Mississippi's 3 Doors Down will forever be known as the "Kryptonite" band--a reference to the runaway hit from their debut disc, The Better Life--but not for a lack of trying on their part. Away from the Sun is pretty much... more » everything one could want from a contemporary American rock record--terrifically catchy melodies, soaring choruses, meaty playing, and lyrics that reach for meaning. In other words, a disc crafted with radio in mind. The title track and album opener "When I'm Gone" are grand, wide-screen suites with big guitar and even bigger themes, while "Here Without You" is a fat, earnest weeper Bono would envy. In fact, there's nary a clunker in the bunch, although a certain sameness pervades the band's writing, a point exacerbated by vocalist Brad Arnold's everyman contralto. Still, 3 Doors Down juggle the hard/soft dynamic deftly, alternately recalling Stone Temple Pilots, Creed, Train, and their ilk. --Kim Hughes« less
Mississippi's 3 Doors Down will forever be known as the "Kryptonite" band--a reference to the runaway hit from their debut disc, The Better Life--but not for a lack of trying on their part. Away from the Sun is pretty much everything one could want from a contemporary American rock record--terrifically catchy melodies, soaring choruses, meaty playing, and lyrics that reach for meaning. In other words, a disc crafted with radio in mind. The title track and album opener "When I'm Gone" are grand, wide-screen suites with big guitar and even bigger themes, while "Here Without You" is a fat, earnest weeper Bono would envy. In fact, there's nary a clunker in the bunch, although a certain sameness pervades the band's writing, a point exacerbated by vocalist Brad Arnold's everyman contralto. Still, 3 Doors Down juggle the hard/soft dynamic deftly, alternately recalling Stone Temple Pilots, Creed, Train, and their ilk. --Kim Hughes
"Now this cd is overall slower than The Better Life, but that doesn't mean its worse. Like they say in the DVD. there is much more production put into this one. The lyrics are all very good and express a lot of different feelings through the cd. Here is what I think of each song:1. When I'm Gone - 8/10 Good song, nice solo. Pretty catchy
2. Away from the Sun- 9.5/10 The second best song on the cd, really some great stuff here
3. The Road I'm on- 8/10 One of the harder songs on the cd, good song
4. Ticket to Heaven - 10/10 - The best song on the cd, awesome music awesome lyrics, an all around great song
5. Running out of Days - 8.5/10 - Another very good song, but not the best of the cd
6. Here without you - 9/10 One of the slower songs on the cd, great lyrics.
7. I Feel You - 8.2/10 Another very good song, catchy
8. Dangerous Game - 9.9/10 Another great song, starts slow but then picks up, really awesome chorus
9. Changes - 7.5/10 starts really slow song, not the best song, but still very good
10. Going Down in Flames - 8/10 Once again, another good song.
11. Sarah Yellin' 8.5/10 - A great way to end the cd, some good guitar riffs."
Simply Awesome
S. DeWald | 12/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To take a CD like "The Better Life" and make a sophomore album off of that fanbase is a very difficult thing. I, being a previous 3 Doors Down fan, was severly awaiting the release of this installment for my collection for a long time. When, finally, I heard the song "When I'm Gone" on the radio for the first time, I knew the wait had not been in vain. On "Away from the Sun" they use "When I'm Gone" and then their title track to intensify the album right off the start. Then they go from track to track, mixing it up from an almost ballad-like song, "Here without You" to harder songs like "Dangerous Game" and "Going Down in Flames." All of the songs have the catchy and addictive nature that ruled their premiere and have a much more mature nature to them. Simply Awesome"
Took it to a new level
Marcus T. Brody | Tampa Bay, FL | 01/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is a lot more mature than the debut 3 Doors Down album. The guitar licks are more complex, the lyrics are more masterful, and the songs just have more "umph" to them. This album delivers in every way imaginable. The title track, "Away from the Sun" is a favorite of mine. What a beautiful song. It gave me goose bumps the first time I ever heard it. Not too many song will do that to you. Other standout songs on the album include, "Going Down in Flames", "Changes", "Ticket to Heaven", "Here without You", and "When I'm Gone". I'm truly blown away by this album. It's really an incredible album. Check it out."
Brilliant
vlad | Moscow, Russia | 12/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While Kryptonite keeps being their best song ever, Away From The Sun has enough material that's as much brilliant as most off their first album.When I'm Gone, the first and successful single from the new album, attracts the attention from the very slow beginning and makes itself highly memorable thanks to incredibly catchy chorus. The signiture style of 3DD and their songwriting talent are both here and leave no noubt the guys happily go on with creating a good music.The lyrics are their strong side, as before, and this time the words do a lot to help liking most of songs on the Away From The Sun. Really meaningful, thought-provoking, and not so depressing.Going Down In Flames could be their next single, very easily, since that's one of their catchiest tunes from the both albums. This is almost a pop song, but in the best sense.The list of other stand-outs would include: Changes, Here Without You, The Road I'M On, Dangerous Game, and, surely, This Time, the hidden track. The rest is still good, but rather sounds usual."
Away from the Sun
jjlaws383 | St. Louis, MO USA | 11/21/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Being inspired by the energy of the debut album, I certainly was expecting alot from this one. Unfortunately this album lacks that intensity of the first album. There are a few good songs on the CD but if you are expecting anything like the first album, you are going to be disappointed."