Customer Reviews: Read 227 more reviews...
 Great Breakthrough Album! November 4, 2004
P. Roeder (Kentucky, USA)
44 out of 47 found this review helpful
I admit, I first heard of Breaking Benjamin when their single "Polyamorous" was released on the radio, and that is what initially drew me to them. After downloading the CD in its entirety, I was floored at how much I liked the band. While the instrumentation isn't spectacular, and the lyrics aren't amazing, everything blends together perfectly leaving listeners with a very solid rock performance.
I Wish I May- 4/5 Great beat, very nice guitar riffs, and a good heavy sound.
Medicate- 5/5 Great use of the lead singer's voice, I love the feel of the song.
Polyamorous- 5/5 The first BB song I heard remains one of my favorites.
Skin- 5/5 Oh so catchy, great lyrics and great music.
Natural Life- 5/5 Not too keen on the intro, but the rest of the song is fabulous.
Next to Nothing- 4/5 Much softer than the other songs; Ben has a great voice.
Water- 4/5 The intro is very different, but fades into a reliable beat and wonderful lyrics.
Home- 5/5 SO ORIGINAL!!! This is probably one of my favorite songs on the CD. Who knew a song about The Wizard of Oz could be so awesome?
Phase- 3/5 I never got into this song much, although I love the guitar and bass parts.
No Games- 4/5 Another softer song, really emotional with soft instruments and words.
Sugarcoat- 5/5 Very strong, catchy intro. Wonderful vocals and effects, and nice screaming.
Shallow Bay- 4/5 The music and the lyrics flow together so well, it's a great song.
 Absorbing Saturate October 22, 2004
Tim Brough (Springfield, PA United States)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
I really don't get too many rock albums anymore, because they are all starting to sound the same to me. But there's something about Breaking Benjamin that completely gets my attention. They tend to veer away from all the old minor key heavy rock and slip into melodic choruses. It doesn't make them wimpy, one only needs to hear "Sugarcoat" to bet that there are a few Tool albums in the bands' CD collection. They also utilize the now obvious device of an acoustic start that rages into the thick chorded chorus, on the great "Next To Nothing."
It's also good to hear a band that doesn't mind rocking without pandering. Too much of the teen-punk that gluts the airwaves these days is derivative sugar. Breaking Benjamin have a gut level approach to the sound. Even something as singable as "Polyamorous" still connects on a visceral level, but not on the same level of violence as -- for instance -- Korn. The other thing I really like about BB's "Saturate" is that they didn't slip into rap-metal, despite Ben Burnly's raw vocal style. That "Saturate" rocks on it's own terms sends a signal to me...Breaking Benjamin could have a great future. Three and a half stars.
PS: the second album, "We Are Not Alone," is even better!
Simply amazing March 4, 2004
stxfootball (Cincinnati, OH)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
"Saturate" is definitely the best chance I've ever taken on buying a CD. I had only heard "Polyamorous" and a couple others and gave it a shot. Best 8 dollars I have ever spent. I'll go through it song by song.
1) Wish I May - sweet opener, very hard
2) Medicate - an instant favorite
3) Polyamorous - the single - not the best song on here but a great song
4) Skin - my favorite song on the album - one of my favorite songs ever
5) Natural Life - has a sweet opening and awesome guitar later in the song
6) Next to Nothing - softer than the songs before it...its amazing
7) Water - hard opening, kind of angry
8) Home - really grows on you, sweet chorus
9) Phase - intro is awesome and just builds up and explodes...sweet song
10) No Games - kind of like Next to Nothing...really good song
11) Sugarcoat - soft singing...screaming...its all balanced out...its really good
12) Shallow Bay - good song...I like the ending a lot
13) Forever (hidden track) - Best ending to a CD I've ever heard
This band is kind of unnoticed and underappreciated...I'd love to see what they do next and I hope it comes soon. I bought this cd in November and it hasn't gotten old one bit....its a rare catch
This CD is good!! Not a copy or a different tool, just a sound that differs on it's own.. May 12, 2006
C. Cooper (Kingwood, Texas United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
If you ever take time and listen to new music and sound. The difference in some bands truly stand out. These for such bands as:
tool
strata
atomship
dredg
breaking benjamin
And in some many, if not all cases taproot and chevelle.
1: I wish I may -
Good intro and first track for a unknown band with youv'e never heard of them. Gets you used to his sound and how the beat will be. Hard and heavy, with ryhems that build up like a good movie.
2: Medicate -
Opera like. Simple as that. A voice that just goes up and up. In my eyes a great song. Anything that alters the mind will alter your opioion on the song for the better.
3: Polyamorous -
Hey it's the only radio song they have(on this cd), radio song is what it is, catchy as heck, made you want to buy the album, most attractable song that makes you curious. And not a bad one even at least. Good song,video even cooler. You would of never guessed that the voice of Ben, is what you see in him. Sound doesn't fit guy, makes even that much better. In what he can do with his voice.
