With their first two albums, Escatawpa, MS-bred 3 Doors Down [ tickets ] uncorked a string of No. 1 singles, including "Kryptonite," "Loser" and "When I'm Gone."

Little has changed on the band's third Universal release, which is loaded with blues-based crunchers like "Right Where I Would Belong," "It's Not Me," the anthemic "Live For Today" and the relationship-torn first single "Let Me Go" ("You love me/but you don't know who I am.")

Things get more subdued with the acoustic-guitar strains and string-section spice of "Landing in London" (which also features a guest vocal by Bob Seger), "The Real Life" and closing "Here By Me."

In their more muscular moments, they sound like a less messianic Creed; the rest of the time, they're heaping bowlfuls of good, heartfelt--but nonetheless un-extraordinary and middle-of-the-road--Southern rock. That said, "Seventeen Days" is great for the backyard barbecue, and, considering the group's past awards (including Billboard and American Music Awards, as well as four Grammy nominations), it will no doubt get a few appropriate nods.