Posted: September 23rd, 2009
Contributed By: Nick
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Purchase @ iTunes Release Date: September 22nd, 2009 on Jive Records |
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Three Days Grace starring: Adam Gontier (vocals/guitar) |
Knowledge: ‘Life Starts Now’ is the third LP from rock royalty Three Days Grace and the follow-up to the massive ‘One-X’, which netted the boys a pair of number one rock singles, success at top 40 radio, and platinum honors. Oh, and let’s not forget the long-awaited release of a Three Days Grace live DVD in 2008. The band unveiled the first single from ‘Life Starts Now’ on September 1 titled “Break” which has already boogied up to active rock’s top ten.
Turn-Ons: :”Bitter Taste” is just about as close to perfect as you’re going to get. Every in and out of this masterpiece is epic, from Neil Sanderson’s Freese-worthy drum performance to gushing, explosive chorus, whose arrangement is absolutely breathtaking. “World So Cold” tingles the senses with a deep, atmospheric body and tone. This mood broadens the scope of “World So Cold”, which allows the strong emotions an expressive, soul-searching Adam Gontier to flow like leaves in a sky, without distracting from the song’s lyrical concreteness. “Last to Know” is absolute genius, a modern rock movement. Although the haunting, entrancing piano-vocal arrangement of lucky number seven is brilliant, it is the purity of “Last to Know” that makes it truly special. Infectious is the rolling, pumping groove earmarking “Goin’ Down.” Adam Gontier anchors “Goin’ Down” by literally doing just that-and that of course is emphasizing the “o” or “ow” sound of the word, chromatically ending each line in hooky 3’s. Since we’re talking vocals, “Without You” needs to be mentioned, as Gontier nails crafty falsettos and takes on bold register variations without missing a beat. Moving back one spot brings us to “Bully”, a song with an eerie, “creeping-up-behind-you” kind of vibe that cunningly carves out a perfect setting. “Lost In You” will most likely be 3DG’s next dance with top 40, but don’t let that fool you. “Lost In You” boasts incredible character, but most importantly this sounds honest, not made to order for multiple platforms of radio.
Turn-Offs: It won’t surprise any if, er, when “Break” becomes the number one rock song in the country. But take away the Three Days Grace tag and “Break” goes from 5th Avenue to Goodwill. “Lost In You” is a great song but it sure borrows quite liberally from Saving Abel’s “She Got Over Me”. “Bully” shouldn’t be here, but that chorus is so whiney that it deserves to be picked on. Also joining “Bully” in the “shouldn’t be here” team is next-door neighbor “Without You”, whose crime of fouling up Adam Gontier’s lights out vocal performance with an overall mediocre composition. For those of you that enjoyed “Riot” you’re in luck, because its identical twin “The Good Life” bats in the 5-spot on ‘Life Starts Now’. “Riot” was the forgettable part of ‘One-X’ so I’ll let you figure out where that ranks “The Good Life” on ‘Life Starts Now’….
Valedictorian: “Bitter Taste”
Salutatorian: “Last to Know”
FAIL: “The Good Life”
Cool Points: “Bitter Taste” is the best song ever to come out of camp Three Days Grace. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but even if you’re not as high on “Bitter Taste” as I am, you have to admit that that song is a BAMF. Guitarist Barry Stock pays homage to Jerry Cantrell on “Someone Who Cares”, sprinkling a little bit of Alice In Chains into his arsenal. Even if Three Days Grace leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, you have to admit the voice that comes out of Adam Gontier’s trap is pretty killer. I consider Gontier to be modern rock’s John Mayer….
Moral of the Story: ‘Life Starts Now’ is aptly titled, as Three Days Grace really do sound reborn on this record. The 3DG that made ‘One-X’ can’t even touch the band that pulled off ‘Life Starts Now’. Yes, Three Days Grace stick to their modern rock guns. And yes, ‘Life Starts Now’ was made to have a crossover-ready sound at times. But Three Days Grace have undeniably manned up on ‘Life Starts Now’, as a few spins of the record will show you just how much of an animal Three Days Grace have become.
A Fine Line: “This was my worst love/You’ll be the first to go/And when she leaves you for dead/You’ll be the last to know”- from “Last to Know”
TuneLab Rating: 9 out of 10
52 Responses to “Review: Three Days Grace – ‘Life Starts Now’”
I am liking the new format, Nick. Keep up the good work.
How can you hate on “Riot”? That song kicks butt and is awesome to see live.
Diggin this format, too. This album has grown on me, and the few songs you named are ones I am also picky about. They didn’t fit in for me. 7.5/10 for me on this one, but could bump a bit higher later. Surprised this got a 9 to be honest. Loved “Last To Know”, “Bitter Taste” and “No More” the most. Nice review, though!
