Customer Reviews

Seventeen Days

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

With their third studio album "Seventeen Days," 3 Doors Down have cemented their status as a formidable force in the music scene. The LP, while not as instantly likable as 2002's "Away From the Sun," maintains the group's radio-friendly tendencies for captivating melodies and cutting lyrics.

The set's lead single, "Let Me Go," a sizeable hit across several different radio formats, best summarizes the strength of the group. Still, superb cuts further abound, such as the stirring "It's Not Me," which was previously released on their 2003 live EP "Another 700 Miles." Over the top with conviction and passion, the performance is even stronger in its studio rendition.

The grating "Never Will I Break" and the soaring "Live For Today" rock hard and summon repeated listens, while "Father's Son" serves as a gripping tale of the plight of an illegitimate child.

"Maybe I'm just crazy or the devil got inside/But either way my soul is gone/I've learned this all night/The one hand throws the whiskey/And the other throws the gun/As he cries out to the heavens/I am not my father's son."

"Landing In London," which is performed with classic rock legend Bob Seger, examines the life of a traveling musician longing for his home and family, while the following "The Real Life," quite possibly is a continuation of the story:

"But I woke up to real life/And I realized its not worth running from anymore/When there was nowhere left to hide I found out/That nothings real here but I wont stop now /Until I find a better part of me."

"Be Somebody," which explores the relationship between a son and his mother, shoots a bulls-eye at the heart. So too does the concluding "Here By Me," a tale of longing for that special someone who does not reciprocate the same feelings, which is accompanied by gut-seizing instrumentation that perfectly mirrors the somber state of mind the lyrics create.

Despite the fact that it is permeated by gloomy subject matter with lyrics that range from unadulterated defiance to the deepest sorrow, "Seventeen Days" is filled from top to bottom with potential smash-hits, making it the group's most solid release yet. Fans of the mainstream post-grunge sound that are going through difficult times will not be able to put this CD down. After all, whoever said despair couldn't sound awesome?

"Seventeen Days" sees 3 Doors Down take their Southern rock style and give it a harder, more metal edge (thanks in no small part to producer Johnny K, who has also worked with Disturbed and Drowning Pool). "The Real Life" alternates a wall of sound with more restrained choruses (perhaps they were influenced by Nickelback during their summer tour in 2004?), and harder/angrier songs like "For Today" and "Right Where I Belong" definitely show that 3DD is heading in a more hard-rock direction.

But the group returns to its trademark sound in the final track, the ballad "Here By Me", which blends a quiet melody with tender lyrics and a deeply personal vocal delivery.

All in all, it's definitely a solid album if you are a fan of this band.

People trying to compare 3 Doors down to their First CD..The Better life..Should stop..this band has changed it's sound..and they're better for it..I'll just go track by track..

Right where I Belong-Fast and Furious opener with great heavy guitar work..Solid opener.

It's Not Me-Probably Their 2nd Single..Arnold Explodes in the chorus..Their next radio hit for sure.

Let Me Go-You've all heard it..probably the stand out track on the album.

Be Somebody-My Favorite So far..Arnold reaches deep into his emotions to bring out a song that anyone could relate too..beautifully done.

Landing in London-A Modern Turn the Page..With an appearence by Seger himself..Probably the third single..again slow and mellow.

The Real Life-A little harder..this is more for fans of the Better life..Which I didn't like too much..Skippable track for me.

Behind those eyes-Another one of my favs..Good work on guitars..Solid Ballad..Again Arnold's Vocals are damn near flawless.

Never will I break-Hard Track here..not my thing really..but still likeable.

Fathers Son-The Lyrics are quite intense and spooky..And I belive theres an opera in one part,hard rocking fun song..

Live for today-Like it..signature 3 Doors Down..don't want to spoil it for you..

My world-Damn similar to Road I'm On From Away From the Sun..This track is short..but it really builds up from the beginning with frantic hard rock in the middle..well done.

Here By Me-Easily the slowest Track 3 Doors Down has ever done..sappy sappy lyrics..and you know what..I like it...Arnold can sing anything well..and proves it here.


In conclusion..people need to get over themselves..3DD is never going to make another Kryptonite..so Stop asking for one..They show great diversity..and Go from Metallica to Country to Soft Rock Flawlessly..which many bands can't do...So if you're looking for Excelent Ballads..Fun Rock..and touching lyrics..Or just want to have a good time listening to an Album...this is for you.

Ever since "Kryptonite", I've been a fan of Three Doors Down. They've always kept originality, which bands like Nickelback, 311, and others have lost. Well, sadly, we might have to add Three Doors Down. I guess being away from the sun so much made them lose originality.

Looking for "The Better Life", you'll become dissappointed. Looking for "Away From The Sun", you will also become dissappointed.

About 90% of the songs on this album are slow, and quite tiring and boring after awhile, but "Live For Today" and "Right Where I Belong" as being exceptions. Actually, I do go for more slower songs. But, I don't like slow songs scattered around the CD.

