Give me a sign” outro of the song gets to me. Maybe I can just relate to it.

BEST ALBUM THEY HAVE EVER PUT OUT!!!!! IMO. I think it is an excellent album all the way through. Lights Out, Hopeless, Into The Nothing, and Crawl are all amazing. Flyfreak is absolutely right, BB makes great albums, not just singles. I agree with the review, great album, happy as hell i bought it today. 9.5/10

The album is very good…but I feel that the best of them is which are co-written with Red’s Jasen Rauch which are :
“I Will Not Bow”, “Hopeless”, “Into The Nothing”, and “Lights Out”..his influence is very clear in those songs

great album, nuff said…9.5/10, this is my second favorite band and they deliver everytime no matter what, since saturate they just keep maturing and get better with every album i think. I agree with the “Dear Agony” skeptics..its not their best song, by far the lowest ranking on the album, but still a great listen; lyrically especially. “What Lies Beneath” is among the best songs in the past 5 years, im obsessed, i believe i had that song on replay for hours the other day ha..and “Lights Out” mmm yea thats a keeper!

Great album…must buy -> 9,0/10

Hi, i’m new here. This site is the sh*t!!. as for the album, I think i’ts pretty good. I wasn’t really expecting much since I don’t like “i will not bow”, but most of the songs are really good

Hi, I’m also new here. I definitely understand why a few people are dissatisfied with “Dear Agony.” I just wanted to throw in my vote that this is another tremendous release from Breaking Benjamin. It might sound very similar to Phobia, but I absolutely love the style and believe that Ben and the boys are doing the right thing by sticking to it. Personally, my favorite is “Anthem of the Angels,” probably because it sounds like Red.

“Dear Agony” is one of the best songs on the album! I think Phobia is just a little bit better, but I’m not going to split hairs on it..Incredible album from one of the best bands out there..9/10

Hey jacko, it’s good to see you on TL, but what down with the Bruins avatar?

Hey flyfreak, thanks for the welcome. Regarding the Bruins, I’m sorry, man, but I’m a Rhode Islander who loves New England sports. I really like yours, though. Maybe I’ll change it to something non-sports related.

I guess theres something about new members commenting this cd but i would give it a 9 out of 10. I think the quality of music on this cd is well written and delivered. Very dark feel to this album, my one complaint is the fact that its only 11 songs. Any fan of this band knows that they are fully capable of a fifteen track cd with superb music w/o fillers especially after taking so long in between releases.

No jacko it’s cool. I’m a big time Flyers fan and am pumped about the new season.

Hey derbman, that brings up an interesting question. Who knows how many bonus tracks are going to be available?

Oh, one of my roommates is a huge Flyers fan, too. I really like them, actually. There might be some tension, though, on New Years Day at Fenway.

Hahaha, no tension on New Years….That game is going to be so cool regardless of who wins. Now in the playoffs….well, that’s a whole different animal.

flyfreak im an outrageous flyers fan… my dad has box seats to the classic… and i have been wondering how many bonus tracks since i saw the 11 songs on the track list and if shinedown and red are any inspiration they could be pretty good

Haha, got that right. I think the Flyers are actually going to be sick this year. You lost Lupul, but Pronger’s a great pickup. We lost Kessel and really didn’t get anyone.

i think both sets of fans can root for a good game that day

I don’t get to jacked about the regular season (with the exception of division games). I hate the damn Penguins, Rangers, Devils, and Islanders with all my heart and wish nothing but misery and shit for them all season long.

100% agreed my uncle is in the middle of that picture of the flyers fans beating up the devils fan

Hahahaha, that’s precious. So are you and jacko roomies?

Derbman, you’re absolutely right. The outdoor games have been a spectacular addition to the schedule these past few years and I’m thrilled that one’s being played in my favorite ball park.

Flyfreak, I understand, man. I hate the Rangers and Devils too, but not as much as those Canadiens.

