Away Team

3 DOORS DOWN- Time of My Life

Universal/ Republic

Rating:  7 out of 10

Reviewed by: Jay Rybak

While I admittedly have not been a fan of much of the work 3 Doors Down has done as of late, I have been digging their new single “Every Time You Go”.  That being said, I decided to delve into their latest offering Time of My Life to see what other ear-pleasing entrees lie within.  What I found was an album packed with more ups and downs than the ongoing NFL Labor negotiations.

The album jumps out of the gates with the guitar-heavy, high energy title track.  Once we get primed and ready to go, the boys from Mississippi take things down a notch with their hit ballad, “When You’re Young”.  Enjoyable nonetheless, the first single off of the album is an ode to overbearing parental guidance and crushed dreams.  From here, the train gets rolling again with “Round and Round”.  Though not the Ratt cover I was hoping for when I saw the name of the track, this one is another high energy cymbal-smasher that keeps drummer Greg Upchurch busier than Tiger Woods at a Sorority Slumber Party.

The up and down pattern continues through the next couple of tracks; from the self-lamenting love ballad “Heaven”, to the energetic “Race For the Sun”.  “Back to Me” follows up with a musical sound similar to that of Shinedown’s .45, but is unfortunately combined with a lyrical quality that makes it destined to be the song of choice for high-school Romeo’s trying to get to first base at the school dance.

One of the album’s least desirable tracks is followed up by one of it’s brightest spots.  The latest single “Every Time You Go” is a catchy, solid tune, destined for major radio play.  It’s one of those songs you “hate to love”, because once it gets in your head it stays there like the friend we’ve all had that doesn’t quite know when it’s time to head home.  Despite not every song in the album’s first half being a home run hitter, I can still see myself singing karaoke to any one of them after indulging in a few adult beverages.

You ask “What’s Left?”  Well that just so happens to be the name of the next track in this ballad-rocker roller coaster.  The aforementioned is a slight departure from the norm, in that upon first listen you might think your CD player malfunctioned and you were listening to the Country music station.  That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad song, let’s just call it different.  Speaking of different, the next track, “On The Run”, is an interesting musical mashup that sounds like Matchbox 20 teamed up with Jake E. Lee on guitar.  A tough call, definitely one that will require several more listens before I make my love/hate determination.

Track #10, “She Is Love”, I do not.  This is by no means a knock on Santana, but the emulation of the latin guitar god’s style on this track, leaves us with something more suitable for a retirement community dining room.  Within the first minute of this one I was overcome with the smell of White Diamonds and urine.  Once I got my bearings back and made sure there weren’t any dentures in my water, I was met with the pleasant surprise that is “My Way”.  This is 3 Doors Down in it’s purest… redemption.  Just as I was ready to write this one off as just another mediocre album from 3 Doors Down, enter the final chapter, “Believer”.  Now we’re talking!  This riff-heavy, fast paced, foot stomper is just the smash in the teeth they needed to rescue this album from mediocrity.  Perhaps my favorite song on the album, the guitar solo at approximately 2:15 is enough to make any air guitarists fingers bleed.  But be careful not to get any blood on the stereo when you press the repeat button on this one.

All in all, Time of My Life give you much more (and much less) than you bargained for, but the good outweighs the bad here, and this album comes Highly Recommended.

Time of My Life hits stores this Tuesday July 19th.  For more info on 3 Doors Down including tour dates, and to purchase music click here

“Shoot It Out“, the new single from Knoxville, Tennessee alternative hard rockers 10 YEARS, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page here. The track, which will be released via iTunes on July 6, comes off the group’s third album, “Feeding the Wolves“, due on August 31 via Universal Republic Records.

“Shoot It Out” has already been blasted out to radio, infiltrating Active and Modern Rock stations nationwide this past month, and it’s a fitting preview of what’s to come from the quartet’s anxiously awaited new CD.

On “Shoot It Out“, 10 YEARS deliver its trademark soaring melodies, while conjuring a darker, heavier vibe than before. The band embraces its metallic side and truly blows away all expectations with “Shoot It Out“.

10 YEARS debuted “Shoot It Out” while on tour with FLYLEAF during the “Unite and Fight Tour” this spring (see video below), and it instantly became a crowd favorite alongside hits such as “Beautiful” and “Wasteland”.

In order to bring “Feeding the Wolves” to the masses, 10 YEARS will join SHINEDOWN, SEVENDUST and CHEVELLE on this summer’s “Carnival of Madness Tour“. These four juggernauts of modern rock have put together a package that’s bound to be remembered for years to come, and it’s the perfect platform for fans to experience selections from “Feeding the Wolves” live and hear favorites from the band’s past releases “The Autumn Effect” (2005) and “Division” (2008).

CARNIVAL OF MADNESS 2010 TOUR DATES
July 16 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Arena
July 17 Simpsonville, SC Heritage Park
July 18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Amphitheatre
July 20 Orlando, FL UCF Arena
July 21 Estero, FL Germain Arena
July 23 Knoxville, TN Civic Coliseum
July 24 Charlotte, NC Verizon Amphitheater
July 25 Raleigh, NC Raleigh Amphitheater
July 26 Virginia Beach, VA Virgina Beach Amphitheatre
July 28 Columbia, MD (D.C.) Merriweather Pavilion
July 30 Philadelphia, PA Penn’s Landing
July 31 Wiscasset, ME Lincoln County Fairgrounds
August 1 Boston, MA Comcast Amphitheater
August 4 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
August 5 Holmdel, NJ PNC Amphitheatre
August 6 Canadaguiga, NY CBMS Performing Arts Center
August 7 Detroit, MI DTE Amphitheatre
August 9 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Amphitheatre
August 10 Pikeville, KY Eastern Kentucky Expo
August 11 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion
August 17 Memphis, TN Desoto Civic Center
August 18 Lafayette, LA Cajon Dome
August 20 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheater
August 22 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater
August 24 Casper, WY Casper Event Center
August 25 Billing, MT Metropark Center