Customer Reviews

Life Starts Now

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

It's been 6 years since the release of their Platinum selling Self Titled debut, and these guys are still going strong. Around the time of their second release "One X", everyone wondered if these guys could actually top their first album.. and we all know the result of that.. yet another Platinum selling album, followed by a live dvd, which was also great. Come 2009, we have their third release "Life Starts Now" an album I thought, would be almost impossible, after an album like "One X"! Surprisingly, I'd say, this album isn't up par with "One X", But different altogether. More solos can be heard this time around.. different, but good! The first single "Break" starts off with "Billy Jean" like beats, but then it literally breaks into signature 3DG riffing.. amazing bass work in this song. I saw the video the other day, its way too polished with all the good boy hair do's, & a funny concept.. all paint flying around.. but i couldn't stop laughing when I saw Barry Stock in a Pink suit.. anyways, back to the album review.. this is a more mellow album, if compared to the last two albums.. but in no way short of quality ~ "World So Cold" is like a testament to 3DG's past efforts, its pure 3DG style rock from start to finish! "The Good Life" is like this albums "Riot". Album highlights would be the tracks "No More" (its got one of those choruses that just stick in your head) & "Last To Know" (good piano work building up to a strong climax) The rest of the album is just as good, like I said, not on the same pace as the last 2 albums, comparatively more mellow.. but on its own its a great 3rd effort! Right now the song "Without You" seems to be stuck in my head, I just love the way it starts and the solo towards the end. All in all a great album from a great band who never fail to surprise! Nowadays it so easy to get complete discographies from those torrent sites.. even new albums way before their release date!! Nothing can be done about it though.. piracy IMO cant be stopped! But what we could do, as true fans, is buy the mp3's or even the cd's, to credit bands like 3DG for what they are worth. I said it in another review, & I'll say it again, It's bands like 3DG that are actually worth paying the amount for! Cheers to 3DG for making yet another KicK@$$ album. Buy it, you will not be disappointed ;o)

Its been 3 years since the last album, and this new one has not left me disappointed. I can honestly say that there is not one song that I dislike. Sure, there are some that I like more than others (that's natural), but unlike other albums by other artists, where I skip through the songs I don't care for, I have listened to this one straight through at least twice a day since it came out last week. I believe any Three Days Grace fan will feel the same, feeling that the long wait since One X was well worth it.

From the unrestrained passion and angst singer Adam Gountier wraps around every syllable on "Life Starts Now," the first record from Three Days Grace in over three years, it's clear the band's time away from the spotlight was put to good use.

The album doesn't go as nail-bitingly deep as some of their past work but still has its share of above average songs. The tracks are sequenced excellently, unraveling in clipped, fast-moving fashion.

Lead single "Break," which crashed into the Hot 100 at no. 91 and is receiving regular rotation on rock stations, is actually one of the non-highlights with its subpar lyrics, at least in comparison to the better tracks like thoroughly awesome opener "Bitter Taste," which rocks, sways and affects deeply. Gountier sounds righteous and absolutely compelling as he sings the words of contempt ("Your name, your face is all you have left now. Betrayed, disgraced, you've been erased.") and cleansing ("I have escaped the bitter taste of you.")

"Lost in You" could rack up some major radio play if it becomes a single, and while its song structure and lyrics are a little trite and predictable they come off as genuine. The same goes for "Someone Who Cares" and "Without You," which are supported by some of the best playing on the album. The results are smooth and precise but still compelling.

"World So Cold" is memorable with its particularly impressive chorus and Neil Sanderson's spot-on drumming, and the terrific "No More" also haunts with an awesome riffs that mark the beginning of the song, even if the song longs for a more restrained, quiet vocal performance than Gountier delivers. "Last to Know" is everything a late-2000s alt-rock ballad ought to be with plaintive, hearttugging, hurt, angry vocals and another melody that immediately grabs. It begs for attention and is designed to hit the listener in all the right places.

The album begins to fizzle down in quality toward the end, with fewer tracks calling attention to themselves, but "Life Goes On" definitely has some solid moments that show Three Days Grace in fine form.

There's nothing wrong with change. This slightly new, slower version compliments Adam's voice much better. The better use of their instruments i.e. Piano, better Bass, etc... really open this album up. If your expecting corny songs like Riot - you will be disappointed. Although songs like Home and Just Like You would have been nice I suppose. Either way, the wait was worth it. I strongly recommend it.