How the heck did this get a 9?Gontier sings about the same whiny things over & over & over.I’d give it a full 7.Nice singing & cool riffs though.
I would have given it a 6.5
Riot is indeed a killer track.
I agree that Riot sucks…but I wouldn’t give this CD higher than an 8 tops. Not bad though.
I usually agree with you Nick, I’m surprised I won’t be on this one. This album is only good enough for a 6.
Matt, I’m going to have to counter with the 10 card.
I’m have to say something like a 8.5 this is a strong album and matured sound from 3dg.
I told you it would have been a high rating. I said 9.5, but 9 is okay. Nice review Nick. =)
Like the format, reminds me of the process a hip-hop website I follow uses, and that’s a good thing, because their writers pen the best reviews I’ve ever read, and are always spot on with my tastes, so it works out pretty well. Good style, good writing here nick.
As for the album, it’s amazing. I’d go with an 8.5 simply because, as awesome as it is (i haven’t repeat played an album this much in fricken forever) it doesn’t kick quite enough to take gold; not many albums can. one of the top 5 on the year though.
Nice review, I agree with most of it except I like Riot and The Good Life.
Like the new format. Definitely agree with “the good life” being a fail. Don’t care much for that song. After repeated listens probably an 8 for me.
Loving this cd. And Nick, how many times do you give these cd’s a listen before you start crafting these masterpiece reviews?
This album top me rubbed me the exact same way that “Goodbye to the Machine did. The first two times I hated it, third time I was comin around, now I just realize what I was expecting would’ve sucked and I’m LOVIN it. Album well worth the nine
Awesome, awesome CD. I’ve been anxiously waiting this and BB, and honestly this is so good that I won’t even mind if Breaking Benjamin doesn’t deliver.
And the new format is great. I especially like the valedictorian/salutatorian, it gives me an idea which songs I should check out if I haven’t heard the band before.
Great review as always, Nick! Keep up the good work!
thanks g
Good review, Nick. I also like the new format. I wasn’t too happy with this CD and would probably only give it a 7. Make sure to review the new After Midnight Project CD
Nick, your eloquent and clever reviews are what brought me to this site in the first place back in 2007.
This CD met my expectations. It had the exact same setup as the first two. Half the songs were average to great, while the others were basically filler.
Good songs: World So Cold, The Good Life, No More, Someone Who Cares, and Life Starts Now.
Poor songs (Most of these are just predictable, cookie cutter 3DG songs: Bitter Taste, Break, Lost In You, Bully, and Goin’ Down.
I didn’t mention “Last to Know” or “Without You,” because I don’t think I could put them in either category. Both had potential but still kinda let me down. “Last to Know” sounded great at the start, especially Adam’s falsetto. But he ruins it in the end when the lyrics go from heart broken to abrasive. Ok, so they aren’t that abrasive, but I think they really hurt their crossover chances by changing the lyrics too “Leaves you for dead” for the last couple of choruses. And his voice follows suit. Anyone who has seem them live knows that Adam doesn’t always sing with all the rasp. I think the song would have been better if he just sang it without it, save the rasp for the hard songs. “Without You” is a good song, but I was expecting a much better chorus. When I first listened to it and heard the chorus, I thought it sounded like a perfect PRE-chorus. I thought a big (not necessarily heavy, big full) chorus was about to start. Then I realized that what I was listening to was the chorus. Kinda lame, but still not terrible.
“World So Cold” and “Someone Who Cares” were the best songs on the album. “World So Cold” is their first track 3 to not be the first single, and it probably should have been. My third favorite has to be “No More.” Probably because I get a big Jars of Clay vibe from the verses. Anyone else hearing it? It sounds very reminiscent of “Flood” IMO.
All in all I’m not disappointed. Half of a good album is basically what I expected from them. So you could say I’m pleased. I’ll round up to a 7 out of 10, just because the three best songs are excellent.
I keep going back and forth. It’s an OK album.
I’m going to have to give it another 10. That’s 20 for me so far.
Great review! Well said.
At times I find Adam’s lyricism a tad weak but I tend to contradict myself when I see that it fits the music perfectly. I really enjoyed this album never get tired of those pipes.
I agree with the overall review, as well as the score. But, on the contrary I did love the Song “The Good Life”. I agree withe the lyricism, and you liking his penis soapy.
I bought this album and really enjoyed it!
