Finger Eleven Reviews

• Good CD

  
  By ATE6NAB11IUPL on 2003-06-20
  Finger Eleven's new album is more thoughtful and softer than The Greyest of Blue Skies or Tip. It still keeps to the F11 style, only gone on a more emotional adventure than their previous albums. Of course, TGOBS is my favourite CD by these guys, but they are still progressing so you have to give this album a chance. Here is my review of their self-titled album.

  1. Other Light- Short, but a good way to open the new CD. 7/10
  2. Complicated Questions- One of my favourite songs on the album. Scott does an amazing job on the vocals. 9/10
  3. Stay in Shadow- Another awesome song. It's like the Drag You Down, except it's not as heavy. 8/10
  4. Good Times- Like every CD when it comes out, this was the first single so I tend to skip over it, but still a cool song. 6/10
  5. Absent Elements- Definitely in my top three. This song blows me away, I can't think of any way to describe it. The lyrics are really deep. 10/10
  6- Thousand Mile Wish- Pretty good song 6/10
  7- Conversations- One of my least favourites 4/10
  8- Last Scene of Struggling- Haven't heard it enough, but it's pretty cool. 6/10
  9- Panic Attack- AMAZING SONG!!!! 9/10
  10- Therapy- Probably my favourite song on the CD. This song is so deep. I loved it the first time I heard it. 11/10
  11- One Thing- A great softer song. 8/10
  12- Obvious Heart- it doesn't have the same closing impact as Stay and Drown, but it's a good song nonetheless. 8/10

  Like I said it's not as good as their last, and it's much softer, but in a good way, like White Pony was to Deftones.
  
  

• Extremely Underrated

  
  By AZSN1TO0JI87B on 2004-03-15
  Finger Eleven are one of those bands that has been under the radar for years. Their first two albums barely could crack the charts and it took almost 6 years for them to finally breakthrough with the single "One Thing." Over the past 8 months, this CD has steadily become a favorite of mine. It is extremely addictive and the songs get stuck in your head for days. To further my appreciation and newfound respect for the boys in F11, I saw them live last night, as support for Trapt & Smile Empty Soul -- those two bands delivered exceptional performances, but in their meager 5 song set, Finger Eleven totally blew them out of the water. They hold up just as well (maybe even better) live as on CD. I own all three Finger Eleven albums, and I must say, this is their best to date. It is full of infectious hooks, deep and often clever lyrics and accomplished musicianship. To say they sold out is just ignorant. The band have opened the door on a whole new sound; and if anything, the music on here is more intense than before. Hard rockers like "Stay In Shadow" and "Other Light" build on ear-catching riffs and are complimented nicely by slow ballads like "One Thing" and "Thousand Mile Wish." The closer, "Obvious Heart" stands as a favorite track, as do "Good Times," "Absent Elements" and "Complicated Questions." If you've been a fan of Finger Eleven for a while, give this disc a chance. If you ignore it because it is getting radio attention, you're only depriving yourself of a great piece of music. For anyone that can appreciate alternative/hard-rock, I recommend this. Hopefully Finger Eleven aren't dropped by their label like other bands that aren't instantly platinum sellers, but have been mainstays at their labels (the recent Cold/Geffen Records departure comes to mind). This band deserves to be heard.
  
  

• Just keeps getting better and better.

  
  By A12AVACG49GH85 on 2003-06-17
  Finger Eleven is a perfect example of a band that is dedicated to their craft unlike any other.

  Their first effort (as Finger Eleven), "Tip", was a blistering tour de force of hard rock mixed with unforgettable lyrical hooks and flowing melody. But it was nothing more than a preview of what was to come. "The Greyest of Blue Skies" was an amazing sophomore album, layering waves of sonic hammering with the best of Scott Anderson's poignant lyrics.