I don't see anything truly dramatic or outstanding on the CD. There may be some radio airplay, but I don't think any of them will become #1 like "Kryptonite", "When I'm Gone", or "Here Without You". All of the songs are good, but not outstannding. I'd recommend lowering your expectations before buying this CD.

Maybe they are trying a different style, or maybe they are leftovers from earlier albums. You decide. Now, time for the vitamin shot, and on to the next CD.

I first heard of them when i herad the song "Kryptonite" which i am sure everyone has heard. I liked that song right away. This is a great album. My favorite tracks are Let Me Go, Be Somebody, Right Where I belong, and The Real Life. Give those tracks a listen and you will like this CD too.

I swear, every album that these Mississippian rockers release is better than the previous one. "Seventeen Days" is no exception. This album is loaded to capacity with great songs. Two of them are already hits.

"It's Not Me" made its debut on the live album "Another 700 Miles", and it has been one of my favorites ever since I first heard it. This version clearly packs more wow-power. Of course, the live version was still in the "design stages". But it resulted in an excellent finished product. "Let Me Go" was being played on the radio before the album was even released. Kudos to 3 Doors Down on such an accomplishment.

As for the remaining ten tracks, I see two that definitely are chart-toppers in waiting. "Landing in London" is absolutely dynamite. Brad Arnold and Bob Seger sound unbelieveably good singing together. Now is it just me, or was this song somehow separated from "Here Without You" and "I Feel You" (tracks #6 and #7 on "Away From The Sun") at birth? I certainly would not rule that out, as the three do sound similar. Listen to them back to back to back and you'll know what I mean.

"Never Will I Break" is the second of my predicted future #1s for 3 Doors Down. This song has an extremely powerful "never say die" attitude, even more powerful than "Duck And Run". The chorus says it all: "This road I walk is paved with the broken promises I made. At least a million times I've fallen. But never will I break". These are definitely the words of a diehard "never say die" attitude song.

Brad Arnold and company, if you happen to read this review, look no farther for your next two hit songs. But no matter which tracks make it to the charts, "Seventeen Days" is undeniably your best work yet.

I have never considered 3 doors down a very respectable band on the music scene, mostly because of the massive amount of radio airplay they recieve. Every single they release is overplayed and thats my main problem with the band.

However, this new album is addictive, and i couldnt stay away. The latest single "let me go" is a little different then much of what the band has released up to this point and its a really good track. I couldnt stop listening to that song, so finally i just bought the album and im impressed. Every song here is worth a listen, from the rocking upbeat opener "right where i belong" to the mellowed out closing "here by me" this entire album is excellent. The song writing seems a lot better than on the previous effort. This shows on every track, but especially the oasis esque "behind those eyes" and the angrier "fathers son" which is absolutely awesome. The strongest track on the album however takes the band back to what it does best. The center ballad on this effort is "landing in london" which is the "here without you" on the record. Bob Seger's backing vocals are superb, and the lyrics are great. Other highlights include the catchier "its not me", and the harmonic "never will i break", but every single song is better than the entire "away from the sun album" not including "here without you". The fact that they wrote most of it, and recorded all of it in seventeen days is actually hard to believe because its so much better than the efforts they worked so long on.It seems more real, like the time constraints really brought out the best in the band. It seems a lot less like processed pop and a lot more like straight out rock. "Seventeen Days" is a magnificent record and one that was much needed from a band that had to prove that they arent just a one hit wonder but a formidble force on the face of rock music. Its the first great record of 2005, and starts out what looks to be a great year for music on the horizon. I give it five stars out of five, and they earned it.

3 Doors Down is a terrific band with much talent within. I am a big fan of the first cd, 'The Better Life' and their second CD, 'Away From the Sun', but the third, I'm just not into as much. The thing about 3 Doors Down that I always enjoyed in the previous two CDs was that they brought on elegance when writing the slower-paced songs, but in this latest installment from the gang, the elegance they once had has been unfortunately withered away. I have listened to Seventeen Days many times within the last week, and I get bored with the constant slow-esq pace of how the album goes. I feel like most of the songs were forced, maybe more personal, but in the long run, I was hoping for more of a sound that was mixed between fast songs and slow songs, rather than mostly being dominated by slow songs. I gave it 3 stars because I thought it was a valiant effort, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from this band in the future!

Have had Seventeen Days for about a week, and have played it every day in the car.
The music is first rate...bought two more of their cds.

Seventeen Days - somewhere I read that's how long 3DD had to make the album. Sadly, that shows through. As much as I want to love the album, I really can't. This band has huge potential, but these songs don't showcase it well. Many of them sound the same. The only song I disliked was "Never Will I Break," for its lack of a catchy tune - something several other songs make up for with thoughtful lyrics, but this one didn't. Besides that track, all the others were good. Not great. Just good. Listenable. "Let Me Go" is quite upbeat, actually, but severely overplayed on the radio. "Be Somebody" has touching words but a boring melody, but is maybe the most optimistic tracks of the album. "Here By Me" is heartbreaking and a nice way to end the CD. But other than those, Seventeen Days is more along the lines of punk/rock elevator music than a collection of smash hits. Hopefully 3DD can crank out some good tunes in 2006 and atone for Seventeen Days.