Shinedown

A five-song acoustic distillation of The Sound of Madness, this intimate set is marked by Shinedown's undeniable talent for sweeping choruses you can yell along with. Singer Brent Smith decisively steals the show, his voice building from forlorn starting points to a muscular, enraged rasp; there's also quite a bit to be said about his ability to carry the band without the electronic handholding that has become standard practice in the modern era. Rockers "Sound of Madness" and "Devour" are fun, but it's "The Crow & the Butterfly" that will bring you back for a second helping.