Album of the Day

Since their start in Jacksonville, Florida, shortly after the turn of the millennium, Shinedown has become a platinum seller largely through relentless touring, so it's little surprise that the group supported their SOUND OF MADNESS album with two rounds of concerts. An electric set from a Washington state show on their “Carnival of Madness” tour and a Kansas City stop on their acoustic “Anything and Everything” trek are paired on SOMEWHERE IN THE STRATOSPHERE, and the 2-CD/2-DVD Atlantic collection is Shinedown at its best. While there's some overlapping material – including Billboard Mainstream Rock chart-toppers “Save Me,” “Devour” and “Second Chance” - the performances are strikingly different, and the acoustic show includes frontman Brent Smith's stories behind the songs. Released 10 years ago today, SOMEWHERE IN THE STRATOSPHERE is an apt description of Shinedown's place in the alternative metal universe.