The Better Life
The Mississippi-based quartet 3 Doors Down has only one thing that sets them apart from other hard rock bands: lead vocalist Brad Arnold is also the drummer. The group shops the sounds ofPearl Jamand theGoo Goo Dolls, pointing at what they like, picking it off the shelf, and throwing it into the stew.  While the music onThe Better Life, their debut, sounds overall both competent and confident, the songs themselves are equally uninspired and clichéd.  For example, the riff from the track "Loser" is straight out of theAlice in Chainssongbook, adding much more cringe-worthy lyrics ("Addiction needs a pacifier, the buzz of this poison is taking me higher").  In fact, most of the lyrics zero in on well-worn rock  themes of aggravation, confusion, and frustration, feelings that 3 Doors Down will easily coax out of discriminating listeners.--Jason Josephes