Review: 3 Doors Down – ’3 Doors Down’

Posted: May 17th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ Amazon.com Release Date: May 20, 2008 via Universal Republic
	3 Doors Down is: Brad Arnold (Vocals) Chris Henderson (Guitar) Matt Roberts (Guitar) Todd Harrell (Bass) Greg Upchurch (Drums)

Overview: Back in 2000, a song called “Kryptonite” by a little Mississippi band 3 Doors Down made its way to rock radio, and the rest, well, you figure it out. The debut album that spawned crossover hits that not only include “Kryptonite”, but “Loser”, “Duck and Run” and “Be Like That” was called ‘The Better Life‘; fittingly enough, 3 Doors Down was assured “the better life” after moving more than three million copies in 2000 alone. The quintet returned with a vengeance in late 2002 with their sophomore release, ‘Away From the Sun’, with singles “When I’m Gone”, “Here Without You”, and “The Road I’m On” earning the guys another multi-platinum certification. 2005 brought 3 Doors Down’s third disc ‘Seventeen Days‘, which sent them skipping down the platinum brick road once again. The band toured relentlessly behind ‘Seventeen Days‘, not batting an eye after drummer Daniel Adair bolted shortly after the album’s release to join Kamp Kroeger. The remaining four found a touring replacement in former Puddle of Mudd member Greg Upchurch, eventually naming him a full-time band member. 3 Doors Down decided it was time to begin penning album number four, enlisting ‘Seventeen Days‘ producer Johnny K once again. After a three year absence, modern rock titans 3 Doors Down are ready to hit the ground running with their latest, eponymous disc. Lead single “It’s Not My Time” is ripping through multi-format radio, and the band will be touring alongside Staind and Hinder this summer.

The Good: 3 Doors Down does one thing very, very well-they rock on a multi-dimensional level. Sounds elementary, but that’s what they do and always have done. Needless to say, ‘3 Doors Down‘ is no different, but this album emanates a flair from 3 Doors Down that cannot be matched by any of its predecessors. The self-titled LP welcomes 3 Doors Down back in head-turning fashion with the stomp and rawness of “Train”, a song that is as sludgy and punchy as it is virile and brisk. Greg Upchurch’s presence is felt immediately, as his carte blanche style early on proves there will be no awkward, “feel each other out” moments anywhere on the record. “Train” will grow on you with every listen, and will eventually never let you go; the song overtly hints at a more organic, earthy record from the band, allowing the listener to get excited for the remaining eleven cuts. Released in late 2007 in conjunction with the United States Armed Forces, “Citizen/Soldier” blossoms from an eclectic, venturesome introduction into an impassioned song that showcases the humility and charity of the band taking the sometimes negative energy of our nation at war and transforming it into something special and honorable (on a personal note, I commend 3 Doors Down for being one of the rare bands to actually have something uplifting and reassuring to say about our nation’s fight, instead of ignorantly slandering our president and/or our presence overseas). By now “It’s Not My Time” should be a household name, as the band’s signature sound is furthered by its sprightly and whimsical nature; in the end, “It’s Not My Time” will undoubtedly stand the test of time and remain as relevant several years from now as “Kryptonite” and “Loser” have in the eight years since their release. “Let Me Be Myself” is heavyhearted, but it screams energy and vigor from moment one; an entendre of string embellishments take the already beautiful sky of “Let Me Be Myself” and paint bright burning stars all across its horizon. The rollercoaster ride that is ‘3 Doors Down‘ surges forward with the expansive, moody sound of “Pages”, a dynamic track gifted its independence thanks to commanding choruses and Brad Arnold’s nimble delivery. A pre-requisite to “It’s the Only One You’ve Got” is repeat listens, as it will certainly take more than one breeze through the track to absorb all of its unique contents. Underneath it all, “It’s the Only One You’ve Got” is simple and sensible, but it earns its stripes through an unflinching onslaught of distinguishable musicianship. Juiced accents, fluttering guitars, and burly vocals make this sun-kissed song memorable, but 3 Doors Down makes sure you will never forget it in the second verse; the band goes pure, unadulterated country-western for a hot minute in the second verse, all the while making Fuel’s Carl Bell salivate (listen and you’ll see). ‘3 Doors Down‘ gives listeners a modest and fitting pick-me-up with “Give It To Me”, a rousing and zealous trip that balances the band’s craftiness and attention to detail with the loose, carefree vibe felt throughout the album. Sentimental and straight from the heart, the tearjerker “Your Arms Feel Like Home” is the effort’s most honest song; get out your Kleenex and wipe away those tears, because ‘3 Doors Down‘ is about to get moving and shaking again. “Runaway” is a bouncy groove, galvanized by lights out drumwork from Greg Upchurch and the ease with which the remaining four glide through and smooth out the tune. The trend continues with “When It’s Over”, a peppy and lively little thing that asserts its place with almost cinematic transitions in volume from verse to chorus. ‘3 Doors Down‘ says its goodbyes with “She Don’t Want the World”, offering a departure in sound from any of the band’s previous work. The lyrically astounding clincher is built upon an eerie foundation of majestic, echoing electronic percussion, as other accoutrements like a flamenco sounding guitar are introduced gradually. A stealth, tongue-in-cheek way for the band to end its latest offering, 3 Doors Down caps off yet another album of a band conducting business as usual, while still reminding listeners of 3 Doors Down’s undeniable ability to grow and adapt.

