Let's seek where Breaking Benjamin began with their first album, Saturate. Well, this is their hardest record to date, with more screaming and intense guitar patterns than any of their previous records. But is it better than any other BB record? No. I'd give that to Phobia, which is still their greatest. My favorite songs on here as follows: Wish I May, Polyamorous, Natural Life, Water, Home, Phase, and Shallow Bay.

This is Breaking Benjamin's weakest entry into their discography, but it still is a fantastic album nonetheless.

Rating: 4 stars/5 stars

that's about all that needs be said about this album it's breaking benjamin best by far. Their other albums are good but this one has only one song i don't like as oppossed to four or five on their later albums. that one song is water in case you were wondering....

Apparently, this is a cd you're either going to love or hate. Myself, I'm in the camp of people enjoy their newer outings. None of the songs on this album struck any kind of chord with me. At the time it was released, it may have felt really worthwhile to a great many people. But if that's the case, then the music hasn't aged well. I'm not happy to admit that I found nothing here worth getting excited about (as I really am a fan of this group), but there's no way around it; the whole of this disc is simply mediocre.

Ah Breaking Benjamin. Featuring the vocal talents of Benjamin Burnley, the guitarmanship of Aaron Fink...and, well, the rest. This was there first album and in my opinion the best of their albums. Many people (generally the pretentious kind) accuse Breaking Benjamin of being posers or sucking, but i see none of that here. Sure, they are not one of the best bands out there , but they are fairly solid, and this album is a modern classic.

1. I Wish I May 7/10: A fairly good song with a good guitar section. The vocals are a tad weak , except the screaming at the end, but its still good.
2. Medicate 8/10: This song is different from any i've ever heard before. I like the way it flows and how the lyrics paint a life of excess without making it seem glamorous
3. Polyamorous 9/10: This song has both good guitars and vocals, and has an air of mystery about it. One of my favorites.
4. Skin 6/10 this song is a little weaker, can't really explain why
5. Natural Life 8/10 The guitar and drums in this song are a bit heavier than the previous song and it sounds good. Kinda like No More Sorrow by Linkin Park
6. Next to Nothing 7/10 a nice softer song, but kinda forgettable
7. Water 8/10 This song is very heavy and bitter, i like the emotion of it.
8. Home 10/10 By far my favorite song off the album. it contains deep feeling and, in my opinion , a deep message. Love the wizard of Oz imagery
9. Phase: 10/10 My second favorite song. Not much else to say, but i like the ending best.
10. No Games: 7/10 Slower song but not that bad. Kinda boring though
11. Sugarcoat:10/10 The heaviest song they ever did, and also very good. I like the death-growls in the chorus
12. Shallow Bay: 8/10 A pretty beaty song. Very well done, a little cheesy though

And so overall, very good. And now, i'm bored with writing this. Bye.

I remember when this album was first released. `Polyamorous' was such a fun song, and Ben Burnley's vocal power was exciting. He was a fresh voice, and I still consider his growl/yell/scream to be the best in the genre. Over the course of their career they have had their ups and downs and looking at their four studio albums I can say that they have a solid career, even if they have faltered into familiar muddling a few times.

Why do even the best bands fall victim to the `lack of originality makes all our music sound the same'?

Their debut album has a little of the good, a little of the mediocre and a little of the `wow'. Their singles `Polyamorous' and `Skin' were both in the `wow' category. `Polyamorous' is not a technically astounding track, but it is so much fun, filled with an energy that is overwhelming (in a good way). `Skin' is a terrific song, all the way through. It carries that same energy and adds an extra `something' that just makes me so intrigued and invested. `Water' is the best thing on this album, period. There is a layer of aggression that sits so well with the band here, and that opening is just glorious. The closing tracks, `Shallow Bay' and the mellow `Saturate', are perfectly paced, executed and positioned to make this album an instant repeat.

`Saturate' especially works beautifully to make you aware that this band is more than just a one-trick-pony.

The balance of the album is good, but there are moments of generic rock that lacks real pop. `Home', `Sugarcoat', `Next to Nothing' and `Natural Life' all have something memorable to them. There is edge here and a `standout' quality that makes them good tracks, even if they don't necessarily `wow' you (not every track needs to do that). I especially like `Next to Nothing' because it has a certain comfortable feel to it. It's a warm song, something easily accessible (it should have been a single).

I am one of the few who find the opening tracks, `Wish I May' and `Medicate', to feel generic and clichéd. They just sound like rock tracks ANY band could have thrown together and thus they leave a `lazy' taste in my mouth. I see why they are well liked, but in all honesty there really isn't anything there to differentiate them from any other rock song out there.

I mirror the sentiments of one reviewer who said purchasing rock music is kind of, well, not something to do anymore since it all starts to sound the same.

`Phase' and `No Games' are my least favorite songs here, especially `Phase', which is just bland.