Hahahaha, who in the hell doesn’t hate those damn Canadians (always understood). Just like those bastard Yankees.

I didnt like Fade Away the first time I heard it but it is quickly becoming one of my more favorite BB tracks. It’s a great opener.

See Kyle, you remedial types need time to come around.

The Yankees are an absolute abomionation. I hate them so much.

Kyle, I felt the same way about “Fade Away” at first. Actually, I felt like that about a lot of songs, but after a few listens, I really genuinely like them all. “Hopeless” is the only one I’m still not crazy about because I think they could have done so much more with it.

On the whole, I really like this album but….

you would rather play tickle me Elmo with a boy scout leader.

That was one one time!

Nah Idk. I probably just need to play DearAgony to death before I can love it the way I love WANA

Well Kyle, I love it. I can’t tell you how many times I have played it (actually, I can, but not gonna). My favorite listening came at the end when I playlist the entire BB catalog and throw it on shuffle. It was awesome to hear all their songs in random order. BB is such a great band, not one bad song in their entire line-up. You should give it a try someday. It’ll warm the cockles of your heart….or something.

I actually do that all the time Flyfreak, get all the studio tracks and just shuffle away.

I like when a band has about four albums and I play the guess which album that song is from game….It’s so gay….yet so much fun…..Not that their is anything wrong with that.

^there

i definitely think fade away is great.. hopeless already grew on me. Lights out may be my temporary favorite haha

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm there, you benign bunny?

Upon further listens I revise my rating to 8.5/10. I still think it’s very repeptitive, but better than I originally thought. My fave from the disc is “Lights Out”.

Kyle, when have I ever been sarcastic? I’m a straight shooter.

I dont know about the straight part..

What are you trying to say?

I’m just saying that perhaps you dont always shoot in straight line. perhaps there is some curvature.

the album is really about his grandfather dyind hince the theme of dying.

Suggesting Breaking Benjamin is in any way more talented than Sevendust is blasphemy.

Ok, I’ve had the album since Tuesday and probably listened to it 20 times. At first I wasn’t that impressed, but every time I listen I enjoy it more and more. At first I would given it a 7. I didn’t like “Give Me A Sign” that much and wasn’t really impressed with a few of the other songs. Though my 3 favorites are “Dear Agony”, “What Lies Beneath”, and “Without You”. Don’t usually like the ballads that much, but from the first listen “Dear Agony” stood out to me. Love all the heavier stuff on here to. After further review, I would change my rating to a 9.5. A few flaws, and “Anthem of the Angels” doesn’t do anything for me at all. I would have ranked this as my third favorite from them, right in front of “Phobia” on Tuesday, but after listening to the old ones and then this, it is, in my opinion, their best. Agree with the review, but disappointed that everyone doesn’t LOVE the title track like me. What’s wrong with you people?

i understand all the reviews from other people and even tunelab. but you all don’t seem to realize, music is based on opinion, what is good to some might not be to others. only way to look at it. people take things in differently, i.e. music

Dear Agony is actually my favorite track off this album. I really have enjoyed this album. Another great album from BB!

I think “Without you” is the best song on this album, and is probably the best BB song I have heard.

Brian, are you just yanking my chain with that comment?

No I’m not Flyfreak. I really like this song alot, and I think it should be the next radio single.

Dude, I wrote the same thing on one of the other million BB posts. I think it’s the best BB song ever made and I told Matt I’d eat shit till it came out my ears if this song didn’t become their greatest commercial success.

I’m the only person that has said anything about this song, and I have read all the BB posts. People are definitely slipping on this song.

Brain, my comments aren’t in another BB post. I was discussing something with Matt in another post and I told he what was what about Without You being the best BB song ever and he didn’t want any part of it. Once he said that I knew this song would become very successful.

Brian (my bad, very far from brain).

It will only do well if it hits radio, and I doubt it will.

