Product Description

The success story of 3 Doors Down starts typically enough. An aggressive and unrelenting phone campaign to radio stations for their breakaway single "Kryptonite" snowballed into ashowcase at New York's legendary CBGB's and a deal with Universal Records. The Escatawpa, Missouri quartet offers a sound that is grounded in '90s alternative rock but doesn't ignore the contributions of hard-rock music's foundations from the '60s and '70s.
"Loser" finds 3 Doors Down using AliceIn Chains-influenced minor-key vocal harmonies and acoustic-then-electric dynamics. In "Duck and Run", vocalist/lyricist Brad Arnold urges fans to remain positive despite life's trials. The delicate balance of human relations is explored in "Not Enough". In "Be Like That", Arnold sings of a daydreamer's envy, sounding like a heavier Matchbox 20. Though the band began as a power trio, with Arnold on drums and vocals,3 Doors Down added a second guitarist and a drummer to fatten its sound for THE BETTER LIFE. With lyrics that embody great storytelling and a sound that contrasts crunch with supple acoustics, the members of 3 Doors Down are that much closer to being the musical supermen they set out to be.

Track Listing

1. Kryptonite
2. Loser
3. Duck And Run
4. Not Enough
5. Be Like That
6. Life Of My Own
7. The Better Life
8. Down Poison
9. By My Side
10. Smack
11. So I Need You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20879 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 41 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Mississippi-based quartet 3 Doors Down has only one thing that sets them apart from other hard rock bands: lead vocalist Brad Arnold is also the drummer. The group shops the sounds of Pearl Jam and the Goo Goo Dolls, pointing at what they like, picking it off the shelf and throwing it into the stew. While the music on The Better Life, their debut, sounds overall both competent and confident, the songs themselves are equally uninspired and clichéd. For example, the riff from the track "Loser" is straight out of the Alice In Chains songbook, adding much more cringe-worthy lyrics ("Addiction needs a pacifier, the buzz of this poison is taking me higher"). In fact, most of the lyrics zero in on well-worn rock themes of aggravation, confusion and frustration, feelings that 3 Doors Down will easily coax out of discriminating listeners. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews

Mellow rock
This is not my usual musical taste. I come across the track "Duck and Run" as a soundtrack to a youtube clip, showing the day to day ordeals of US soldiers in Iraq. I certainly do not regret buying the track's album for the quality of the other music is on a par.
Although certain songs like "Kryptonite" or "Loser" take a while to appreciate they reward the listener after a number of plays, reflecting the sombre mood of the album, where it seems life's problems overwhelm. I was surprised to learn this was a debut album as it does have mature, polished feel.

The Number 1 rock band in the world!
Since going on Rugby tour to Canada in 2000 and hearing Kryptonite played there, I came home with this album and I still listen to it on repeat. Great, timeless tunes that you never get bored of hearing. Not too heavy, you can hear every word as it's sung, not screamed at you. A lot like Nickleback, if you like them, then this will be up your street. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have and still do!

Standing on the street looking three doors down...
Absolutely brilliant album, really glad I first heard "Kryptonite" as I would have bypassed 3 Doors Down. After buying the album, I soon discovered I couldn't stop playing as I was really enjoying it. My favourite track is "So I Need You". Well I finally got to see them live and I have to say if you love the music as recorded on this album, you'll love it when they're live. Absolutely worth your money and a definate plus in any CD collection.