4: Skin -
Very melody and structure is fantastic. Very lyrics, crip in hi voice. One of those songs, that can't explain, however not the best, but makes the album that much better. Great Middle and not a filler song.
5: Natural Life -
3rd Best song on the album. Great sound, great guitars, haunting voice. NATURAL LIFE!!! His voice is incrediabe, just works. You either like it, or you really hate it.
6: Next to nothing -
Great lyrics, great buildup, really get into the song. Not the best beat, not till maybe middle and then towards end of the song, when (next to nothing, and in between that and the next set up lyrics, sounds awesome)Great balance.
7: Water -
AWESOME.Tied with 2nd Best song! Moves along at awesome drum and beat, and then the lyrics grab you and then takes you along for even more of a beat that works with you and sounds freaking fantasic!
8: Home -
Mind Blowing, one of those songs that makes it mark as memeroble and non-forgetable. This is the 2nd best in tie as well. However this would win the tie, can't mess with the SOUND and LYRICS. Never knew I cared for the Wizar of Oz till now, don't. But do respect what the meaning is coming from movie, as the movie does. Except BB puts it in mind trip and alice and wonderland world. Home is what dreams and nightmares create. It is one of best songs ever..Over statement..nah..Just my personal feeling. This is what M.J.K speaks of in reference of thy third eye...HOMMMMMEEEE!
9: Phase -
BEST SONG!!! Works in contrast to ever little thing that makes the other songs as not the best. Just everything is perfect on this song. Take 10 Classics and role them up in one song, its Phase. Lyrics incredible, if not simple in some eyes. But those are some eyes..not all..Intro is brilliant, the build-up is clever suspense and the end of the story and realization makes heavy yelling music pale in comparsion. Ben is not yelling, hes singing his heart out, pure emotion. ITS JUST A F##$I*G PHASEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
10: No Games -
Another addition that you can sing along, doesn't stand out. Very (we are not alone here; not my favorite album. Just not as complex as Saturate) Great, but not fantastic. Is them, but not all mountains contain gold.
11: Supercoat -
Pretty dang good song, quite impressive. Lyrics work insync with beat. Heavy, emotion filled and Breaking Benjamin All the way. Bottom of top 5!
12: Shallow Bay -
Makes me feel great, great everything. Just works, his voice again blows me away on this song, curious and intersting all in one. You feel it as what it is, no b.s. Beatiful ending for a powerful album..yes begining of the end....
13: Forever
Nice...indeed..perhaps precursor to Rain and Just forget it on 'We are not a alone'. Great lyrics, great voice..
Overall if you understand my conception and view upon this band and album; you'll like such music as well. Great first record, maybe a Gem of an album. We are not alone is great and advanced; however isn't the same BB. Perhaps just a stall, it happens, and isn't bad. How many albums can you say from one band stands out above all them? BB came out like a shot to the skull, and then slowly started to repair itself. Sometimes bands are not as good the first go around, (taproot, not bad, but nothing like blue sky research is) but some get it on the first record, aka Saturate..
This cd works, and is one of the all-time greatest, in my eyes and perhaps others. However I'm not you and your not me, so may be different. Either way, worth a listen if you like things that are mixed or different in a way that catches you off gaurd and is not a copy and or varitian of another band.
Tell me another band that has the same beat and same voice and same structure as BB does? I can't compare Tool with no other band either, even APC. Tool is Tool..Breaking Benjamin is Breaking Benjamin.
Just from album to album, hoping for more cosistency, can't wait till end of summer 06'. New album, and Ben's reassurance of the difference of we are not alone and saturate, not saying will be like Saturate, however saying not going to be like We are not alone either. But more of what we got in saturate, then in we are alone..Sounds Good to me..
Enjoy the music out there guys, nice to share my view on this great band.
Now let's all just go home...
This is scary good! January 24, 2003
Daniel Fisher (West Lafayette, IN)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I realize that I'm just another of the many 5 star reviews for Breaking Benjamin, and I generally don't bother saying basically the same thing as everyone else. I had to make an exception with Breaking Benjamin, because this is simply the best CD I've ever heard in this genre. I had no idea that simple, straightforward rock could sound this good. They do nothing ground breaking aside from the fact that they just plain rock. The lyrics are simple, and the guitar playing is fairly basic. However, the lead singer's voice is just amazing and every riff on this CD is good. Also, a rarity nowdays, the song Polyamourous is an excellent representation of this band. A really cool riff, basic but cool sounding lyrics, and just straight up rock. The lyrics, whether sung or screamed, which doesn't happen very often but are great when utilized, just sound sensational. Every song on this CD is better then 99% of anything you will hear on the radio. Also excellent is that fact that you can find this CD for 10 bucks! Please, I beg you to support Breaking Benjamin and go out and get this CD. I can't wait for the next release!
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