It has to hit radio, Matt already gave it his backward blessing. On a side note, that PM5000 release is the shit. I can’t believe how good it is.

Yeah PM5000 is a great album. I kind of hinted at a stream on the 5FDP post, and I was surprised when I saw it this morning. I do wish it was a little bit longer, but every song kicks ass. I’ll be picking this up tomorrow along with the new Everclear.

“I Will Not Bow” is their most radio friendly song on this album, nothing else on this album will reach as far as it has on the radio charts.

Well its a new album of old songs, but they are some of my favorites.

Never got into the Everclear scene. Matt, Without You will be the greatest BB song ever.

You know that song you play on an album about 50 times over and over, and don’t really pay much attention to the rest of the album (at least till you get burned out on that one song). Well Matt…. Thats that song.

It won’t even be released to radio Flyfreak haha. I can give you the radio singles right now “I Will Not Bow”, “Fade Away”, “Give Me A Sign”, “Hopeless”, “Anthem of the Angels”, and “Lights Out”.

That list just ruined a great day.

Brian, didn’t see your comment and that’s what I have also done to that song. It’s an excellent song.

It probably wont get radio play like Matt said, but it should. Its a great ballad, and would be very radio friendly.

Yeah, I hope that they get lots of backlash and put it on the radio. It’s one of those ballads that has that twist at the end where it goes from being lovie-dovie to you are the reason for all my misery and failure in life.

Damn, you guys are acting like this album, and that song is a masterpiece haha. Opinions are opinions I guess.

Well, Matt, you know how some songs are just that damn good.

I’ve never been a huge BB fan, and don’t own any of their albums but this new one. I think its a great album, and that song is the best on it and I’ll leave it at that.

Wow, Brian, I didn’t know that. I hope you give the other album’s a spin to see if you can dig out a couple of more nice tunes.

The title track is the only song I still listen to from this album, the other songs just sound the same in my opinion. I did like “Lights Out” but I swear it sounds like they listened to to much Saliva while writing that song cause the chorus sounds so similar to the chorus in “Your Disease”.

ok i tried to read all the posts but i couldn’t do it… i’m sorry but if you listen to as much music as i do (and i’m assuming most of us do), i don’t think you can claim this is such an amazing album. its good, possible BB’s best, but all in all, the ‘fast’ songs all have the same sound, and the ’slow’ songs might as well be any mainstream band (of the same genre).
the best way to rate albums is how often you unconsciously play it after you’ve heard it all the way through, and i haven’t been listening to a whole lot of breaking benjamin… best part for me was how they use strings in a couple tracks, that was pretty neat. I give it a 7.5

Well without you is one of the best songs on this album, but it strangely sounds so similar to ‘breath’….i think i will not bow was the right choice for the 1st single…and as for the album its really good, 9/10 for me too

Lights Out is such a phenomenal song. The first time I heard Burnley sing, “After the lights go out on you/After your worthless life is through/I will remember how you screamed/I cant afford to care.” I got goosebumps. And, as you all know that is a special thing when a song can get you to feel that much for it. Such a perfect chorus about someone who you felt would always be there, lets you down in the most important of times. Outstanding.

There, I just wanted to say that right off the bat. Now my 2 cents on the album…Surprise Surprise! Honestly, going into it, I wasnt all that excited. Now, I’ve loved the band since the beginning, but I dont know if it was just the time between these last two albums or what, but it seemed as if this album has fully restored the excitement this band gives me. Also, I should note after hearing the clips on Amazon I thought I was in for a HUGE disappointment that would make me wonder if I’d ever love this band again. SOOOOO glad I was wrong.

This is seriously some of their best work and thats saying a lot, due to the fact they’ve only released quality stuff so far. I could go on and on, but I’ll just say you need to pick this record up…If for Lights Out alone.

