"We're not a band that just goes through the motions," says Chris. "We go at everything hard. What I'm most proud of about the new album is we left ourselves a way out. Everybody hit the proverbial brick wall. Everybody fell down and everybody got back up, then we all went back in the room and, what was great, was we found all these different paths to go down."

`Different' being the operative word here. Because what 3 Doors Down did after reconnecting with family, and `soul searching', was opt for a new process to the creative part of their relationship. One that emphasized the undeniable strength of the group. The fact that the sum is greater than any individual part. "It is all about getting in that room and hashing it out," recalls lead guitarist Matt Roberts. "If you look at a song like `Train,' it was one of the first songs we wrote for this album. It's kind of a building block that exemplifies the spirit of collaboration. Brad came with words and a melody and we hammered it out." "I remember I had that one in my head at home," laughs Brad. "I was singing it so much a friend threatened to kill me if I didn't get it down." Matt also remembers it as one of the `most fun songs to put together. "The best moments of this band have always been about keeping it a fun ride. You need that sense of accomplishment, but you also need to keep the process comfortable.". Adds Chris: "I think it's also fair to say we are one of the only `southern' bands who has the balls to put a song like `Train' out there these days."

The band rented an old farmhouse South of Franklin, Tennessee, where they would not only write songs, but live together, for a while. Says Brad: "The farmhouse was great because it became a wholehearted experience where we just focused on the writing. It was such a close-knit atmosphere, reconnecting us after we had been doing our own thing for a while. It set a cool mood for the entire record, writing out in the country around this fireplace in the basement. Just locking ourselves away and doing it."

Matt adds that the unique setting soon sparked 26 or 27 song ideas. "But winter turned colder than expected in Tennessee. So we decided to head to a warmer climate." The band found a ten bedroom mansion in a remote section of Orlando, Florida. They brought in Seventeen Days producer, Johnny K. and turned the house into a recording studio.

The originality of the two locations rejuvenated the band's approach. They worked hard to capture that sense of camaraderie on the final product. Once they nailed it, they packed up and headed back to Nashville. Talking legendary mixer, Andy Wallace, into abandoning his NY studio, again, (he also mixed Seventeen Days in Nashville), and they began the final process of putting the pieces together.

This album features inspired musicianship as well as some intriguing personal refrains, like on one `band favorite,' "Let Me Be Myself." "That one touches on the wrongheaded notion of how we often try destructive methods to try and kill our pain," says Brad. "But I also want the songs to be open to interpretation. More universal. That one is really talking about anything you can get lost in." And the ballad "Pages": "I think it has a lot of meaning for the whole band. What we've gone through," says Matt. "Brad is pointing out what's going on with his personal situation and ours. It was a very meaningful song for us."

The group also nails their share of (in-yer'-face)-rockers like "Runaway." "It's the kind of song you put on only to get somewhere else," says Todd. "Put it on in your car and drive as fast as you can." He and several of the guys also touch on the last song of the album, "She Don't Want The World," one of the most unique 3 Doors Down offerings yet. "That song has really become one of my favorites. It doesn't have a big chorus or anything, just Brad telling a story." Adds Brad: "We even use loops on that one. We were so willing to try different things. I think one of the reasons this is such an important album for us is because every one of us was in a different place prior to any other record we've ever made. And I would say a `better' place. But it's the kind of record that never would have happened if we didn't get off that merry go round for awhile."

For Greg (former Puddle Of Mudd drummer, born in Louisiana, raised in Oklahoma), a song like the gutsy "It's The Only One You've Got," also exemplifies the band's `sixth-sense' for cooperation. A true democracy - right down the line. "Just the way that it went down. Chris was trying to learn another song and stumbled upon the riff for this song. Brad was like `hold on, I've got something for that.' Then someone else would join in. The whole thing happened quickly, and it turned out to be such an inspiring song. This has been the most collaborative experience I've ever been involved in. And the most satisfying."

"We just can't wait to put this sugar out and get back out on the road," agrees Brad. "It's definitely the one where we got our `grit back."

2008-11-18 -- 1/5:: beccaness
I think that its worst cd. Compare to their others works and its flat.

