Ok, so I just reviewed Three Days Grace's debut album yesterday, and I gave it a pretty good grade, despite the minor flaw I picked up on (the lack of a fresh feeling or originality). `One X', Three Days Grace's sophomore album, doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but it perfects everything that they attempted on their debut, delivering an album that is nearly perfect. I mean, while there is certainly things they could have done to elevate the material and add layers of newness to it, there is not a single track that `needs' anything else.

It's kind of funny, because I was listening to this on iTunes the other day and looking at the grade that I gave each song, and this is the ONLY album I have that I gave 5 stars to every track. The album is not the best I have, nor is it any where near my favorite; and there are plenty of other albums that have much, MUCH stronger material, but this is one of the only albums that is really blemish free; consistent and engaging from track to track.

I can't complain about anything, nor would I wish a change on anything.

So, how do you review an album without a single true `standout', beings that each and every track is pretty much as good as the one that came before and the one that comes after it?

Those who enjoyed the aggressive nature of tracks like `I Hate Everything About You' and `Burn' will really sink their teeth into `Animal I Have Become' and the album opener `It's All Over', both of which are stunning examples of hard hitting riffs and catchy lyrics. `Time of Dying' is another in this vein, aggressive yet there is an accessible quality that makes it easy to get into.

You just want to chant these songs in your car at the top of your lungs.

Radio friendly `Never Too Late' got a lot of play and became an instant fan favorite, and it's easy to understand why. It's a powerful and touching track that makes good use of the bands ability to make the morose compelling. If there is anything I could point out as a so-called flaw it would be that the band seems to have a one-track mind when it comes to subject matter (depression and suicide top the list), but thankfully they create a new feeling with each track, so it never really feels like rehashed territory, even though it is.

`Riot' is probably my favorite song on the album; the chorus alone is like the catchiest thing I've ever heard (and the redundancy is NOT a deterrent as it was on their debut album). `Pain' was one of the first tracks I `fell for', but incessant radio play kind of killed it a bit for me. That said; it is still fantastic.

A nice thing about this album is that Three Days Grace embrace a sense of melodic texture on their songs, giving us some mellow tracks much like `Wake Up' off their debut. `Get Out Alive', `Over and Over' and `On My Own' are standouts in that regard. `Get Out Alive' is beyond spectacular; one of my personal favorites. There is a really nice commercial (I know that sounds bad, but I don't mean it that way) quality to tracks like `Let It Die' and `Gone Forever'. They are very accessible songs, both of which are clear `singles' so it's odd to me that neither was ever selected; for I would have thought they would have been better received than `Animal I Have Become' (not that it was poorly received, but these songs just scream "PLAY ME ON THE RADIO"). `Gone Forever' has a tinge of Weezer here that I just eat up. I've never been a huge fan of Weezer, but they remind me of them, in all the right areas.

The title track, which closes out the album, is probably the weakest song here, which is a bit of a downer, beings that I really like it when a band or musical artists goes out with a bang, but the song is still very solid.

So, like I said, not a sour note here; seriously. If you liked their debut album then you will devour this one for it takes their potential and completely runs with it, offering an album that is a perfected variation of their debut. I only wish they hadn't squandered that potential with their third album (such a major disappointment), but I'll get into that on another review.

This album is amazing! Adam Gontier is so freakin hot!

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C.Mariah

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freddy
this album rocks

Heya!!!!!!!!!
This album is like THE best album EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Everyone should love Three Days Grace because they ROCK!!!
\m/

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Pringle
xoxoxox

This band was intruduced to me by my great friend. And now it has changed my perspective in music. It has changed my whole life actullay. Im so greatful for Three days Grace thank you

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Music_Is_Life

This album is so freakin powerful.Its awesome!

I want to be able to buy this album in Italy!!!
I bought the first one on iTunes Music Store, but I cannot buy this one!!!
:(