I think the only fault I’ve found with this album is that it’s TOO balanced. BB really has done an incredible job incorporating all the sounds they’ve used thus far into this album, but most people don’t necessarily dig everything they’ve done. I still think they did a great job (and thats coming from someone who was VERY disappointed by Phobia). I think if you love everything this band has done, Dear Agony is nothing short of an near faultless album. If not, then its still pretty damn good.

Matt, after Give Me A Sign, your little list is way off. There’s no way on earth that Hopeless and Anthem of the Angels will ever be singles. Their the equivalent Believe and Forget It off WANA.

their best album ever? i dont think so. whoever said that might need their lithium.

i expected so much more from them and was let down. while it isnt aweful its just…mediocre.

“Give Me A Sign” is just crap. CRAP I SAY! Diary of Jane was a far better album.

crap…i meant to say Phobia was a far better album.

Heather, have you been drinking again?

out of the toilet…

What other drinking would their be?

course not, and you know…now i’m suffering from crapulence. get’s me every time.

Hahaha, I’m sure you’ll sober up by Friday.

People need to stop giving “BB” credit for writing a great record. Ben did all the writing, including the music, with the exception of the parts Jasen Rauch helped write. Just look at the writing credits, the band doesn’t have any. Ben had the entire album recorded as a demo before even walking into the studio. He did this all without Aaron, Mark, or Chad’s help. They were hired studio musicians for this album and get no royalties from album sales. They were paid a one-time recording fee, just like other studio/session musicians get. So if you’re going to credit the writing, give credit where credit is due, and that’s to Ben.

Holy Shit….So what you are basically saying is that their is no more BB. WOW!

Meh… Decent album but BB always puts out a decent product. The problem for me is that it all sounds like old BB songs. They need to shake things up a bit and put something out that pushes the boundries. This album definitely did not do that. Instead of buying Dear Agony I will just pop in Phobia which I liked better anyways. (I did buy a few songs. Hopless, I Will Not Bow and Lights Out)

Holy s**t….So what you are basically saying is that their is no more BB. WOW!:”
——
If you listen to the interview Ben did on CageRattle for the album release, when asked if he’d do a solo project his response was that BB basically is a solo project and he’d like to work on the opposite.

I’m surprised people are liking this album LESS than Phobia, that album just had too many duds for me (You, Here We Are, Topless, You Fight Me). I can’t say that there’s a single bad track on this album, just not many that stand out in comparison to their previous work. Its all still good tho.

Well gog, you’re fucking up my entire world with that info. When you say “work on the opposite” is he referring to making BB more of a band or developing a whole new band?

flyfreak: The other 3 records were written by all the guys together. In the version of the Dear Agony Studio Diaries that got cut (HR didn’t want any “negativity” out there), Aaron comments on how the other albums were written by all the guys throwing ideas off each other, but this album was just Ben (he also talks about Jeremy). My take was that Ben wants to work with people who are other good writers so that he doesn’t have to write. He doesn’t appreciate the input of the BB guys. Look at the one interview he did where he says that Jasen is the only person he’s worked with that can actually write (I’m paraphrasing). Ben having a project with Jasen Rauch and Nick Coyle (both good writers) should tip you off that he doesn’t want to be the sole writer any more. I asked DP to ask Ben about the project during the interview, but he conveniently forgot I’ve also been told the drummer of said project, but I’m pretty sure the drummer doesn’t want his name out there at the moment, so I’ll leave it be.

Wow! This is some wild shit. When you talk about Ben’s new project is that speculation or are they on the map?

Well maybe he should have let the other guys contribute, the album might have turned out better.

@ GOG
In the Alternative Addiction interview Ben said he has written every part to every song with very small execptions, are you saying he lied in the interview?
That would be kinds weird, what would be the point in lying.

Omar, what is going on? Is Ben on the verge of a side gig. Is BB heading down a bad road? Does Paramore deserve top spot?

Well BB = Ben Burnley, as long a Ben keeps going then the brand “Breaking Benjamin” keeps going. If the other band member dont like it, I am sure Hollywood wont take long finding new ones.