2008-11-02 -- 2/5:: Very disappointing
I've been a fan of 3 Doors Down since their first album "The Better Life". I read the reviews of this release and was expecting another great cd. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. There are a couple of good rockers on this one but overall there are way too many mellow self indulgent tunes. The band has definately matured and grown as people which is great to see. Unfortunately they have lost the fire and real fellinf that made them a great band. They are following in the path of so many bands the come out with such outstanding initial efforts but seem to lose the edge and dynamic but intangible "something different" that made them so appealing. I have read reviews commenting on the improvement in musician ship and it is obvious on songs like Train and Citizen/Soldiers. It does not follow through on the majority of the songs. I've given a brief breakdown below:

Train-good rocking tune, classic 2 Doors Down

Citizen/Soldier-great song with something to say. Best on the cd. Need more like this.

It's Not My Time-ok song-typical top 40 fair-too light & not original-no fire but radio friendly(which does not mean good)

Let Me be Myself-ok tune, redundant top 40 lyrics. Skip after first couple of listens

Pages-better song, actually has something to say, tempo picks-p but they never really cut loose. Brad sings with more feeling than other tunes.

It's The Only One You've Got-another too mellow Top 40 type song (top 40 is not a good thing) Lyrics are good but song doesn't grab you. No fire and feeling doesn't carry over. Another skip after the first few listens

Give It To Me-Good song. Feeling back into the singing. Seems to really sing form the heart. Whole band seems to be involved. Very tight song.

These Days-up & down song that goes from really good to far to light & poppy. Great singing at times but overall far too much of a Top 40 pop song. Once again lacking in real fire or feeling.

Your Arms Feel Like Home-skip over track everytime after first listen. Just another "I'm in love again" song. Every band seems to eventually come out with the same song saying the same thing. Very unorigianal.

Runaway-Very poppy sounding song. OK tune but no edge and nothing special. Filler tune.

When It's Over-Ok tune. One I don't skip but kind of teases and doesn't really deliver.

She Don't Want The World-best slower tune on the cd. More feeling than the rest of the slower songs and great musicianship. A lot of tricks musically but they blend with and make the song unlike previous songs that start with some tricks and then don't deliver.

There are a grand total of four out of tewlve songs I skip over everytime I listen to this cd. Another two or three are only ok to listen to. So basically they have six out of tewlve songs that show how good this band could be. I would give this cd a 2.5 rating if I was able since only 50% is worth hearing more thaan once or twice. Since I can't do the 2.5 I lean toward a 2 instead of 3 stars.

2008-10-12 -- 5/5:: Amazing!
The best way I can think of to describe the new album is classic 3 Doors Down with a new twist. That's one of my favorite things about this band is that you can see them grow as artists from one album to the next without detracting from they're previous work.

That being said, 3DD is by far my favorite of theirs so far. With other CDs, you have the singles and then you'll pick out a couple songs you like that were never released and then the rest are just fillers; with 3DD every one is amazing.

It starts off with a bang with 'Train', which is a bit more aggressive than the rest but sets the mood perfectly.
Next is 'Citizen/Soldier' which I actually liked but the version on the album is downsized from the original and they cut out my favorite part of the song.
'It's Not My Time' by now everyone's heard this one. Great lyrics.
'Let Me Be Myself' Very vunerable song. Loved the melody but I like it better acoustic.
'Pages' is probably my favorite song from this album.
'It's the Only One You've Got' I hate and love this song because it really hits home.
'Give it to me' another favorite, great guitar.
'These Days' to me, this one was really emotional. I could tell it meant something to them.
'Your arms feel like home' every album needs a ballad.
'Runaway' Great driving song. More upbeat.
'When It's Over' Again, another one that sounded like they meant every word.
'She Don't Want the World' Artistically, this is probably the best one. I've read a lot about people thinking it's a sad song and a depressing end to the album but if you really listen to the lyrics at the end it's not. It's just him telling a story but Brad really makes you feel with this one. It's probably one of those you either love it or hate it songs.

2008-10-01 -- 4/5:: lovely listening
A fairly mellow CD in my opinion, but it always makes me feel happy and content, and a few of the songs make me want to hit "repeat" again and again and again!

2008-09-26 -- 5/5:: Great guys; great music
Maturity and growth show through for these southern rockers. Truly nice guys with heart. What a difference from so many other rock bands!