Life Starts Now
Encyclopedia
Life Starts Now is the third studio album by Canadian rock
band Three Days Grace
. The album was released on September 22, 2009. The album was produced by Howard Benson
. This is the second time in a row the band has worked with him, after the commercially successful One-X
. Life Starts Now expresses a lighter lyrical mood compared to the band's previous album.
Brad Walst stated, "We all came home and got a hard dose of life," which the band then used to create a more "musically in-depth and personal album". He describes Life Starts Now as a record about "confronting life and how fragile it can be".
Pre-production for Life Starts Now began in January 2009 while the band began recording the music in Vancouver
in March. The album was completed in August of the same year. After finalizing all aspects of the album, they officially announced that the album would be released on September 22, 2009.
, selling 79,000 copies in the U.S.
in its first week, thus becoming the band's highest-charting album to date. The album also debuted on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart at number two, along with "Break
" which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart and "The Good Life
" at number 52 on the Canadian Hot 100
and number 1 on Billboard Rock Songs chart.
With the exception of "Lost in You", all of the band's singles from the album topped the Billboard
rock song charts.
, Gontier's personal demons, but with a hint of sunlight." He compliments the album, saying it "treats the well-worn metal themes of anger, isolation, heartache, and redemption with the kind of begrudging respect they deserve, pumping out a competent flurry of fist-bump anthems and world-weary, mid-tempo rockers." Sputnikmusic
gave the album a mixed review, saying, "It's not going to change rock music or win any awards, but it's worth a listen. But if you were expecting something great or new, then prepare to be disappointed." Ultimate Guitar gave the album one of its more positive reviews, saying "Life Starts Now still contains the catchy choruses and powerful riffs Three Days Grace has been known for, while it may be cliched. But the band members have undoubtedly evolved as musicians, pretty much entirely for the better. Life Starts Now is a very still enjoyable experience for old fans, but it gives what their past two albums left to be desired: a sturdy musical base."
The album's release was also met with some negative reviews. 411mania did give the album a 6 out of 10, but the written review was more negative, having this to say about the album, "Boring, bland, trite, tired, tried, and true are all words that I would use to describe Life Starts Now, the latest from Three Days Grace. This album is victim of lazy lyrics and uninspired riffs that have been repackaged to be resold again. If you're a fan of their first two albums, this will fit nicely into your collection, despite being of lesser quality. I'd avoid it, except for a few tracks." Another more negative review came from About.com
reviewer Tim Grierson, who said, "The problem isn't that Life Starts Now doesn't have good songs—the problem is that there aren't enough of them and that even the strongest moments feel overly familiar. Frontman Adam Gontier continues to expose his tortured soul, but without consistently gripping tunes to back up his anguish, Three Days Grace seem stuck in their misery rather than transcending it."
The first single of the album, "Break" was featured as the opening theme to kick off the Texas A&M vs. Baylor University football game on October 15, 2011.
. It was also certified Gold in the US on March 1, 2011.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer...
. The album was released on September 22, 2009. The album was produced by Howard Benson
Howard Benson
Howard Benson is a two-time Grammy-nominated music producer and aerospace engineer.-Biography:Howard Benson has a degree in materials engineering from Drexel University and studied composition at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts. Later he worked for Garrett AiResearch, where he worked...
. This is the second time in a row the band has worked with him, after the commercially successful One-X
One-X
-Notes:* The songs, "Animal I Have Become", and "Riot", were both featured in the video game, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007-Personnel:*Adam Gontier – lead vocals, rhythm guitar*Barry Stock – lead guitar*Brad Walst – bass guitar, backing vocals...
. Life Starts Now expresses a lighter lyrical mood compared to the band's previous album.
Background and production
After being on the road for five years with Three Days Grace, bassistBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Brad Walst stated, "We all came home and got a hard dose of life," which the band then used to create a more "musically in-depth and personal album". He describes Life Starts Now as a record about "confronting life and how fragile it can be".
