Album
The Better Life
The Better Life is the debut studio album by 3 Doors Down, an American rock band whose sound sits between post-grunge, alternative rock and a touch of southern rock. It came out on 8 February 2000 and brought the band three Billboard Hot 100 entries: "Kryptonite" reached number 3, "Be Like That" number 24 and "Loser" number 55. "Duck and Run" was the fourth single, and all four got music videos.
It's an unusual record in the band's catalogue, because singer Brad Arnold played the drums on it, something he never did on a later studio album. Richard Liles joined as a touring drummer from 2000 to 2002. The album has sold over seven million copies worldwide and went septuple platinum in the US. Rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson is the only player from these sessions still in the band, and in 2025 Loudwire named it the best post-grunge release of 2000.
The Better Life on Riffology
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The Better Life: tracklist, credits and charts
11 tracks · 40:52Tracklist
- 1KryptoniteArnold, Harrell, Roberts3:54
- 2LoserArnold, Harrell, Roberts4:25
- 3Duck and RunArnold, Harrell, Henderson, Roberts3:51
- 4Not EnoughArnold, Harrell, Henderson, Roberts3:14
- 5Be Like ThatBrad Arnold and Chris Henderson4:26
- 6Life of My OwnArnold, Harrell, Roberts3:58
- 7Better LifeArnold, Harrell, Henderson, Roberts3:08
- 8Down PoisonArnold, Harrell, Roberts4:22
- 9By My SideArnold, Harrell, Roberts3:16
- 10SmackArnold, Harrell, Roberts2:30
- 11So I Need YouArnold, Harrell, Henderson, Roberts3:48
- Produced by
- Paul Ebersold
- Recorded at
- Ardent Studios, Ardent Studios (Memphis, Tennessee)
- Recorded
- 1999
- Mixed by
- Toby Wright
- Mixed at
- The Record Plant
- Engineered by
- Paul Ebersold, Matt Martone
- Labels
- Republic Records, Republic, Universal
- Length
- 40:52
Line-up
- Brad Arnold · drums (drum set), lead vocals
- Todd Harrell · bass guitar
- Chris Henderson · guitar
- Matt Roberts · guitar
- Kevin Paige · keyboard
Singles
- “Kryptonite” · 18 January 2000
- “Loser” · 26 June 2000
- “Duck and Run” · 9 January 2001
- “Be Like That” · 29 May 2001
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 2000–2001 | 7 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 2000–2001 | 6 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 2000–2001 | 12 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 2000–2001 | 16 |
| New Zealand Albums · 2000–2001 | 19 |
| Finnish Albums · 2000–2001 | 23 |
| Dutch Albums · 2000–2001 | 26 |
| German Albums · 2000–2001 | 45 |
| Austrian Albums · 2000–2001 | 56 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia · 2002 | Platinum |
| Canada | 2× Platinum |
| Germany · 2023 | Gold |
| New Zealand · 2024 | Platinum |
| United Kingdom · 2025 | Silver |
| United States · 2020 | 7× Platinum |
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
80.7
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
11k
ListenBrainz listeners
96k
Wikipedia views, last 12 months
18k
Deezer fans (all editions)
Also released on 8 February
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Full discography →
The best of 2000
All of 2000 →
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park · 2000
Kid A
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Deftones · 2000
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Foo Fighters · 2000
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Green Day · 2000
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Rage Against the Machine · 2000
Brave New World
Iron Maiden · 2000
Conspiracy of One
The Offspring · 2000
Crush
Bon Jovi · 2000
Stiff Upper Lip
AC/DC · 2000
MACHINA/the machines of God
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Mer de noms
A Perfect Circle · 2000
More on Republic Records
The label →
Away From the Sun
3 Doors Down · 2002
Everything Will Be Alright in the End
Weezer · 2014
Gigaton
Pearl Jam · 2020
Us and the Night
3 Doors Down · 2016
Texicali
ZZ Top · 2012
No Fixed Address
Nickelback · 2014
The Greatest Hits
3 Doors Down · 2012
Let’s Play Two: Live at Wrigley Field
Pearl Jam · 2017
Another 700 Miles
3 Doors Down · 2003
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz + wikidata
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 8 February 2000 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 8 February 2000 | |
| Wikidata | 8 February 2000 | |
| US release | 8 February 2000 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 11 September 2000 | earliest UK or European date |
22 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | CA | Republic Records | 601215392029 | other |
| 2000 | AU | Republic Records | 0601215392029 | other |
| 8 February 2000 | US | Republic Records | 601215392029 | original |
| 8 February 2000 | US | Republic Records | 0601215991628 | original |
| 8 February 2000 | US | Republic Records | 601215392029 | original |
| 8 February 2000 | US | Republic Records | original | |
| 28 June 2000 | JP | — | 4988067044556 | other |
| 11 September 2000 | XE | Republic Records | 601215392029 | other |
| 18 September 2000 | GB | Republic Records | 601215392029 | other |
| 13 June 2001 | XE | Republic Records | 044001445422 | other |
| 31 July 2001 | AU | — | 044001455223 | other |
| 2007 | UA | Universal Republic Records | 602517341098 | other |
| 2007 | XW | Universal Republic Records | deluxe | |
| 18 September 2007 | US | Republic Records | 602517341098 | deluxe |
| 20 November 2007 | XE | Universal Music Group International | 0602517341098 | deluxe |
| 6 May 2012 | — | Universal Motown | 00601215392029 | other |
| 2014 | — | Universal Records | 00602445386420 | other |
| 17 February 2017 | US | Republic Records | 602557248890 | other |
| 2021 | US | Republic Records | 602435716848 | deluxe |
| 2021 | US | Republic Records | 602435716848 | other |
| 26 March 2021 | XW | Republic Records | 00602435808031 | deluxe |
| — | — | Republic Records | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · native: native 3000x3000
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 3000×3000 | native: native 3000x3000 |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |