Staind
Breack the Cycle

They sold seven million copies of their debut album (which isn't really a debut) and were elected as one of the best bands of 2002.

Question: do they deserve it?
Considering that they were discovered and recommended by a "genius" of nu-metal-hiphop-crossover music like Fred Durst, the first justified doubts arise.
The big single "Outside" brought them to success and promoted the album of these "new musical pioneers."
Which aren’t really that new. In fact, these four American guys have already tried with the album “Dysfunction”, almost unknown in our area, with widely negative results (they sold two million copies, but it's still crap).
Now, if you compare it with the previous one, "Break the Cycle" is a step forward that shows some maturation. Without a doubt, this is a mediocre album, nothing more. It significantly reflects the situation that has been suffocating the music world for a couple of years: groups of teenagers who, just to become superstars, would be willing to do a duet (I would too... although for other purposes...) with Britney Spears.
Just for a change, their lyrics are inspired by youthful vicissitudes, filled with the usual shouts of liberation against the stress that envelops and stimulates them.

“Break the Cycle managed to uproot all the rot that oppressed me and made me feel bad from my soul. Our music is born from all this turmoil.” Aaron Lewis (aka the group’s singer).

If you have to stress yourself that much to make some decent music…
They define their efforts as hybrids between a melancholic and alternative rock.
Critics include them in the post-grunge, nu-metal category.

I’m not sure which category to associate them with, but I surely know that Staind are one step above the likes of Puddle of shit, Nickelback, and so on. Moreover, Lewis's voice is truly beautiful. Whether it embodies melancholic aspects or passionately and exemplary grieves, it always achieves the primary goal of giving a concrete meaning to many songs.
Inevitably, after a couple of listens, the music starts to get on your nerves, with a few exceptions including some songs.
“Not for you,” “It’s been awhile,” “Fade,” and “Outside.”
Now a light bulb will light up above your head, and you'll exclaim: “Uh, what a coincidence, all four singles!”
Exactly, but it’s not a coincidence. The most interesting songs are precisely the four singles (how lovely are the laws of the market!).

The rest, as I've already said, is quite monotonous and predictable.