Pre-production for Life Starts Now began in January 2009 while the band began recording the music in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in March. The album was completed in August of the same year. After finalizing all aspects of the album, they officially announced that the album would be released on September 22, 2009.
Sales
The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 79,000 copies in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in its first week, thus becoming the band's highest-charting album to date. The album also debuted on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart at number two, along with "Break
Break (song)
"Break" is the first single from Three Days Grace's third album, Life Starts Now. The single was released on September 1, 2009 at 6:45 pm EST for radio play as well as on -Release and chart performance:...
" which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart and "The Good Life
The Good Life (Three Days Grace song)
"The Good Life" is a song and the second single from Three Days Grace's 2009 album Life Starts Now. It was released for radio airplay on February 9, 2010. It charted at #85 on the Canadian Hot 100 before becoming a single. The song also was featured on ESPN's Winter X Games XIV, and was used during...
" at number 52 on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
and number 1 on Billboard Rock Songs chart.
With the exception of "Lost in You", all of the band's singles from the album topped the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
rock song charts.
Reception
Upon its release Life Starts Now has received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics. According to Allmusic reviewer James Christopher Monger, who gave the album three out of five stars, "Life Starts Now continues the theme of One-XOne-X
-Notes:* The songs, "Animal I Have Become", and "Riot", were both featured in the video game, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007-Personnel:*Adam Gontier – lead vocals, rhythm guitar*Barry Stock – lead guitar*Brad Walst – bass guitar, backing vocals...
, Gontier's personal demons, but with a hint of sunlight." He compliments the album, saying it "treats the well-worn metal themes of anger, isolation, heartache, and redemption with the kind of begrudging respect they deserve, pumping out a competent flurry of fist-bump anthems and world-weary, mid-tempo rockers." Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
gave the album a mixed review, saying, "It's not going to change rock music or win any awards, but it's worth a listen. But if you were expecting something great or new, then prepare to be disappointed." Ultimate Guitar gave the album one of its more positive reviews, saying "Life Starts Now still contains the catchy choruses and powerful riffs Three Days Grace has been known for, while it may be cliched. But the band members have undoubtedly evolved as musicians, pretty much entirely for the better. Life Starts Now is a very still enjoyable experience for old fans, but it gives what their past two albums left to be desired: a sturdy musical base."
The album's release was also met with some negative reviews. 411mania did give the album a 6 out of 10, but the written review was more negative, having this to say about the album, "Boring, bland, trite, tired, tried, and true are all words that I would use to describe Life Starts Now, the latest from Three Days Grace. This album is victim of lazy lyrics and uninspired riffs that have been repackaged to be resold again. If you're a fan of their first two albums, this will fit nicely into your collection, despite being of lesser quality. I'd avoid it, except for a few tracks." Another more negative review came from About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
reviewer Tim Grierson, who said, "The problem isn't that Life Starts Now doesn't have good songs—the problem is that there aren't enough of them and that even the strongest moments feel overly familiar. Frontman Adam Gontier continues to expose his tortured soul, but without consistently gripping tunes to back up his anguish, Three Days Grace seem stuck in their misery rather than transcending it."
The first single of the album, "Break" was featured as the opening theme to kick off the Texas A&M vs. Baylor University football game on October 15, 2011.
Accolades
The album has been nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2010 Juno awards. The album has been officially certified Platinum in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was also certified Gold in the US on March 1, 2011.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Three Days Grace.Personnel
- Adam GontierAdam GontierAdam Wade Gontier is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of the rock band Three Days Grace...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Barry StockBarry StockBarry Stock is the lead guitarist of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace.-Biography:Barry James Stock is a Canadian guitarist, born in Belgium on April 24, 1974. He joined Three Days Grace in 2003, shortly after their first studio album. Barry uses Schecter,Ibanez and PRS guitars, but prefers...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Brad Walst – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Neil SandersonNeil SandersonNeil Christopher Sanderson is the drummer, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the Canadian band Three Days Grace. He cites his influences as John Bonham, Danny Carey and Stewart Copeland.-Early years:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Albums | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums | 2 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
2 |
| Australian Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
77 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
153 |