  And now, "Finger Eleven", the latest release from this proudly Canadian quintet, is poised to take the rock world by storm. The combination of Rich Beddoe's thundering drums, Sean Anderson's throbbing bass and some truly phenomenal guitar interweaving from Rick Jackett and James Black, the band provides an excellent platform to support Scott Anderson's unique vocal work, his best yet.

  If you like alternative rock with a hard edge, you need to pick up this disc. As a bonus, it includes a limited edition DVD of the band performing tracks live in Buffalo, NY and provides a great inside look behind the scenes of the making of this album.

  And now, a quick track by track breakdown (haven't listened enough to REALLY critique the tracks, just got it today):

  1. Other Light (9/10): Good vocal hook, solid guitar work.

  2. Complicated Questions (8/10): Familiar F11 sound, yet subtly different.

  3. Stay in Shadow (10/10): Easily one of the 10 best ever by F11.

  4. Good Times (10/10): Amazing chorus, great flow to the song.

  5. Absent Elements (8/10): Very cool song, particularly in the second verse-to-end range.

  6. Thousand Mile Wish (10/10): Softer side of F11, but definitely welcome -- lyrics really shine here.

  7. Conversations (7/10): Fast paced, yet simple. Good song, not great.

  8. The Last Scene of Struggling (9/10): Hidden gem on the disc, great guitar/bass/drum combinations showcase the talent this band has.

  9. Panic Attack (9/10): Great staccato vocal rhythms combined with hammering guitar and drum work make this a memorable track.

  10. Therapy (9/10): Good song about how close friends can carry you through the rough spots. Heartfelt lyrics, great rhythms.

  11. One Thing (10/10): Second acoustic track on the disc, and you can already see the lighters in the air when you close your eyes. AMAZING track about regretting what you missed out on.

  12. Obvious Heart (9/10): Great closer to the disc -- vintage F11 sound.

  Overall Score: 9/10

  If you like alternative rock that doesn't sound like it was just thrown together in a weekend, this disc is for you. If you like meaning in the lyrics of the songs you listen to, this disc is for you. If you like Finger Eleven already, well...rejoice, your wait is over. This is the best they've ever been.
  
  

• Diverse feelings on a diverse band.

  
  By A8TM0MI3D9T29 on 2004-12-21
  This is a great release from start to finish, but I'm still not quite sure of how I feel about it. It's got its songs that are truly amazing, but it's also got its songs that are relative duds. I would write them off as just another new band trying to be something they're not, but there's just too much diversity on this CD to be another typical rock band. This band has depth, which a lot of bands nowadays don't. When Finger Eleven is on, they're on. When they're not, it's nothing great. But luckily for us, they're on for about 90% of this CD.
  
  The thing that sets this band apart from others is their range. They have songs that can make you rock your head, but then they have songs that are heartfelt and touching. One Thing, their single as of now, is one of those heartfelt songs. The simplicity of this song is why I like it so much. It's just emotional enough that you can feel the pain of the lyrics, but it's not sappy enough to make you cringe when you hear it. Thousand Mile Wish is another slow song that pushes the boundaries of sorrow. It's really a touching love song, and the acoustics make the song that much better. Complicated Questions is one of the harder songs on here. The guitar work is ear-catching, and the vocals are extremely original. Definitely one of the best on here.
  
  A few of the best songs on here are Complicated Questions, Absent Elements, Thousand Mile Wish, and The Last Scene Of Struggling. All in all, this is a solid release. There are two duds on this CD, and that's really about it. All the others have something that makes it great. Finger Eleven have a very distinctive sound, and that's why I think they'll be around for quite a while.
  
  

• Awesome CD!!!

  
  By A2QZPSW6V93UH3 on 2004-02-18
  A friend of mine let me borrow this album. I liked it so much; I went out and bought it the very next day. I hadn't ever heard of Finger Eleven until my friend told me about them. It is now one of my favorite CD's I own. There is not one song I dislike on the whole album. Anyone who likes rock music should go out and buy this CD. Believe me, if you are on the fence about it just go out and buy Finger Elevens new CD.

  1.Other Light - Great opening song. Short but very catchy.

