Nickelback
Nickelback have spent three years working on this follow-up to their massive 2005 offering All The Right Reasons which was their third number one album in a row. So how do they make sure they do that once again?
Bring in Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Robert John "Mutt" Lange, famous for working with such acts as AC/DC, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard and Shania Twain and you pretty much have a sexy follow-up guaranteed.
Does it live up to expectations then? Well let’s find out boys and girls! Something in Your Mouth makes a good opener and shows quite a different direction for the four guys from Canada. The rather crude reference to having something in your mouth is a far cry from the emo-sounding How You Remind Me.
Nevertheless a great display of their move into more ‘old skool’ sounding rock; Woo! Next up is Burn It to the Ground, whose opening melody sounds a little bit too much like Pantera’s Walk riff, and I’m worried that trying to imitate ‘real’ rock bands could be Chad Kroeger and Co’s downfall.
You‘ve probably heard Gotta Be Somebody on the radio recently and personally I think it was the best choice for their first release from the album, granted it doesn’t show their new AC /DC inspired sound; but it is a bloody great song. It’s one of those songs that make you want to do something with your life… even if you don’t like it, at least if can get the ridiculously overplayed Rockstar on Radio One!
Another little love rock song pops up with I'd Come for You, I love it when hairy, rock stars still have time for a bit of romance; if any are available to come for me feel free to sweep me off my feet - but be sure to bring Blossom Hill.
The intro to Next Go Round is the hardest I’ve ever heard Nickelback play and for a minute I think I’m at a Trivium or Bullet For My Valentine show. The distorted vocals on Chad’s parts are a bit disappointing as they are downed out by the guitars, but he brings it back out on the chorus. Not their best offering though.
The lyrics to Just to Get High tell a story of what I assume Chad has seen first hand and you can feel the passion in his voice as he forces each note through gritted teeth; I think he’s singing from experience rather than just using drugs as a clever ploy to sell records.
Never Gonna Be Alone has a hint of Bryan Adams to it; but as I love Bryan Adams almost as much as I love sweets, it makes this a big hit to me. However, Shakin' Hands doesn’t have the same effect. It’s a bit slow off the grown and the rap influence sounds a bit like a rip-off of a Kid Rock track. Eek, stick to happy rock please boys, leave the ‘tits and hoes’ to the bad boys of rock please.
I’m worried that S.E.X is the boys blatant desperation to come across as a ‘dirty rock band’ when they really are not, not yet anyway; I think it’s going to take them a bit more effort to progress to the ‘Metal’ section of my mind CD selection. If it had a different title (which would actually defy the lyrics of the song) I think I might like it a little better; I just get the feeling that 15 year old kids will feel dead ‘rock and roll’ listening to a song about SEX and will have it on repeat as they fantasise about getting into the girl who sits behind them in Maths class.
If Today Was Your Last Day is another song about his best friend and it seems like a pretty motivational tune, which we love from Nickelback. Don’t they realise that they don’t have to pretend to be something they’re not, they’re good at making great songs like this one, so stick to what you’re good at boys! Please!
The closing track This Afternoon is a lot more jovial than the others, probably thanks to the hoards of people laughing and talking in the background…. Is this supposed to sound like a pub drinking song? Anyway, take away all the nattering in the background and you’re left with a pretty good song, which sounds a little bit country-inspired… oh Jessica Simpson would be so proud.
So what do I make of it? Well overall; the guys make a pretty good attempt at getting a reputation for making music in the same vein as AC / DC and friends. However, I’m sad to say that it’s going to take more than one good rock album to gain the respect of heavy metal fans that still see them as a band for angst-ridden teenagers.
From my point of view, I’ve always had a soft spot for these guys, and any Nickelback fan won’t be disappointed by what they find here; it has the new sound, the old sound and a bit of a weird sound that might have been better left in the studio. All in all though, a great song for rocking around your bedroom to and to make you get off your ass and do something with your day.
Rating:3.5 / 5 - I wanted to give them 4 but it didn’t quite warrant it.
Skip To:If Today Was Your Last Day - it really will inspire you to get up and do something exciting!
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison