3 Doors Down - Away from the Sun

Away from the Sun, released in November of 2002, immediately went Gold, and reached Platinum in early January 2003. It's a much more accomplished album than The Better Life, smoothing out most of the rough patches that slowed down the debut. Lead single "When I'm Gone" is a muscular blues-rocker that recalls Kenny Wayne Shepherd - it's representative of the album's predominantly mid-tempo arrangements that focus on Arnold's contemplative lyrics. He doesn't proselytize like Creed's Scott Stapp, nor does he rely on obvious nu-metal clichés like Saliva's Joey Scott. Instead, Arnold's lyrics lean more towards the first-person confessional style favored by Southern rock mainstays such as the Allman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd. While Universal/Republic might lump them in with the chest-thumpers and active rock doomsayers, Away from the Sun makes it clear that 3 Doors Down are really more comfortable where the sky is always blue.

1) When I'm Gone
2) Away from the Sun
3) The Road I'm on
4) Ticket to Heaven
5) Running Out of Days
6) Here Without You
7) I Feel You
8) Dangerous Game
9) Changes
10) Going Down in Flames
11) Sarah Yellin'
12) Bonus Track 1