The Bad: I pinpointed a few detractions from ‘3 Doors Down‘ that may not seem so concrete, but for a band of 3 Doors Down’s status, I feel it appropriate to share with you my faults. The opening track “Train” could be far more explosive than it is, but Greg Upchurch’s choice of snare drum for the song holds it back; muddy, flat, and far too washy sounding, the snare not only weakens “Train” but also makes one of Upchurch’s finest hours sound sloppy and disjointed. Although tough to berate the band for its efforts on “Citizen/Soldier”, the song is the quickest from the new material to tire when it should serve as one of the album’s staples; this, combined with the flatlined snare drum heard in “Train” significantly injures the first part of ‘3 Doors Down‘, which should see 3 Doors Down galloping out of the gate rather than stumbling. As far as songs to miss goes, “These Days” is the lone representative, in my opinion one of the most trivial and pedantic tracks the band has ever recorded. Overall, I noticed one thing about ‘3 Doors Down‘ that maybe some of you might not. As the album plays on, you can start to hear a very earnest 3 Doors Down doing their best to prove their swagger and place after a three year departure. This comes as a big surprise to me, as there is no need for a band with a repertoire like 3 Doors Down’s to sound like they’re pressing or trying to outdo themselves, especially with the more primitive, sultry sound which ‘3 Doors Down‘ is blueprinted upon.

Bottomline: 3 Doors Down will surely be embraced with open arms as they arrive once again with an album of hooky, soulful modern rock that everyone and their grandmother can easily digest and enjoy. The twelve song opus has what every previous 3 Doors Down has-a couple strong singles, some driving rock anthems, a handful of melancholy ballads, and a slew of middle of the road rockers from which to choose. On the surface, ‘3 Doors Down‘ shows only one real difference in the mold originally cast by the band, in that this album requires more than a listen or two to truly enjoy and understand. I can’t pinpoint one reason why this is the case, but take my word for it. Ironically, 90 percent of the material you just read in “The Bad” section was drawn from only the first two or three listens; luckily, I sat down with 3 Doors Down’s latest and gave it a chance to win me over, and that it did. For a band like 3 Doors Down that has unspoken expectations to please an ever growing legion of crossover fans with each album, their latest will prove more a dice roll than a sure thing; nevertheless, ‘3 Doors Down‘ is as enjoyable and solid as anything the band has ever created, and it will ultimately take a hefty amount of kryptonite to weaken the fortress 3 Doors Down strengthens with each album.

Rating: 8 out of 10