Gateway

Issue date: 7/22/08 Section: Arts & Leisure

3 Doors Down [Click to enlarge]

After 3 Doors Down's emerged onto the alternative music scene in 2000 with their first album, "The Better Life," they continue to stay in the spotlight with hits such as "Kryptonite," "Loser," "Here Without You," "When I'm Gone" and "Let Me Go."

Their most recent self-titled release debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Chart and sold over 154,000 copies in the first week. And for good reason.

The new album starts with strong guitar riffs in "Train" as the band declares the need to be "put on a train momma, cause things just ain't the same no more." The lyrics from this song, the first on the record, foreshadow the distinction this album makes from the previous three.

With headstrong melody blasting the words "citizen/soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair" in the song "Citizen/Soldier," the band gives their respect for the troops' service overseas. The song was originally penned for the National Guard and has been used in commercials for the service branch since late 2007, before the album was even released.

Other songs such as "It's Not My Time" also continues the theme of independence and strength. In contrast, "Let Me Be Myself" is a simple plea for acceptance while "Pages" gives an intimate look in the mind of someone struggling to not fall apart.

"It's the Only One You've Got" slows down and deepens at the record's emotional core as the lead vocalist sings of taking chances and discovering inner strength to overcome psychological challenges: "If you're afraid to fight, then I guess you never will. You hide behind your walls of maybe, nevers. … Your mistakes do not define you now - they tell you who you're not. You've got to live this life you're given like it's the only one you've got."

"Your Arms Feel Like Home" is another song that can be repeated 100 times with content. The comfortable acoustic melody matches the blissful slumber of the words, "There's a life inside me that I can feel again. … It's the only thing that takes me where I never been. … I don't care if I've lost everything I've known. … It don't matter where I lay my head tonight - your arms feel like home."

Again, disparity of songs within the album is uncovered, as it ends with "She Don't Want the World," a bitter-sweet verse crooning of a one-sided relationship ("All the things she says, he's just lying there without someone to hear her cry") that ends when the imbalance is realized ("a brand new morning shines, in the morning she wakes up alone again, this time to face the day").

While the remaining four songs seem shallow in comparison to the depth of those aforementioned, they certainly have their purpose and carry this record to the success it has already achieved. 

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