Album — 3 Doors Down by 3 Doors Down

3 Doors Down walk the fine line the band has been balancing their entire career: producing melodic rock for the radio masses, while still enfusing a harder edge to keep their credibility as an actual “rock” band. The balance of genres has served the band well—and they haven’t deviated from it—with the new self-titled album debuting at #1 on the Billboard chart (I still don’t understand a self-titled album when it’s your fourth major release). The group said it was greatly influenced during the past few years during their concerts for the military (the band’s single “When I’m Gone” became an anthem for military personnel leaving for Afghanistan and Iraq). This lingering influence (and adjoining themes) can be seen directly in tracks like “Citizen/Soldier,” and indirectly with “It’s Not My Time” (video linked). Check for yourself.

Quarters for the songs: Train; It’s Not My Time; Let Me Be Myself.

Worth listening, if you like: Nickelback; Alter Bridge; Matchbox Twenty; Default; Daughtry; Bush; Fuel.