Three Days Grace's self-titled debut showcases the simplicity of their music, which is both the band's biggest strength and biggest weakness. The album's taut arrangements and grinding but melodic sound are quintessential alt-metal, suggesting a much poppier, less cerebral Helmet (or among
Three Days Grace's contemporaries, Chevelle), and while the production is mostly simple and crunchy, it occasionally delves into Linkin Park-like atmospheres. At its best, the band's focus and adherence to alt-metal's formulas - coupled with tight songwriting and some unexpectedly pretty choruses - results in a strong tracks that are more memorable than the work of many of their peers. "
I Hate Everything About You" was
Three Days Grace's big single and remains the band's best song, gaining most of its power from its directness and bluntness in examining a dysfunctional relationship. Though there's nothing else quite as strong on the rest of the album, "
Born Like This", "
Just Like You", and "
Scared" are also good examples of the band's surprisingly hooky songwriting. However, when the songwriting isn't quite up to par,
Three Days Grace's simplicity becomes more generic than focused. The cookie-cutter angst of song titles like "
Burn", "
Drown", and "
Now or Never" and lyrics like "
Home"'s "By the time you come
home/I'm already stoned/I can hardly wait to leave this place" may tap into the feelings of the band's audience, but they're not especially distinctive. The album's second half falters a bit when compared to the punch of
Three Days Grace's first few songs, although the power ballads "
Take Me Under" and "
Wake Up" show that the band is equally good at (somewhat) quieter songs as well as loud ones. Although this debut is a little uneven, it's also promising.
Three Days Grace are definitely one of the most accessible alt-metal bands of the 2000s; they just need to add some more distinctiveness to their sound.
Three Days Grace review by allmusic.com