  2.Complicated Questions - Very strong song.
  3.Stay in Shadow - Extremely powerful lyrics.
  4.Good Times - The first single off of the CD. Not my favorite but still good.
  5.Absent Elements - My personal favorite. It has a very unique sound to it.
  6.Thousand Mile Wish - Great acoustic song. One of the best songs on the CD.
  7.Conversations - My second favorite song. Great lyrics, drums, bass, and guitar. Awesome.
  8.The Last Scene of Struggling - Very interesting song. An amazing sounding song.
  9.Panic Attack - Doesn't stand out as much as other songs but still is great.
  10.Therapy - Amazing bass line. Very distinctive song.
  11.One Thing - Second acoustic song on the album. Very good.
  12.Obvious Heart - Great Closing song. Very likable song.

  Finger Eleven has a very distinctive sound and that is what I like about them. They aren't like anybody else I've ever heard. A lot of the bands today sound exactly the same to me. Finger Eleven truly has a unique sound to them and I recommend this CD to everybody out there.
  
  

• The band's name makes no sense.
  By ARW9ACQOO95I on 2004-08-13
  I like music. A lot. Particularly rock music. I'm always looking out for some band to grab me by the throat with some huge, awesome album that I can waste my money on; hence my purchase of FINGER ELEVEN. The band came extremely well-recommended, and there I was with a wallet-full of cash in my pocket, so . . .
  
  First things first: Scott Anderson is incredible. The strong emotion in his voice is just lovely throughout the entire album, giving his words meaning rather then making them obsolete. He can make agonizing screams like a frikin hyena on `the Last Scene of a Struggling', and then turn around and sing with such passionate elegance on `Thousand Mile Wish' that you can FEEL his hope and love surging within your own heart. His work on this album is the only reason it's getting the 3 stars I'm giving it.
  
  Unfortunately though, nothing else on this album is quite as good. The guitars, for example, are too CLEAN. They're not RAW. They don`t have the heaviness that it seems like they should have. There's not enough distortion or volume or SOMETHING, but that SOMETHING is what's holding back EVERYTHING else. The bass lines and guitar riffs are interesting, but on the whole, while the music seems to be trying so very hard to take you to hell and back, there just isn't enough power to make it past the gas station at the end of the street.
  
  To their credit, the band's sound is much different then most of the stuff you hear on rock radio. The album's filled with hard rock tracks, each different from each other and retaining their own diverse identity, something Smile Empty Soul doesn't do well. Some tracks DO get somewhere: the aforementioned `Last Scene of a Struggling' is a strong implication of this, as well as the blistering `Complicated Questions', the truly powerful lead single `Good Times', and, of course, the magnificently riveting `Panic Attack'. Each of these songs are very well constructed, hard-hitting, and the most downright rockin' tunes on the entire record!
  
  But since the music often doesn't compliment Anderson's vocals enough, this album suffers. `Stay in Shadow' is the absolute perfect example of this. The opening riff is undoubtedly awesome, but the guitars sound soooo weak, and throughout the song it just all feels tired and sorry . . . the vocals on this song are soooo intense though, and while the brutal lyrics seem be brutal just for brutality's sake("I wanna watch it drown!"), Anderson's voice is what totally saves this song. The emotion is strong and feels genuine. . . all of which could be said for the entire album, really.
  
  The most emotional point on FINGER ELEVEN is revealed in track 6, gracefully titled `Thousand Mile Wish'. This song displays exactly what Finger Eleven is capable of. Containing beautiful lyrics("Maybe stars know why we fall, I just wish they were thinking out loud . . . oh, I could wish all night . . ."), gorgeous musical work from the band, and superb, gentle singing from Anderson. This is a wonderful expression of soulful love, something all of us feel, and is sincerely is the most touching piece on the album, and very well deserving of a my great love for it.
  
  The final track "Obvious Heart" deserves comment as well, containing a seriously wicked bass-line and haunted, echoing guitar chords with wonderful vocals, giving this song a great feel and gives the album a great ending.
  
