I really wanted to have something positive to say about Potters Field the sophomore album from Wind Up's 12 Stones. After forcing myself to listen to this the past few weeks and find the good in the bad I have come to a conclusion that is not feasible. Potters Field is not only lacking in originality but in diversity to the point of sounding like one long mundane song.
From the opener "Shadows" to the closing track aptly titled "In Closing" this is a quagmire of everything wrong with modern rock radio. 12 Stones does step out of their comfort zone at times for instance in "Lifeless" instead of playing distorted power chords on the verses they opt for clean strumming before going into the chorus. "Photograph" opens with strings and an acoustic guitar but lasts all of about 40 seconds before going back to what has gotten them by thus far. "Stay" continues in the vein of clean verse with a big heavy chorus and "Waiting For Yesterday" does nothing to change this formula.
Vocalist Paul McCoy doesn't help the band from being labeled as new rock imitators. There were several times while listening to Potters Field that I thought I was listening to a new Lifehouse or Three Doors Down record. It is the same unexciting baritone singing that has bored us since Scott Stapp's voice hit the airwaves several years back.
In all honesty I do not understand why bands continue to put out music almost identical to their colleagues and predecessors. There is no artistry, no excitement, and no spontaneity just the same formulaic rock sound that continues to resurface every year. Potters Field is the picture perfect example of this, I'm just waiting for Creed or Nickelback to start suing these guys for royalties.
0.5/4
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Barry Nothstine12 Stones roars out of the gate chugging mightily with their sophomore release Potter's Field. The CD rocks heavily (and sounds better sonically than their debut), and the vocals of Paul McCoy are impressive. I especially enjoy the opening rocker "Shadows," the melodic, heavy groove of cut 4, "Speak Your Mind," and the different sounding opening strains of "Stay." Fans of the band's first…HM Magazine #109Reviewed by James WetzThe world of mainstream radio rock has its favorites. Is sounding like a combination of all of them and touring with half of them (3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd in one bill!) enough for 12 Stones to join their ranks? Potter's Field improves on their self-titled debut, with better-crafted songs, although there's no clear-cut single like "Broken" from the last album. But the glaring…Similar sounding releases
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