Well this is just strange for me to hear this. I thought all these guys were laid back and pretty easy going and dug what they did. Guess not.

Omar: I know for a fact that Aaron wrote the music to “Believe.” He also wrote some of “Inertia,” which became part of “So Cold.”

To tell you the truth, stuff like this makes me hate a band. I know it shouldn’t, but band members attitudes really effect me while I’m listening to their music.

GOG: Its funny because he mentioned Mark writing “5%” of the riffs but didnt mention Aaron at all.

Ben’s had an issue with Aaron ever since he spent a lot of time writing and playing with Nick Coyle. I mean, he told the guy not to show up to record “Blow Me Away.”

GOG: Your kind of an “insider”, from 1 to 10 what are the chances this lineup makes it through another album? From everything I’ve heard, I’d say its pretty bleak.

I’m surprised they made this album, lol.

Well, that answers the question HAHA.

This is the worst news since Mike french kissed his grandpa for the last meatball.

Looks like Ben gave the line up their last cup of coffee. Maybe they can join up with Myles Kennedy?

Ben Burnley is just turning into the new version of Billy Corgan, or Trent Reznor. He might knock is other members for not being the best at writing, but if he didn’t have them he wouldn’t have his trademark musical sound. But at the same time, good for him for writing the whole thing solo (sort of, other than Jasen Rauch)

deleted

So I just found this site after listening to the CD and wondering if people thought the same as I do…and I love it.
I am, however, not impressed at all at with “Dear Agony”. I find it appropriate that it came with a CD of ‘the videos’ because this CD sounds like all of BB’s previous albums. If I listened to it without hearing previous CD’s, I would immediately go out and buy their whole collection…unfortunately, I have already been exposed to the same wriffs and melodies on previous tracks.
I think Nick’s review is dead on with his parallels between previous songs and ‘dear agony’s’ songs.
This sucks because Chad Szeliga is one of my favorite drummers and BB is one of my favorite bands. It seems Chad has fallen in love with the same flam (usually off the high-hat) from ‘Breath’.
I give the rock CD of the month to Chevelle’s ‘Sci-fi crimes’

I think Sci-Fi Crimes was good, but not as much intent to listen to as Dear Agony. Well worded though Westy. And to “theoxide” being deleted. lol. He says his favourite band is tool, but then he sent me a message and said I have the worst taste in music ever. So considering I listed oth Tool and aperfectCircle, I think he’d be more than an idiot. And if you look at my music list, I’m sure there are many band that anyone on here likes.

Maybe he got deleted because he is a tool.

lol, fly that’s what I was hinting at.

BB’s new album is really good but i prefer Phobia because Diary of Jane is amazing. XD
Was waiting for months for the album to come out and i was hoping they had their own stuff and less cover songs =/

Their still amazing and i love them!

Cover songs? No cover songs here or on any other album dear…

Hmmmmm…..I wonder…….

I wonder what she meant by covers. Was she hinting at them ripping off other Post-Grunge bands music, or copy old shit they’ve done. Or she just as confused as a bi-sexual girl in
highschool?

Hahahaha, I couldn’t have stated it better.

“Give Me a Sign” is a great song. Overall, pretty solid album.9/10

2-/10

2/10? really? I think you just have a grudge against these guys for some reason. ‘Cause, the lyricism alone is worth 3 points, the music, another 3, and then overall production and catchiness made another 1. So minimum a 7. I give it a 9. I didn’t like it much at first, but like TDG’s new one, it has grown alot on me.

Saturate is still my favorite, as much as I was waiting for Dear Agony to come out, Def surprised when I first heard it. Took a little time to get used to. Now I’d say 8/10. It’s a shame cause I really love the band as A whole although it seems to just be Ben & the guys playing behind him. Nothing against them but, Ben is king here & I guess if they don’t get along, they know where to go… although someone on here made a good point that, without them as a whole we might not dig the sound!