  FINGER ELEVEN has it's own sonic identity, and even if their lyrical topics aren't extremely original(hey, what band`s lyrics IS these days?), the lyrics themselves are mostly strong and uniquely stated, helping to influence the tone of the album. These factors, added to Scott Anderson's undeniable talent, make an album that, while definitely not mind-blowing, remains a worthy addition to most rockers' collection. If the album is cheap, go for it. And here's to hoping there's less blandness and more then just a few memorable moments on Finger Eleven's previous works.
  
  
• Nothing wrong with mainstream...
  By AEBFUO4NTST77 on 2004-09-19
  Alright, so I first heard "Good Times" on the soundtrack of EA Sports' SSX3, and fell in love with "One Thing" on the radio. The problem is, people don't like to admit that songs like these two are melodic, catchy, and just plain good. "Good Times" and "Other Light" still have the feel of a not-so-mainstream rock album, while some of the others, mainly the two acoustic songs, have the ability to catch the ears of those who previously were not Finger Eleven fans.
  
  My main argument is that people today are selfish, because they want a band all to themselves. Finger Eleven used to be your band, right? And then they sold out, right? WRONG. Just because they're on the radio does not mean they are any worse than they were before. It means they are icreasing their range of sounds and their number of fans. It's a matter of growth.
  
  Get the cd, it's worth it. It's ok to buy it because you heard the songs on the radio...geez.
  
  
• A Nu-Metal album that actually doesn't suck
  By A1BSECHTQHWBM9 on 2005-01-02
  I was surprised when listening to this band to acutally hear melodies yet nu-metal riffs at the same time i thought it sounded pretty good not many bands can pull it off as good as the old days..........Finger Eleven is far better than Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Trapt, Linkin Park, and lately Korn has been going to hell so yeah Finger Eleven even outdo Korn in many ways......The singer sounds like a blend from the singer from Disturbed only he doesnt shout all the time so that makes this album enjoyable........its a mixture of disturbed/pink floyd yes that may sound werid but its true its good stuff it sticks with you and makes you want to spin it again and again in the cd player.......Landmark songs on this album would have to be Good Times, Thousand Mile Wish, and the Short adn sweet opener Other Light, but every song is worth multiple listens so get this and let it soak in
  
  
• Should have read reviews before I bought
  By A2I2U0V9SLH4ZC on 2005-09-21
  If you are considering buying this album because you like the song "One thing" - don't! The other songs on this album are very hard rock/metal. "One thing" does not represent the type of music this band plays at all. If you like hard rock/metal (which I do) you may enjoy this album. I personally find the songs monotinous. They all sound the same to me (with the exception of "One thing", of course.)
  
  
• It Just Keeps Getting Better
  By A90K05L2SJ9HW on 2003-06-23
  I just picked up this cd at the Finger Eleven concert in Cleveland yesterday, which by the way, if you get the chance to see these guys live, do so. It was an awesome experience. After listening to their previous albums I thought nothing could top Greyest of Blue Skies. Boy was I wrong. This is an absolute must have for any fan of rock. It's one of those rare albums that can be played from start to finish. My favorites are the angry and powerful "Stay in Shadow" and the emotional "One Thing." Finger Eleven continues to improve on their already excellent sound, a rare thing in a land where rock bands seem to get weaker and less meaningful with every album.
  
  
• A Great Evolution
  By A1V3SFV5NUR9UK on 2003-07-01
  Finger Eleven have definately dug deeper and produced what is in my opinion one of the most original albums i've heard in a few years. Finally a band that has a distinct sound that writes really quality music. Nu-metal is on the way out (at last) and Finger Eleven is one of the pioneers of the new sound of rock.