Yet another excellent album from one of the best hard rock bands out there! "Life Starts Now", produced by the great Howard Benson, shows how much the band has matured over the years since their first album, not only in lyrics, but also in their instrumentals and song writing. The drums/guitar/bass are all a lot more intricate and complex this time around with numerous guitar solos throughout the album, including lots of different effects and tones, which is a nice change for 3DG. Adam's vocals sound as great as ever, especially on the moving track "Last To Know", which also features piano, a first for the band.
This album may take a little longer to grow on some fans, as it is softer and has some more ballad-type songs but overall it is great to see them mature and evolve as a band, without losing their sound.
Definitely worth picking up! 3DG is one of the few bands out there who consistently release solid albums, front to back!
Some of the standout tracks are: Last To Know, World So Cold, Break, Someone Who Cares, Bitter Taste

Wow,
So I scrolled down to the 1 star reviews to see how much they bashed this album, some said it wasn't as good which is true, to some degree. Their first two albums rocked my absolute favorite was, is and will always be "PAIN" from their album One-X. TDG is the reason I started listening to rock music so I wanted to be fair when I came to review this album and despite the 1,2,3 Star reviewers this album is worth buying. The song "Last to know" was amazing, heard it by complete accident and it blew my mind away and "bitter sweet" was just as great. Take the time and really listen to this CD you won't regret it.

I'm definatly going to say that 'Life Starts Now' wasn't nearly as good as 'One X.' it's way less hardcore. However there are some very meaningful songs in the lineup. Overall, it turned out well.

I purchased this album at the same time as Breaking Benjamin's 'Dear Agony' and while I have to say that Agony is better throughout, the lead single "Break" from this album is incredibly catchy and reminiscent of "Riot". Three Days Grace steps forward with more of the heavy radio-friendly detuned riffage mixed with Gontier's signature vocal style that they fronted in 'One-X', but sadly the new album does not measure up. However, there is still plenty to like about this album. Gontier still presents himself as a very capable vocalist with excellent lyrics and fans will continue to appreciate the angry sound of their music. Stock's guitar work is pretty good even if some of the solos sound forced, the riffs are heavy and songs like "Break" and "The Good Life" will beg you to join in with your air guitar.

If you're a TDG fan, you'll want to pick this up but don't expect another 'One-X'. Those new to the band should at least check out the first half of the album and make their own decision.

Three Days Grace have always been THAT radio band. You know the one. The one that comes out with way too catchy rock tunes that you can't help but enjoy. The one that has the singer that doesn't sound like every other singer on the radio. The one that actually rocks pretty hard. Basically, Three Days Grace knows their niche market. And, somewhat wisely, they've grasped it.

That's the mentality I had when I went into listening to their newest offering, Life Starts Now. I've always enjoyed 3DG, I won't deny that. I thoroughly enjoyed both of their past releases, so I did expect good things. I did not expect this though. I don't really think this is a step in a new direction (minus the piano-led Last to Know), but if you're good at one thing, I figure why rush into changing? If you listen to the radio, and any fan of 3DG most likely does, then you'll know pretty much what to expect upon your first listen as their lead single, the insanely anthemic Break, offers up a good judge of character.

Don't go into Life Starts Now expecting carbon copies of Break though. Each song has its own identity, they just follow the same path (if that makes sense). Take the opener, Bitter Taste, for example. Much like One-X's opener, it gets things going in the right direction from the very beginning. If you need reassurance that 3DG isn't just a one trick pony, however, World So Cold and the afforementioned Last to Know do the job nicely. The former is emotional yet still heavy enough to please with just a fantastic chorus, and the latter is the story of a girl leaving a guy for another one, yet its told as if the former boyfriend is telling the new guy about it. See! INNOVATING!

Past that, you have hard rock songs. They are pretty well written, so most of them are great, as per The Good Life, Bully, and Goin' Down. The guys do show off a different side, where they show more melody in songs such as Someone Who Cares, Without You, and the title track Life Starts Now. There are a couple stinkers that I just can't get into though. No More specifically, but Lost In You falls into that category too simply because it doesn't sound right. It could be good if they would've done the chorus a bit differently.

All in all, a strong offering from a band that keeps getting better, little by little. Recommended.

Been a fan since TDG first came out and love all of their stuff. I was hoping for a little more anger in the feel and lyrics of this CD than it has... but nonetheless I still support them, it's not a bad CD... just not what we all normally expect from TDG. I can honestly say that I don't skip a track when listening to this CD.. I do indeed like all the tracks... I just don't get the same urge to headbang when listening to this CD as I still do when "I Hate Everything About You" or "Home" etc.. comes on the radio... So yeah... five stars for good stuff... just not great.