Nickelback- Here and Now

Tracks:

1. This Means War

2. Bottoms Up

3. When We Stand Together

4. Midnight Queen

5. Gotta Get Me Some

6. Lullaby

7. Kiss It Goodbye

8. Trying Not To Love you

9. Holding On To Heaven

10. Everything I Do

11. Don’t Ever Let It End

Current members: Chad Kroeger- Vocals, Ryan Peake- rhythm and lead guitar, and backing vocals, Mike Kroeger- bass, Daniel Adair- drums and backing vocals.

Okay, a lot of you probably saw the title of this post and were immediately disgusted, but I ask you to please continue reading because you may just be surprised by what I have to say. I contemplated reviewing this album over and over in my head. I will admit, I own every Nickelback album and I have seen them live (in ’07 to be fair), but I am barely clinging to them these days. If you need the definition of a band that sold out for popularity, you have it right here with this well-known group of Canadians.

The main reason I decided to review this album is because I listened to their interview with Kayla Riley from Sirius XM Octane yesterday on my way home. I heard so many things about this band that I didn’t like during those two hours that I formed such an overwhelming hatred for those men that I will probably never respect them again. First of all, I’m sure if you’ve ever listened to them you’ve noticed that the lyrics to all of their songs rhyme. Until yesterday I thought this was just their style of writing, but in actuality, they said they had a choice between creating serious lyrics with meaning or silly ones that rhymed and they chose rhyming. So you may ask, why would a band choose to never be serious when this is their career? Well for them, they feel that too many bands take their music “too seriously, and it’s not that big of a deal.” Really guys? So I guess they just sit down and right some crap that rhymes, put the same beat to it that every other one of their songs has and start recording.

Also, during the interview Kayla asked these guys how they have remained so creative over the years and continued to make songs that head straight to the top of the charts. Their reply was “contractual obligations” immediately followed by laughter. They can try to play it off as a joke all they want, but I truly believe they only make songs that our dear friends over at Roadrunner records want them to. I mean look at where it has gotten them so far. Each member of the band has their own tour bus, each of their singles gets played daily on the pop stations as well as the rock stations, and they’ve made more money than many of the bands today can even imagine ever getting. If they kind of fame were staring me in the face, I guess I would probably consider becoming a total sellout too. However, the only difference between them and me, is I don’t sell out for anything. I stay true to who I am no matter what.

Now to get down to the actual songs on this album. First of all, the single they released, “Bottoms Up” is pure trash. What were they trying to do, be the Trey Songz of the rock community? As for the other songs, all the lyrics still rhyme and all the beats are still the same. So if you like old Nickelback, you will love this album for sure. The only good thing is, they do have some slower songs on this album, which is a nice change from all the upbeat pop stuff they’ve been putting out lately. Songs like “Lullaby” and “Holding On To Heaven” are slow and actually kind of nice. I just can’t stand all the other songs about drinking, sex, and drugs. They really need to stray from those topics if they want to continue to make music because it’s getting really really old. “Gotta Get Me Some” and “Kiss It Goodbye” are prime examples of this.

Okay now let me end your misery and bring the Nickelback talk to a close by saying that I don’t necessarily hate their music, I just think this band consists of four douchebags that let fame go to their head. I still think Chad has a great voice, but until they start making songs for the hard rock community again instead of 12 year old girls that listen to them on the NOW cds along with Katy Perry and Britney Spears, I will have no respect for them. Nickelback, you are sellouts to your very core, and even though your fan base is huge, you are hated by millions. Think about that the next time you think other bands take their music too seriously.

So for those of you who still love them, they will be touring in April. And for those of you that hate them, you may want to check out this link…http://metaldelirium.net/your-computer-will-run-smoother-with-the-nickelblock-plugin/.

Rating: Not going to give it one. Don’t think they deserve it.