  Other Light - a great opener, throws the listener in the deep end and gets right in your face. 8/10

  Complicated Questions - awesome groove to this song with really diverse but flowing parts. 9/10

  Stay in Shadow - this song is much closer to the finger eleven sounds of their older material. Kinda halfway between 'Tip' and 'TGOBS' style, rocks nicely but nothing inspired. 7/10

  Good Times - a good throw yourself around the room song. High energy and probably the most powerful song on the album. 9/10

  Absent Elements - amazing song. So strong without being overly heavy. Great vocals and some really different guitar ideas make this song quite dark and moody while still being punchy. 10/10

  Thousand Mile Wish - my favourite of the two acoustic songs. Really atmospheric and smooth with great work between the guitars creating many emotional highs and lows. 10/10

  Conversations - bright and upbeat and quite a suprise when first listening to the album. Kinda cheesey but grows on you. 8/10

  Last Scene of Struggling - very dynamic feel changes in this song makes it very interesting song to listen too. Not one of my favourites but it's growing on me. 8/10

  Panic Attack - powerful song and with frantic sounding verses (as the title suggests) and an amazing chorus which sounds full of desperation. Very emotional for a song that's so rock heavy. 9/10

  Therapy - A really cool groove to this song with typically powerful emotional Finger Eleven style choruses. Quite dynamic parts like 'last scene of struggling' but quite different at the same time. 8/10

  One Thing - starts out very simple and develops nicely with strings toward the end. Hasn't much much of an impression on me really. Cool ideas but it just doesn't come up to par with the emotion of the rest of the album. 7/10

  Obvious heart - sounds a bit like older finger eleven in parts. Very powerful song and a great way to end the cd. Has an awesome bridge where the song just explodes and then breaks right down to end. 8/10

  In all, a great musical experience and hopefully the trend of music to come in the future with bands moving away boring powerchord riffs on every song on their albums. There's definately a strong element of 80's influence translated in a very modern way. It's also a nice change from the Linkin Park style bands of the world that aren't capeable of writing a song over 3 minutes. Lots of musical talent, maturity and real emotion shown in all songs.
  
  

• Not best, but how could you go lower?
  By A1HTOLGBK8H4LG on 2003-11-15
  I've known Finger Eleven was THERE but I never really cared that much for them. When I heard Drag you Down, they really stuck out for me. So... I accidently fall upon this CD instead of GOBS. But I was pleasantly suprised when I gave it a listen. The songs could go heavy to melodic and both at the same time in one song. I see a lot of originality in this band. And suprisingly this band has managed to keep it up for three CDs! Bands like Korn can fall apart after a few CDs but aparently not Finger Eleven. They have gotten a tad bit less heavy when compared to their previous albums but in no way diminished. If you like any of Finger Elevens previous work I strongly reccomend this CD for you.

  And BTW the live performances really bring out the band and make the price oh, so much more worth it.

  Notable tracks: Good Times (worthy of radio time)
  Stay in Shadows
  Last Scene of Struggling
  Conversations (great bass from Sean)
  
  

• One Hit
  By A2LQ5ADE2GY1VA on 2004-01-21
  Restless tonight
  Cause I can no longer write
  Half decent rhymes
  Though "Tip" was just fine
  It's what the record label planned
  We're slaves to the man
  So I'll just have to whine
  Until money is mine

  If I traded it all
  If I gave it all away for one hit
  Just for one hit
  If I spewed it out
  If I knew all about this one hit
  Wouldn't that be some hit

  I promise I might
  Write a decent song
  Maybe next time
  But I might be wrong

  Even though I know
  That this song blows
  Yeah I guess I know
  I just hate how it sounds
  
  

• You hear a song you love a band?!
  By AF8LCHVK6GJF8 on 2004-10-30
  im hearing people bash finger 11 over this album not sounding like the song "one thing". i have been a huge finger 11 follower since the mid-90s and this album is everything a finger 11 fan would love. as a true finger 11 fan i can say that one thing is the worst song they have ever wrote. if you like the sound of one thing then this album may not be for you. but if you like above, quicksand, first time, bones and joints, any finger 11 song this album is awesome. so dont knock the bad just because the cd doesnt sound like one thing they are not a pop band they are a true rock band. this cd is worth getting if you are a rock fan. and if youve ever seen them in concert you would see the look of shame that comes on their face when they start to play one thing and every frat. and sor. college kids start screaming.
  
