TuneLab Music - Everything Rock

Posted: September 23rd, 2009
Contributed By: Nick

Purchase @ iTunes
Release Date: September 22nd, 2009 on Jive Records

Three Days Grace starring:

Adam Gontier (vocals/guitar)
Barry Stock (guitar)
Brad Walst (bass)
Neil Sanderson (drums)

Knowledge: ‘Life Starts Now’ is the third LP from rock royalty Three Days Grace and the follow-up to the massive ‘One-X’, which netted the boys a pair of number one rock singles, success at top 40 radio, and platinum honors. Oh, and let’s not forget the long-awaited release of a Three Days Grace live DVD in 2008. The band unveiled the first single from ‘Life Starts Now’ on September 1 titled “Break” which has already boogied up to active rock’s top ten.

Turn-Ons: :”Bitter Taste” is just about as close to perfect as you’re going to get. Every in and out of this masterpiece is epic, from Neil Sanderson’s Freese-worthy drum performance to gushing, explosive chorus, whose arrangement is absolutely breathtaking. “World So Cold” tingles the senses with a deep, atmospheric body and tone. This mood broadens the scope of “World So Cold”, which allows the strong emotions an expressive, soul-searching Adam Gontier to flow like leaves in a sky, without distracting from the song’s lyrical concreteness. “Last to Know” is absolute genius, a modern rock movement. Although the haunting, entrancing piano-vocal arrangement of lucky number seven is brilliant, it is the purity of “Last to Know” that makes it truly special. Infectious is the rolling, pumping groove earmarking “Goin’ Down.” Adam Gontier anchors “Goin’ Down” by literally doing just that-and that of course is emphasizing the “o” or “ow” sound of the word, chromatically ending each line in hooky 3’s. Since we’re talking vocals, “Without You” needs to be mentioned, as Gontier nails crafty falsettos and takes on bold register variations without missing a beat. Moving back one spot brings us to “Bully”, a song with an eerie, “creeping-up-behind-you” kind of vibe that cunningly carves out a perfect setting. “Lost In You” will most likely be 3DG’s next dance with top 40, but don’t let that fool you. “Lost In You” boasts incredible character, but most importantly this sounds honest, not made to order for multiple platforms of radio.

Turn-Offs: It won’t surprise any if, er, when “Break” becomes the number one rock song in the country. But take away the Three Days Grace tag and “Break” goes from 5th Avenue to Goodwill. “Lost In You” is a great song but it sure borrows quite liberally from Saving Abel’s “She Got Over Me”. “Bully” shouldn’t be here, but that chorus is so whiney that it deserves to be picked on. Also joining “Bully” in the “shouldn’t be here” team is next-door neighbor “Without You”, whose crime of fouling up Adam Gontier’s lights out vocal performance with an overall mediocre composition. For those of you that enjoyed “Riot” you’re in luck, because its identical twin “The Good Life” bats in the 5-spot on ‘Life Starts Now’. “Riot” was the forgettable part of ‘One-X’ so I’ll let you figure out where that ranks “The Good Life” on ‘Life Starts Now’….

Valedictorian: “Bitter Taste”

Salutatorian: “Last to Know”

FAIL: “The Good Life”

Cool Points: “Bitter Taste” is the best song ever to come out of camp Three Days Grace. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but even if you’re not as high on “Bitter Taste” as I am, you have to admit that that song is a BAMF. Guitarist Barry Stock pays homage to Jerry Cantrell on “Someone Who Cares”, sprinkling a little bit of Alice In Chains into his arsenal. Even if Three Days Grace leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, you have to admit the voice that comes out of Adam Gontier’s trap is pretty killer. I consider Gontier to be modern rock’s John Mayer….

Moral of the Story: ‘Life Starts Now’ is aptly titled, as Three Days Grace really do sound reborn on this record. The 3DG that made ‘One-X’ can’t even touch the band that pulled off ‘Life Starts Now’. Yes, Three Days Grace stick to their modern rock guns. And yes, ‘Life Starts Now’ was made to have a crossover-ready sound at times. But Three Days Grace have undeniably manned up on ‘Life Starts Now’, as a few spins of the record will show you just how much of an animal Three Days Grace have become.

A Fine Line: “This was my worst love/You’ll be the first to go/And when she leaves you for dead/You’ll be the last to know”- from “Last to Know”

TuneLab Rating: 9 out of 10