BUT, despite the few mediocre offerings, `Saturate' is actually a very solid first effort, and Breaking Benjamin did make good on their potential. Their sophomore album is still their best yet, and their third album `Phobia' is also very, very good. I like `Dear Agony', but it suffers from a string of unoriginality that runs through its veins in some areas. It has some great songs, but it also has its fare share of `just okay' ones. Still, there aren't many bands out there that can sustain their vision and focus as well as Breaking Benjamin has. This album was the first signs of what they had to offer.

Breaking benjamin is a good rock band . Not one of the tracks on this cd are bad, some are just good, while others are unforgetable. The mixture between rock and heavier rock . Great guitars, good lyrics, and excellent vocals make this album worth it .

Had we are not alone and phobea before i purchased this Very good album and was a good launch for mainsteam play for the band.

ILL RATE THIS A SOLID 4 STARS. MY REASONING... THIS CD MUSICALY BRINGS IT...IT HAS A REAL SOLID SOUND VERY ORIGINAL AND UNIQUE. BUT THE REASON ITS NOT 5 STARS IS BECAUSE I HEARD THE THE LAST 2 ALBLUMS THEY CAME OUT WITH FIRST.LYRICALLY THE FIRST ALBLUM LACKS WITH WHERE THEY ARE NOW WITH "WE ARE NOT ALONE" AND "PHOBIA" I THINK THIS BAND CONTINUES TO GROW WITH EACH NEW RELEASE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN THEY COME OUT WITH A 4TH ALBLUM.... CANT WAIT... solid 4 stars!

I got Breaking Benjamin's debut album from 2002 "Saturate" a day before my birthday back in September of just last year, and it immediately got me hooked to this band. Then in the weeks to come, I would go on to buy their following two albums 2004's "We Are Not Alone" and 2006's "Phobia". Of all three Breaking Benjamin albums thus far, "Saturate" is my favorite album by these guys, and it also became one of my favorite modern rock albums to listen to as well. True, I know some of my fellow metalheads and Amazon friends won't like BB or this album, and if they don't, that's just fine with me, I understand. Just because I'm listening to these guys right now, doesn't mean I'm gonna stop listening to Pantera, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Dream Theater, Suffocation, Death, Obituary, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Atheist, Nile, Kreator, Behemoth, and every other great metal band alike. I'm not even a big fan of mainstream/radio rock whatsoever, but Breaking Benjamin are one of those few bands that actually catch my attention and turn me on whenever I feel like rocking out.

Anyways onto the album. This album is just full of addicting melodies and catchy choruses, and the lyrics are good and they're very meaningful too. Every song on here is great and worth listening to, and not to mention the musicianship on here is of course good, strong and tight in it's own right. Ben Burnley's vocals are just awesome on here and very melodic. Aaron Fink's guitar riffs are very good and catchy too. Together he and Ben together both do a nice splendid job at taking these simple little riffs and actually MAKING something out of them. Mark James Klepaske even lays down some nice basslines good enough to give the listener a nice pulse, and Jeremy Hummel's drumming is very good as well. The first song "Wish I May" is a nice solid rocking opener and one of my favorite songs on the album. I like the riffs, the vocals, and the overall beat of this song. Track two "Medicate" is definately my favorite song on here. The feel of this song is just awesome, and Ben's vocals are just great, and the chorus is very addicting as well, I love it. The third track "Polyamorous" is another favorite of mine as well one of the band's best known songs. The guitar riffs are very catchy, and there's some nice bass from Mark, and the drum beat is awesome. Other favorites on here include "Skin", "Natural Life" (which features some cool basslines at the beginning as well as some great riffs and another great strong chorus), "Next to Nothing", "Home" (another strong heavy rocker which include references from the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz"), "Sugarcoat" and "Shallow Bay". The hidden track "Forever" is good as well. Oh yeah didn't I mention that this cd also contains an enhanced video for "Polyamorous", it's really cool. Please read on for my song ratings.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Wish I May (3:58) - 5/5
2. Medicate (3:45) - 5/5 My favorite song on here. Love the chorus
3. Polyamorous (2:56) - 5/5
4. Skin (3:20) - 5/5
5. Natural Life (4:00) - 5/5
6. Next to Nothing (3:43) - 5/5
7. Water (4:12) - 5/5
8. Home (3:37) - 5/5
9. Phase (4:31) - 5/5
10. No Games (3:35) - 5/5
11. Sugarcoat (3:38) - 5/5
12. Shallow Bay (4:05) - 5/5
(Hidden Track) Forever - 5/5

Overall, Breaking Benjamin's "Saturate" is an awesome debut album from these guys, and a great modern rock album that's just downright fun to listen to. I'll definately take these guys over stupid lifeless bubblegum pop sellouts such as Kelly Clarkson, Hillary Duff, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears (whom which all make me sick) anyday of the week. So anyways, if you're a fan of Breaking Benjamin, then by all means you must own this album. I also recommend their other two albums "We Are Not Alone" and "Phobia" too. Enjoy!!

This was a gift and I have not heard whether the recipient was pleased with it.