  
• The evolution of Finger Eleven is here
  By A3UZHPT6414PS0 on 2005-07-05
  This, the band's latest album, is a whole new sounding 'Finger Eleven' outfit. Gone is the dark moody rock replaced with a more middle-of-the-road sounding rock beat that will appeal to a wider audience. This is their 3rd album and self titled. I have read the latest reviews on this site about this album and need to state that the two songs that most appealed to me were 'Thousand Mile Wish' that was a slower more melodic beat and 'One Thing' that I saw the video clip on a music TV channel here and I was hooked. The other songs are great as well especially the last part of the album. Finger Eleven does not show any signs that they will cease producing albums and I feel that this new road they are on will lead them to the success that they are after. Good work on a top-edge album.
  
  
• Run of the mill rock
  By A2O7FFTDI99MVZ on 2003-07-29
  Finger Eleven is about as average as they come. Sounding like a mix of Papa Roach (minus the angst) and Hoobastank (minus the songwriting ability) the CD falls woefully short in the creativity department. The fourth track on the disk, Good Times, borders on annoying. So much so in fact, that I find myself dreading it. Musically this disk is so bland it is hard to imagine that they ever got signed in the first place. There are a couple of interesting tracks (Absent Elements, a chunky melodic mid-tempo tune, and Conversations, a drum-driven ode to what appears to be a strained relationship) that warrant the disk two stars. Other than that Finger Eleven is average at best.
  
  
• Breakthrough Album!
  By A12THTBNDKKNHR on 2005-03-09
  Finger Eleven is amazing as we know from their previous releases, and my opinion is that their self-titled is the best out of them all. They are finally getting recognized for their music and this a band thats well-deserving of it. This album is so much more than the slower songs they have made vids for "One Thing" and "Thousand Mile Wish." It has certain influences from their old albums and a new finger eleven sound. I think they have gotten better with each album and continue to grow as an awsome band. No way this band has sold out.
  
  
• Finger Eleven, "Finger Eleven"
  By A2LCDY59B2PY11 on 2005-03-18
  I heard about Finger Eleven from a friend and he said he loved it so i had to cheack it out. the first cd "tip" was ok and "Grayest of blue skies" was really good. but this cd is awsume. i just love the lyrics and the way the songs are put together. this cd by Finger Eleven is one of the best cds ive heard. if you havent listened to it you really should, youll love it. Ill be looking forword to a new album from Finger Eleven, definitley.
  
  
• Finger eleven review
  By AA9CNXAUNS4N7 on 2005-09-21
  I looked into this band because one of their songs "One Thing" was featured on the show "Smallville". This song has been on the radio as well. However, the rest of the album is nothing like this song. I am not a heavy metal type of music lover and so I did not appreciate any other songs on this album. Someone who is interested in Creed or Nickleback may enjoy this album. As for me, I only liked the one song.
  
  
• Fans of Finger Eleven will love this
  By AEGCXH8GMIZEA on 2003-06-20
  The Greyest of Blue Skies is still a frequent play of mine since I got it in 2000. I'm already liking this album a lot more though. Other Light is amazingly catchy and hooked me right at the beginning. The songs are as good and better than Finger Eleven's previous works. I was carried through to Obvious Heart with only slight letdowns at Complicated Question and Therapy. This is a very strong album and more worth buying than many CDs these days. The cover is also a sweet difference from the standard (no plastic case). I love this CD and I recommend buying without hearing so you can be blown away by it like I was.
  