I knew you would. You have very good taste in rock music.
i think this is a really good review, but id say more of an 8 or 8.5. AND i think that the “FAIL” section should be renamed or something, because i personally enjoy “The Good Life” and the same with “Never Surrender” by Skillet. I know they arent the best songs, but i dont think they “fail.”
Nice 40 below summer avatar muncky!
I really like this new format, however, I disagree with the ‘Fail’… The good life is an intersting 3DG party song, and they didn’t really have one of those before – so I dig it. Some of the tracks on the album are kind of mediocre, but the album is still pretty good. I would give it a 7.5. Also, ‘Riot’ is awesome!
totally agree about “RIOT”. I thought it was one of there stand out tracks on One-X. A few songs on here are really good, best they’ve ever done, but as a whole i dont really like it. They seem to be going the same route as Bands like Seether and Papa Roach. Bands that had so much potential at the beginning…
The more I listen to this, the more I dig it. After first listen, I saw 3 solid tracks, a few decent songs, and about half filler. After 4 or 5 solid listens, I’m really digging it. Standout tracks for me include “Without You”, “Break”, “The Good Life”, and “Goin’ Down.”
g1assjaw, I thought Seether’s newest cd was their best to date. And the band thinks so too. But Papa Roach’s newest was their worst by far, I agree. Riot IS a sweet song.
Amazing Album…my score 9,0 – must buy…awesome!!
Great album(9/10) and it was nice to see a little different of a direction for them to take. Cant say im disappointed with the bb and 3dg album release this month.
just a theory… the person at the end of the bully intro sounds older almost liek a teacher or principal, may be symbolic for higher authorities ignoring the bullying of young children until its too late. Just thought i would throw it out there
Bully is one of my all-time favorite TDG songs. I hope they shoot it into a single.
I was liking the review until you totally nailed “the good life!” The lyrical depth and pure energy of the song is just awesome. I didn’t care for riot in the last album but The Good Life is my favorite song off of this album. I also didn’t get why you like Bitter Taste so much… To me Bitter Taste was probably the least memorable and had the least lyrical value of any song on the album.
I give the album a 10/10
xtrole, I love The Good Life, but you’re WAY off about lyrical depth man. It’s badly written but insanely catchy. Bitter Taste is much better written!
I like both ‘Riot” and “The Good Life”, but I agree on most everything else you said. I would give the album a 9 or 9.5/10. Very good effort from TDG.
“No More”, for me at least, really sticks out as one of the best on this album. It’s a great track and with the exception of “The Good Life” and “Bully”, this album is solid.
Fuck this CD… I listened to it once and thats all I will ever listen to this CD. I cant even listen to the local rock station cause they play this crap all day! I would rather take a bullet to the foot then listen to this band anymore! FUCK TDG!!
^Another satisfied customer.
I think pconner86 needs some Taylor Swift in his life. Maybe then he’d be satisfied.
I think Taylor Swift has surpassed Three Days Grace in song writing prowess with this album. I could actually finish the lyrics to the chorus of “Last To Know” upon the first listen – that, my friends, is the definition of cookie cutter. Breaking Benjamin showed us how to handle the delicate genre of mainstream rock without regressing into poppy choruses, topical songwriting (”at night I feel like a vampire”), or predictability with their latest record. 3DG took that same concept and sloppily defecated on it. A few standout tracks (”No More”, “Bitter Taste”) does not a decent album make.
I agree, some extra weak writing on this album in some parts. But I would have to say bb’s new one, though I am a fan, is the same thing as Phobia, and the same thing as WANA. So really, as far as mainstream rock goes, I would definitely have to put them in the same boat. But, if you think those are the only two good songs on the record, then you weren’t listening very intently. “Bully”, “Goin’ Down”, “Life Starts Now”, and “World So Cold” would also be chalked up to the good songs category. I personally love “Break”, but I can see where you’re coming from. Corey, if you like Taylor Swift, that’s cool and all, but not even my girlfriend is sad enough to listen to her new stuff, and she likes alot of crap. So I would have to say you’re exaggerating a tad my friend.
P.S. You’re also condemning an entire album because a couple weak lines, and maybe one or two predictable choruses. That, is not cool.
you know i’ve had a couple months to let this album really soak in, and i gotta say its pretty freaking good…”bitter taste” is probably my song of the year and theres some really good and still catchy songs on here.kudos to 3dg for their strongest effort yet!
Corey, let me get this straight. You are saying that Three Days Grace write terrible lyrics, but Breaking Benjamin writes creative lyrics? Well, everyone has their opinions, but Breaking Benjamin is very repetitive. How many more times can Breaking Benjamin use the same words in their songs before people start to find it annoying. To each their own though.
“Break” is the only single so far!
i love each n every song/// the best album out so fAR