  
• Finger Eleven's Self Titled: Best Rock Release of 2003.
  By A3S089ZKCB7GH5 on 2003-06-21
  Finger Eleven has opened new doors with this long awaited follow-up to their second album: The Greyest of Blue Skies. Though not as heavy as TGOBS, this self titled release has great energy. The opening track (Other Light) is a good hint to the overall mood of the album. Scott Anderson's powerful vocals and emotional lyrics add to the most upbeat material F11 has to date. Another great aspect of the album is the DVD which includes video of 8 songs proformed at a recent live show (which is great for people who live in Louisiana becuase Finger Eleven only tours here about once every 25 years). There are also two acoustic songs featured which I was originally skeptical about: Thousand Mile Wish and One Thing. But they are both epic songs which defintely don't fall into the gimmick rock acoustic songs featured by the bands Disturbed, Flaw, Cold and the most recent diassapotment in music- Staind. True F11 fans will also notice the difference between the sound engineering, mixing and recording for this album. Johnny K. (Disturbed producer) has done a sub-par job in comparison to Arnold David Lanni (TGOBS and Tip producer). The previous two albums had much better sounding drums, especially the bass drum. The guitars are also a little less loud in the mix which was excellently balanced in TGOBS. Johnny K. has also added a few pointless sound effect which takes away from F11's artisticness. Despite the lower level of production, this third album is still a great credit to F11. This by far blows away the rest of releaseed rock albums of 2003.
  
  
• Finger Eleven out do themselves
  By A29DM823SK87CL on 2003-06-22
  Being an avid listener of Finger Eleven since their first Wind-Up records debut "TIP", I was very surprised with their latest effort as compared to their previous albums, "TIP" and "THE GRAYEST OF BLUE SKIES" because their effort to define their own sound is very obvious on this one. The guitar parts are sophisticated, the verses and choruses are odd and different from the average alternative band, and from track 1 until the end you can almost hear the careful effort that went into their signature sound effects and melodic edge.
  Finger Eleven takes their time into making records, this time around it's almost 2 years and have something to proove of it. This record may never have a hit single, or even give them anymore airplay on the radio, but they've finally created the most distinctive album that can be compared to their debut record. I've left out one star (4/5) because for the older fans of Finger Eleven, they've left behind the hardcore electic moments for meoldy and a more "radio-friendly" sound. And depending on who you ask, this can be a good or bad thing.

  I also enjoyed the live DVD and "In The Studio" portions... which also has live versions of their previous songs... which I promise you'll love if this record is your first listen to these guys.
  If you want to hear a sound never heard by any band before.
  Finger Eleven is your fix.
  
  

• Disappointing.
  By A2A0O9BG67NGWP on 2003-06-24
  For any fans of Finger eleven's last CD (The Grayest of Blue Skies), which was in my opinion one of the best CDs I have ever listened to (and I have over 500), you will be disappointed with their new self titled CD. You will not find any songs on this CD with the heavy raw emotion of dramatic feeling that their last CD was filled with. Instead, you will find a healthy dose of the same kind of plain, trendy music that is filling the radio airways everyday. If you like Nickleback or Default, buy this CD, if you like heavy music with alot of feeling, buy Finger Eleven's last CD if you don't already have it.
  
  
• A complicated answer
  By A2ZHQH0I527UU5 on 2003-06-29
  I have mixed feelings about Finger Eleven's new self-titled effort. On one hand, I absolutely love F11. Tip and The Greyest of Blue Skies are both among my favorite CDs of all time. They have this unique talent for compositional genius, creating songs that strike the perfect balance between art and entertainment. On the other hand, this release is a step apart from TGOBS. Not necessarily a step forward or back, just.....to the side. F11's earlier stuff was very accessible, enjoyable, and very basic. The new CD is less accessible, stepping away from the four chord progressions and focusing more on rhythmic variations. Still, while it is more complex, there are less stand out songs. Good Times, the single from the album, is utterly disgusting. It's the sellout Finger Eleven, stepping away from what's good to cater to the MTV crowd. It melds their traditional no-nonsense rock with pop-punk, and the hybrid turns out like Frankenstein's monster: big, clumsy, and hideous. The rest of the album, however, turns out quite well. Therapy, Obvious Heart, Stay in Shadow, and Conversations are sensational. Thousand Mile Wish is unlike anything Finger Eleven has previously done, and it is marvelously beautiful.

  Perhaps I came off a little hard. It is a good album, no doubt. It is simply different from TGOBS, and certianly not as good as Tip, F11's masterpiece. Four stars seems appropriate. This is a worthwhile purchase, especially with the bonus DVD.
  
  

• III
  By A195390L6RGMP6 on 2003-07-29
  Everything has been changing. Finger Eleven haven't changed much, even though you have read the strange editorial review on the first page.

  Musically, they are the same old Finger 11 we have known for years. Yes, we have the "ballads" here, yes, the lyrics are slightly softened, but overall, still the best of F11 is shining so bright through the whole album.

  We have here anything we might have liked about them: heavier and faster tunes, unforgettable melodicism, unique vocals, and lyrics with the deep meaning. We have here the really great opener Other Light, we have a "pop" song (Therapy), the extremely catchy tune, we have the incredible acoustic Thousand Mile Wish, we have strangely Disturbed-styled Good Times, we have great stand-outs like Stay In Shadow, Obvious Heart, and Absent Elements... In short, what don't we have here on this long expected CD?

  Unbelievable release, which altogether with this year's Year Of Spider by Cold will definitely decorate your collection of the best rock music.
  
  

• I know this review won't be helpful
  By A2990824N1ZIZN on 2004-08-26
  Just agree with what the title says. I know no one is gonna press a button. This band obviously sucks. Who the #ell cares about that 'one thing'. They should all shut up.
  
  
• Very good
  By A3AL2O5PRN122Q on 2004-10-31
  Even though this is the first Finger Eleven CD I bought, I still love it. My favorite tracks are: "Therapy", "Panic Attack", "Conversations", "Absent Elements", "Good Times", "Stay in Shadow", and "Other Light".
  
  I really think this is an amazing CD. And, it's okay for a band to change their sound. Look at No Doubt, though they do have a base sound, and they're one of my favorite groups.
  
  I just have to say give it a shot.
  
  
• Deep..Intense..pretty much describes it! Awesome lyrics that really strike a chord!
  By A1PLS2R8YF3S2H on 2005-07-11
  I don't know what it is. I love this album. I just want to play it over and over again. I love it, I love to sing to it. I love the lyrics. Thousand Mile Wish really strikes a chord in me..it's a painfully beautiful chord. I also love the song Good Times "careful what your feeling on the inside..you should try to remember the good times.." All of the songs are awesome. I love the lyrics. R0ck 0n Finger 11!
  
  
• Great Album
  By A2BB5TW90E8WP4 on 2003-06-25
  Finger Eleven has been one of those bands that continuously puts out good stuff, but gets overlooked by the mainstream. This cd is a big step up for them and a lot of people are going to miss out on a great album if they don't get a little more attention from the media. Every song is good and there are two acoustic songs (One Thing and 1000 mile wish) featured. The vocals are as good as they've ever been and the riffs are great as well. Usually you can just single out a few songs that stand out, but there are at least 5 or 6 really good songs on this album. They get stuck in your head after a few listens. The DVD is a nice addition. It features 8 live performances (and these guys are really good live) as well as some behind the scenes recording shots. I definitely recommend this to any rock fans out there. You won't be disappointed.
  
  
• Not as good as TGOBS but still amazing.
  By A181HDGJL057LU on 2003-07-07
  At first when i heard this album, i was slightly dissapointed. Although the album was enjoyable it still couldn't hold very well as a follow up to the utterly amazing "The Greyest of Blue Skies." Then as i began to listen, the sings soon grew on me, although they can't quite reach the melodical and compositional genious they had in the previous album, they still create the music that traps you and keeps you listening to the album over and over again.
  
  

• Them VS. You VS. Me
• Greyest of Blue Skies
• Tip
• One X
• Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces